Frequently Asked Questions About Focus Agriculture

1. What are the benefits of participating in Agri-Culture’s Focus Ag class? 

Focus Agriculture is a first-in-the-nation, national award winning program. It allows community leaders to have a two-way conversation with people involved in agriculture. The program is structured so that participants gain in-depth knowledge of the many commodities, issues and people involved in local agriculture here in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.

2. Who is in the class? 

The program is designed so that community leaders from the different fields within the county participate. These include elected officials, appointed representatives, non-profits, news media, local business, environmental groups, educators, etc.

3. Who does the training? 

Each segment of the sessions are presented by knowledgeable individuals on the day’s particular subject. In most cases, it is local individuals who are directly involved in the specific subject. As an example, a grower may speak on the affect of land use planning and a governmental agency may explain urban growth demands. An environmental advocate may talk about water quality. The program is proud to always present both sides of issues. Agricultural issues change and the program changes as well. We rely on the participant evaluations of each session to make the program better.

4. Where do these Focus Agriculture classes meet? 

Classes are held throughout Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley to give participants a first had experience of the different geographic and microclimates that exist in this unique area.

5. How long is the Focus Agriculture program, and when does it start? 

The program consists of nine one-day-per-month sessions. It begins in March and ends in November.

6. Must I attend every class day, and are there extra