What's New at CalRice.org
New CRC Blog- View from Above
02.01.2012
By Julie Cader
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission and a passionate supporter of local family rice farms and mills.
While flying into Sacramento International Airport the other day, I was reminded of the often-asked question when folks learn that I work for the California Rice Commission, "We grow rice in California? I didn't know we grew rice in California!"
That's my cue.
I love to respond with, "Do you fly out of Sacramento International Airport?" They often answer "yes', and I excitingly say, "then look down as the plane takes off. What you will see is a beautiful patchwork of rice
fields slipping beneath you!"
Most California rice farmers use laser land leveling techniques to prepare the ground for production, creating this amazing patchwork of rice paddies. Laser leveling is one of the most effective techniques to improve water use efficiency and experienced agricultural pilots use satellite guidance technology to broadcast seed accurately over these leveled fields.
So the next time you have a flight out of Sacramento, look down!
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission and a passionate supporter of local family rice farms and mills.
While flying into Sacramento International Airport the other day, I was reminded of the often-asked question when folks learn that I work for the California Rice Commission, "We grow rice in California? I didn't know we grew rice in California!"
That's my cue.
I love to respond with, "Do you fly out of Sacramento International Airport?" They often answer "yes', and I excitingly say, "then look down as the plane takes off. What you will see is a beautiful patchwork of rice
fields slipping beneath you!"
So the next time you have a flight out of Sacramento, look down!
New Guest Videos
02.01.2012
Conservation groups Audubon and PRBO comment on California Rice benefits for Shorebirds
New Photo Album- Inside June’s Café
02.01.2012
New Guest Blog- America's Heartland covers California Rice
01.30.2012
By Jason Shoultz
I have the privilege of traveling the country as a reporter for the public television program America's Heartland. My travels have taken me to farms and ranches across the United States. From historic produce farms in Massachusetts to cattle ranches in the rolling Colorado hills, it has been an amazing journey. So finding a great story within a few miles of home was a nice surprise.
As an Iowa native, I was only somewhat familiar with California's rice industry until my family moved to Sacramento in 2004. Then I found out that California rice is used for sushi from coast to coast! Not only is that something to brag about, it's pretty useful trivia when dining on sushi with friends and family from Iowa to Connecticut! And when I discovered (in a Sacramento Bee article) that California rice also gets turned into sake, I knew it would make a great story for our national audience.
With the help of Jim Morris at the California Rice Commission, we ended up at the DeWit rice farm on a beautiful October morning, to visit with grower Jack DeWit and his son, Mike. After learning about the DeWit's farming background I discovered a connection even closer than the sushi that I eat! It turns out my home sits on ground once owned by the DeWit family. If my thumb was slightly greener I would try to grow some rice in my backyard!
We also visited the Farmers Rice Cooperative at the Port of West Sacramento where the rice gets processed by the ton! I am always amazed at the efficiency of operations like this one. When you are moving that much grain you can't afford down time.
Our story wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Takara USA sake factory in Berkeley, which is on the site of a former dairy processor. And true to form, with sake - some like it cold and some like it hot. Of course the interests of good reporting required sampling various sake drinks at Sacramento's 2011 Sakefest. I believe the story will give our viewers on public television and RFD-TV an entertaining and educational look into a beverage that has California rice at its key ingredient.
There are few things better than discovering new things, and when you make those discoveries close to home, well that's something to drink to!
Jason Shoultz is a Producer/Reporter with the PBS television program America’s Heartland. Follow him on Twitter at: @jasonshoultz. Be sure to watch their upcoming feature story on California rice and sake, debuting Wednesday, February 1. For more information on the show, follow them on Twitter at: @aheartland or at: www.americasheartland.org.
I have the privilege of traveling the country as a reporter for the public television program America's Heartland. My travels have taken me to farms and ranches across the United States. From historic produce farms in Massachusetts to cattle ranches in the rolling Colorado hills, it has been an amazing journey. So finding a great story within a few miles of home was a nice surprise.
As an Iowa native, I was only somewhat familiar with California's rice industry until my family moved to Sacramento in 2004. Then I found out that California rice is used for sushi from coast to coast! Not only is that something to brag about, it's pretty useful trivia when dining on sushi with friends and family from Iowa to Connecticut! And when I discovered (in a Sacramento Bee article) that California rice also gets turned into sake, I knew it would make a great story for our national audience.
With the help of Jim Morris at the California Rice Commission, we ended up at the DeWit rice farm on a beautiful October morning, to visit with grower Jack DeWit and his son, Mike. After learning about the DeWit's farming background I discovered a connection even closer than the sushi that I eat! It turns out my home sits on ground once owned by the DeWit family. If my thumb was slightly greener I would try to grow some rice in my backyard!
Our story wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Takara USA sake factory in Berkeley, which is on the site of a former dairy processor. And true to form, with sake - some like it cold and some like it hot. Of course the interests of good reporting required sampling various sake drinks at Sacramento's 2011 Sakefest. I believe the story will give our viewers on public television and RFD-TV an entertaining and educational look into a beverage that has California rice at its key ingredient.
There are few things better than discovering new things, and when you make those discoveries close to home, well that's something to drink to!
Jason Shoultz is a Producer/Reporter with the PBS television program America’s Heartland. Follow him on Twitter at: @jasonshoultz. Be sure to watch their upcoming feature story on California rice and sake, debuting Wednesday, February 1. For more information on the show, follow them on Twitter at: @aheartland or at: www.americasheartland.org.
New CRC Blog- Winging it in Galt
01.30.2012
By Jim Morris, California Rice Commission Communications Manager
Some of the best things to see in Northern California this time of the year are straight overhead. So many times, our family will stop our activity to look overhead and marvel at a cackling V formation of Canada Geese or catch a glimpse of a large flock of migrating Sandhill Cranes way off in the stratosphere.
For a fun weekend trip, we checked out the Galt Winter Bird Festival at McCaffrey Middle School, a short drive south of Sacramento off of Highway 99.
Our day started off before sunrise, with wife Leslie joining 40 nature loving photographers on a behind the scenes tour of the Cosumnes River Preserve. Leslie was able to use a ginormous 600-millimeter lens provided by Canon and got this shot of Sandpipers in all of their jubilance.
The festival was well run and included something for all ages. Corky Quirk from NorCalBats provided a lot of interesting information about bats in the Sacramento Valley, a really cool and underappreciated mammal.
There were two different displays to learn about keeping our watersheds clean, plus wildlife artists with their works on display and a fun exhibit where you could dissect an owl pellet and learn more about their diet.
Add in interactive duck call lessons from Ducks Unlimited, art and crafts booths and a faux campfire to make your own complimentary S’mores and it was a fun and full day. Best of all this is a free event, so keep next year’s Galt Winter Bird Festival in mind, or the extremely popular Snow Goose Festival in Chico. Our organization is pleased to sponsor these festivals, as they are an important way for nature lovers to unite and celebrate how blessed we are to have those wondrous flocks of birds right in our backyard!
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons
Some of the best things to see in Northern California this time of the year are straight overhead. So many times, our family will stop our activity to look overhead and marvel at a cackling V formation of Canada Geese or catch a glimpse of a large flock of migrating Sandhill Cranes way off in the stratosphere.
For a fun weekend trip, we checked out the Galt Winter Bird Festival at McCaffrey Middle School, a short drive south of Sacramento off of Highway 99.
Our day started off before sunrise, with wife Leslie joining 40 nature loving photographers on a behind the scenes tour of the Cosumnes River Preserve. Leslie was able to use a ginormous 600-millimeter lens provided by Canon and got this shot of Sandpipers in all of their jubilance.
The festival was well run and included something for all ages. Corky Quirk from NorCalBats provided a lot of interesting information about bats in the Sacramento Valley, a really cool and underappreciated mammal.
There were two different displays to learn about keeping our watersheds clean, plus wildlife artists with their works on display and a fun exhibit where you could dissect an owl pellet and learn more about their diet.
Speakers including Monica Iglecia of Audubon California and Khara Strum of PRBO Conservation Science, who addressed the important role Sacramento Valley rice fields play in maintaining healthy shorebird populations.
Add in interactive duck call lessons from Ducks Unlimited, art and crafts booths and a faux campfire to make your own complimentary S’mores and it was a fun and full day. Best of all this is a free event, so keep next year’s Galt Winter Bird Festival in mind, or the extremely popular Snow Goose Festival in Chico. Our organization is pleased to sponsor these festivals, as they are an important way for nature lovers to unite and celebrate how blessed we are to have those wondrous flocks of birds right in our backyard!
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathonsNew CRC Blog- Soup's On!
01.30.2012
By Julie Cader
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission, and a big proponent of trying new recipes- especially if they feature California rice.
My daughter, Jaime, and I are always testing new recipes. Jaime wanted to create a healthy twist on Tom Kha Coconut Soup. Combining light coconutmilk, fish sauce, garlic, scallions, ginger, basil, cilantro, lemongrass and pieces of Alaskan salmon, she complemented the delectable Thai soup withsoft and delicious California White Jasmine rice, an aromatic and exotic long grain rice that filled her kitchen with a wonderful delicate scent.
After we voraciously consumed the meal, we treated ourselves to tropical mango smoothies that had a taste that took us straight back to the islands!
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission, and a big proponent of trying new recipes- especially if they feature California rice.
My daughter, Jaime, and I are always testing new recipes. Jaime wanted to create a healthy twist on Tom Kha Coconut Soup. Combining light coconutmilk, fish sauce, garlic, scallions, ginger, basil, cilantro, lemongrass and pieces of Alaskan salmon, she complemented the delectable Thai soup withsoft and delicious California White Jasmine rice, an aromatic and exotic long grain rice that filled her kitchen with a wonderful delicate scent.
After we voraciously consumed the meal, we treated ourselves to tropical mango smoothies that had a taste that took us straight back to the islands!
New video- Snowy Egret goes on a tractor ride on a rice farm
01.27.2012
This Snowy Egret hitched a ride on a tractor at a family rice farm in the Sacramento Valley. Seeking warmth from a cold day, the bird took several rides on the tractor before flying away.
New- Egret riding on a tractor video
01.26.2012
This Snowy Egret hitched a ride on a tractor at a family rice farm in the Sacramento Valley. Seeking warmth from a cold day, the bird took several rides on the tractor before flying away.
New Sean Doherty Blog- The Heart of it all
01.26.2012
One of the benefits of being a rice farmer is having winter off. Well not really off because we still do some work in the shop getting the machinery ready for the spring. But generally speaking it’s a very welcome, slow time of year. I particularly enjoy these few rainy days we've had- at home with my feet up and a fire in the fireplace.
The reason that these days are so enjoyable is because of my wife Melissa. She is the most important person on our farm, which is quite an understatement. How she manages to simultaneously take care of us and put up with me is a wonder!
She doesn't enjoy a winter off. Spring and fall she is almost, but not quite, a single parent. Summers are spent with our wonderfully exuberant children. Any parent will understand the last part. My worries about our farm are her worries, although it never shows. She just reassures, and encourages me. She is center of our family, making our house a home, and our farm growing.
I can't imagine it's any different across the farms of the Central Valley. Being the spouse of a farmer is very challenging. I just want to make sure it does not go unappreciated or unmentioned.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.
He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.Read more about Sean in Rice Farming magazine
The reason that these days are so enjoyable is because of my wife Melissa. She is the most important person on our farm, which is quite an understatement. How she manages to simultaneously take care of us and put up with me is a wonder!
She doesn't enjoy a winter off. Spring and fall she is almost, but not quite, a single parent. Summers are spent with our wonderfully exuberant children. Any parent will understand the last part. My worries about our farm are her worries, although it never shows. She just reassures, and encourages me. She is center of our family, making our house a home, and our farm growing.
I can't imagine it's any different across the farms of the Central Valley. Being the spouse of a farmer is very challenging. I just want to make sure it does not go unappreciated or unmentioned.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
Ag Truck Owners- Reporting Deadline Extension Notice
01.25.2012
Please remember that annual mileage reporting is required for all trucks enrolled in the Air Resources Board’s (ARB) Agricultural Truck Program.
Due to the fact that ARB’s web-based reporting system is not yet up and running, the ARB has extended the January 31 reporting deadline to March 30, 2012.
Keep in mind that the mileage you will eventually report into the ARB’s system will be based on the odometer reading from January 1, 2012. You will need to log on to www.arb.ca.gov prior to March 30, 2012 to report your mileage.
Due to the fact that ARB’s web-based reporting system is not yet up and running, the ARB has extended the January 31 reporting deadline to March 30, 2012.
Keep in mind that the mileage you will eventually report into the ARB’s system will be based on the odometer reading from January 1, 2012. You will need to log on to www.arb.ca.gov prior to March 30, 2012 to report your mileage.
Guest video- Colusa County Plant turns rice hulls into clean energy
01.25.2012
Russ Hopper of Enpower Management Corp provides information on the Wadham Energy Plant near Williams, which burns rice hulls and creates electricity for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Northern California.
Blog by Mike Daddow- California Rice and the Aloha State
01.24.2012
Hawaiians love their California Calrose, and that’s wonderfully apparent for this vacationing rice farming family.Pallets of California Calrose are everywhere, including Walgreens, Safeway, Longs, and all the local Hawaiian markets.
Hawaiians seem to eat rice at every meal and it is found on almost all restaurant menus we’ve come across. Most menus here in Oahu list sides in this order: "rice, white or brown, french fries, mashed potatoes,” even for breakfast, and looking around that is what the locals prefer. One of the Hawaiians favorite breakfasts is the Loco Moco, which consists of a bowl of rice with a hamburger patty on top, topped with an egg and then smothered in brown gravy, yummy. I have had a Loco Moco before but today had the sausage, egg, rice combo pictured here.
While sightseeing around north shore on Oahu, we had lunch at one of the famous Shrimp Trucks featured on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.” The lunch was amazing and I bet you can guess what was included with the garlic shrimp plate I chose - two big scoops of California Calrose!
Mike Daddow ~ Farming in Sutter and Yolo Counties, Mike is the fourth generation of his family to grow rice in California. His great grandfather served as an engineer in Natomas and is credited with helping lay out the irrigation system for the region. Mike graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with two Bachelor of Science Degrees. He and his wife Susan have three boys – Max, Sam and Alex - who all help out on the farm when they can. When he isn’t growing rice, Mike puts his pilot’s license to good use.
Wet weather a welcome sight
01.20.2012
Finally some rain has fallen in the Sacramento Valley. This time of the year it’s only good news for rice farmers to see rain in the valley and snow in the higher elevations.
During this unseasonably dry stretch, many growers and myself were able to get a lot of outdoor work done, including laser leveling of some fields – which helps ensure we are most efficient with water. With the sunny days, we’ve also had opportunity for equipment repair and maintenance.
From the look of my area, migrating birds have really enjoyed the winter. I can’t recall seeing larger congregations of ducks and geese. At the nearby Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, there have been hundreds of thousands of birds as well.
Now that we have finally had some rainfall, we have battened down the hatches of our grain bins to make sure that the rough rice harvested last fall remains pristine.
I hope the rain keeps falling, so it can fill up our reservoirs. Once we get to late March, however, it would be nice to shift back to drier conditions. That’s when we make final preparations for planting our next rice crop.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
During this unseasonably dry stretch, many growers and myself were able to get a lot of outdoor work done, including laser leveling of some fields – which helps ensure we are most efficient with water. With the sunny days, we’ve also had opportunity for equipment repair and maintenance.
From the look of my area, migrating birds have really enjoyed the winter. I can’t recall seeing larger congregations of ducks and geese. At the nearby Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, there have been hundreds of thousands of birds as well.
Now that we have finally had some rainfall, we have battened down the hatches of our grain bins to make sure that the rough rice harvested last fall remains pristine.
I hope the rain keeps falling, so it can fill up our reservoirs. Once we get to late March, however, it would be nice to shift back to drier conditions. That’s when we make final preparations for planting our next rice crop.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
Appreciating Owls close up
01.20.2012
By Lori Heggen, California Rice Commission
This is the first in an occasional series of blogs from Lori, who works with California family rice farmers and millers.
Raptors and especially owls are my daughter’s favorite bird. Brenna draws them, writes stories and talks about them all the time. So, when I found out about the Northern Saw-Whet Owl monitoring program, I emailed the founder and Project Director, Dawn Garcia, immediately. Dawn is so great at sharing her love of birds and readily allowed us to observe banding these adorable owls.
Our night of banding started with setting up nets. The “bait” was recorded Saw-Whet calls. After setting up the nets, we retreated to await a capture. The banding team (Dawn, Julie and Jo) talked to Brenna about owls and kept my usually reserved 12 year-old chatty. It wasn’t long and we started hearing soft calls of Saw-Whets. Every half hour we would go and check the nets. It took three times, but at last there they were - three little winged creatures in the nets. They were all carefully removed and put into little sacks to await new bands. Each in turn was carefully measured, weighed, inspected and banded. I couldn’t believe how well they took to people handling them. They didn’t wiggle, fight or bite. They would just look at us with those big round eyes. I guess, thinking, “please don’t eat me!” After photos were taken and records were made, they were put back in their sacks to allow their eyes to readjust to the dark. After a few minutes (and all lights off) they were released back to the air. It was magical!
I did this for my daughter. But, I learned so much and fell in love with these little balls of feathers!
The Altacal Audubon Society and CSU Chico Reserves fund the NSWO banding program and all three of the banding team are participating as field trip leaders in different classes for the Snow Goose Festival held later this month. The Saw-Whet field trip is sold out, but we will be there taking another class on owls! BirdBling.blogspot.com
There’s more wildlife to see throughout the Sacramento Valley, where you’ll find nearly 230 wildlife species in rice fields and adjacent wetlands.
This is the first in an occasional series of blogs from Lori, who works with California family rice farmers and millers.
Raptors and especially owls are my daughter’s favorite bird. Brenna draws them, writes stories and talks about them all the time. So, when I found out about the Northern Saw-Whet Owl monitoring program, I emailed the founder and Project Director, Dawn Garcia, immediately. Dawn is so great at sharing her love of birds and readily allowed us to observe banding these adorable owls.
There’s more wildlife to see throughout the Sacramento Valley, where you’ll find nearly 230 wildlife species in rice fields and adjacent wetlands.
Guest video- Yolo Group helps students learn about nature
01.18.2012
Yolo Basin Foundation Executive Director Robin Kulakow describes how the Yolo Basin helps thousands of schoolchildren learn about their natural environment.
CRC blog post- Culinary Tour of Hawaii, Part Three
01.18.2012
By Julie Cader
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission. This is the third in an occasional series of blog posts about California rice cuisine. It’s her first trip to Hawaii in many years, where California rice is extremely popular.
A golfer's paradise combined with a foodie's paradise. Life is good!
Our adventures this morning took us to nearby Kapalua's Pineapple Hill overlooking the majestic golf greens of The Bay Course and groves of beautiful Norfolk pines.
Voted Maui Restaurant of the Year 2009-2011, the Pineapple Grill at Kapalua Resort is the local’s favorite place, relaxed but upscale. Our server, David, recommended we try the Loco Moco. We were in for a real treat!
On top of two scoops of Calrose rice was 1/2 pound of Maui-raised beef from the Maui Cattle Company, two free range Kapalua organic eggs, G-Man's jalapeño-Portuguese sausage gravy (plus an extra side of yummy gravy), the Loco Moco was truly an Island favorite!
The Pineapple Grill combined a menu to delight the senses of this foodie and an easy-going atmosphere where we all felt at home on our last day in the Islands. Mahalo.
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission. This is the third in an occasional series of blog posts about California rice cuisine. It’s her first trip to Hawaii in many years, where California rice is extremely popular.
A golfer's paradise combined with a foodie's paradise. Life is good!
Our adventures this morning took us to nearby Kapalua's Pineapple Hill overlooking the majestic golf greens of The Bay Course and groves of beautiful Norfolk pines.
The Pineapple Grill combined a menu to delight the senses of this foodie and an easy-going atmosphere where we all felt at home on our last day in the Islands. Mahalo.
New photo album
01.16.2012
Click here!
Community Pride alive and well in Maxwell
01.16.2012
It’s a new year, with new resolutions, new opportunities, and here in Maxwell new fundraisers.
Times can be tough nowadays, especially when involving budgets. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, our Ag shop classes at our highschool were threatened with cutbacks. This meant there would be no more wood, metal, or any advanced shop classes, which students and the community could not imagine Maxwell High School without.
In my last blog I mentioned a new fundraiser we would be trying in order to help our Ag Shop classes. Our new creative fundraiser was the “Rice Run!” Students enrolled in any type of Ag class showed up to help our plan take place. We decorated a rice trailer with posters, signs, and balloons. We would then go to different fields to collect as much rice as we could, hence “Rice Run.”
Our rice trailer then led our rice run journey to different rice fields in Maxwell and Williams. Students who could drive and our FFA advisors followed in pick-ups closely behind. We stopped at local rice farmers’ fields harvesting at the time and asked if they would like to donate any rice to be put into our trailer. We explained that we would use the money from all the rice we collected in the rice trailer to help save our Ag shop classes. All the rice farmers we asked were all very generous and donated some of their rice crop to our fundraiser. After we asked a farmer, he would send the bankout our way and it would help fill up our trailer. At the end of the day it was a fun way to help the shop program and we appreciated the donations very much.
Our community in Maxwell is absolutely amazing! Another huge act of generosity was shown when members of our community and local farmers helped turn empty fields behind the school that belonged to the Ag Department into rice fields that’s rice could be harvested and used to help support the Ag Shop as well. Not only did the community help prepare and clean out the field, their time and energy, but also the rice seed and fertilizers. I know that the Ag students at Maxwell immensely appreciated it. Our last newest fundraiser was our New Year’s Gala.
Ag students helped set up for the event by making table decorations, flyers, collecting raffle items for the auction, creating the programs for the event, serving as auction runners, and cleaning up after the event. Our New Year’s Gala included dinner, a band, and an auction. Overall the event went fantastically and we raised about $30,000, which absolutely thrilled us! Our teachers and students all appreciate and thank our community for everything they do for us. Without them, we’re not sure what we would do!
As for the rice fields today, many are flooded and filled with tons of ducks and geese, which is always a pretty sight to see. Basketball season has started and the Maxwell Panthers are doing great! We recently defeated a big rival, which was a huge win for us.
I hope everyone is enjoying watching the birds and is having a happy new year!
Lauren LaGrande is the latest in a family farming tradition that began nearly 100 years ago. She is a sophomore at Maxwell High School and is active in FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, volleyball, basketball and softball. When she’s on the farm, you’ll often see her with her trusted companion, Hank, the family dog. Lauren’s great-grandfather grew his first rice crop in the Sacramento Valley in 1916 and the family has continued this tradition ever since.
Times can be tough nowadays, especially when involving budgets. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, our Ag shop classes at our highschool were threatened with cutbacks. This meant there would be no more wood, metal, or any advanced shop classes, which students and the community could not imagine Maxwell High School without.
In my last blog I mentioned a new fundraiser we would be trying in order to help our Ag Shop classes. Our new creative fundraiser was the “Rice Run!” Students enrolled in any type of Ag class showed up to help our plan take place. We decorated a rice trailer with posters, signs, and balloons. We would then go to different fields to collect as much rice as we could, hence “Rice Run.”
Our rice trailer then led our rice run journey to different rice fields in Maxwell and Williams. Students who could drive and our FFA advisors followed in pick-ups closely behind. We stopped at local rice farmers’ fields harvesting at the time and asked if they would like to donate any rice to be put into our trailer. We explained that we would use the money from all the rice we collected in the rice trailer to help save our Ag shop classes. All the rice farmers we asked were all very generous and donated some of their rice crop to our fundraiser. After we asked a farmer, he would send the bankout our way and it would help fill up our trailer. At the end of the day it was a fun way to help the shop program and we appreciated the donations very much.
Our community in Maxwell is absolutely amazing! Another huge act of generosity was shown when members of our community and local farmers helped turn empty fields behind the school that belonged to the Ag Department into rice fields that’s rice could be harvested and used to help support the Ag Shop as well. Not only did the community help prepare and clean out the field, their time and energy, but also the rice seed and fertilizers. I know that the Ag students at Maxwell immensely appreciated it. Our last newest fundraiser was our New Year’s Gala.
Ag students helped set up for the event by making table decorations, flyers, collecting raffle items for the auction, creating the programs for the event, serving as auction runners, and cleaning up after the event. Our New Year’s Gala included dinner, a band, and an auction. Overall the event went fantastically and we raised about $30,000, which absolutely thrilled us! Our teachers and students all appreciate and thank our community for everything they do for us. Without them, we’re not sure what we would do!
As for the rice fields today, many are flooded and filled with tons of ducks and geese, which is always a pretty sight to see. Basketball season has started and the Maxwell Panthers are doing great! We recently defeated a big rival, which was a huge win for us.
I hope everyone is enjoying watching the birds and is having a happy new year!
Lauren LaGrande is the latest in a family farming tradition that began nearly 100 years ago. She is a sophomore at Maxwell High School and is active in FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, volleyball, basketball and softball. When she’s on the farm, you’ll often see her with her trusted companion, Hank, the family dog. Lauren’s great-grandfather grew his first rice crop in the Sacramento Valley in 1916 and the family has continued this tradition ever since.
CRC blog- Hawaiian Cuisine often has a California-grown ingredient
01.16.2012
By Julie Cader
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission. This is the second in an occasional series of blog posts about California rice cuisine. It’s her first trip to Hawaii in many years, where California rice is extremely popular.
Aloha from Maui!
Our travels today took us to one of the best-known fish taco restaurants in Kihei. Rated 2010 Top Maui Restaurant, and known for their healthy dishes and unique ambiance, Coconut's Fish Café prepared the best fish tacos we've ever had, served local-style with California brown rice. After we ordered at the counter, we enjoyed our meal on Coconut's one-of-a-kind surfboard tables.
Welcomed by owner Mike Phillips, we were honored to be introduced to well-known Hawaiian, Kimokeo Kapahulehua, as seen in the attached photo. With his passion for canoe voyaging and mission of responsible stewardship, land preservation, respect for the sea and Hawaiian ancestors, "Uncle Kimokeo" is a pillar of the Maui community. The painting in the background truly reflects Kimokeo's aloha spirit.
If you are looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner, try Coconut's Fish Café in the Azeka Mauka Center at 1279 South Kihei Road. Tell Mike we said
Aloha!
Ending the Day in Kihei
After spending the afternoon hiking to the Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle rising 2,250 feet high in the Iao Valley, we wanted to witness the Kihei sunset, a beautiful way to end the day on the islands. We chose LuLu's Maui, a fun, open-air, family restaurant to capture this surreal moment in time.
Greeted by our server, Jocelyn, we sipped on Mai Tai's and enjoyed great food, including fresh local fish, fresh Maui grown produce and California Calrose rice. The restaurant menu at LuLu's blends traditional Hawaiian meals, dishes from the Pacific Rim, and favorites from an American café.
Not to be missed, LuLu's is located just off South Kihei Road up on the 2nd floor of Kihei Kalama Village, directly across from the Kalama Beach Park and the Pacific Ocean.
Mahalo.
Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission. This is the second in an occasional series of blog posts about California rice cuisine. It’s her first trip to Hawaii in many years, where California rice is extremely popular.
Aloha from Maui!
Our travels today took us to one of the best-known fish taco restaurants in Kihei. Rated 2010 Top Maui Restaurant, and known for their healthy dishes and unique ambiance, Coconut's Fish Café prepared the best fish tacos we've ever had, served local-style with California brown rice. After we ordered at the counter, we enjoyed our meal on Coconut's one-of-a-kind surfboard tables.
Welcomed by owner Mike Phillips, we were honored to be introduced to well-known Hawaiian, Kimokeo Kapahulehua, as seen in the attached photo. With his passion for canoe voyaging and mission of responsible stewardship, land preservation, respect for the sea and Hawaiian ancestors, "Uncle Kimokeo" is a pillar of the Maui community. The painting in the background truly reflects Kimokeo's aloha spirit.
If you are looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner, try Coconut's Fish Café in the Azeka Mauka Center at 1279 South Kihei Road. Tell Mike we said
Aloha!
Ending the Day in Kihei
After spending the afternoon hiking to the Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle rising 2,250 feet high in the Iao Valley, we wanted to witness the Kihei sunset, a beautiful way to end the day on the islands. We chose LuLu's Maui, a fun, open-air, family restaurant to capture this surreal moment in time.
Not to be missed, LuLu's is located just off South Kihei Road up on the 2nd floor of Kihei Kalama Village, directly across from the Kalama Beach Park and the Pacific Ocean.
Mahalo.
Encouraging Armstrong & Getty on the phrase “Sushi Chef”
01.13.2012
Americans love sushi, but saying sushi chef can be challenging. Watch the end for a surprise sushi great- Taro Arai of Mikuni!
Listen for California Rice commercials on Armstrong & Getty, weekday mornings on Talk 650 KSTE.
Listen for California Rice commercials on Armstrong & Getty, weekday mornings on Talk 650 KSTE.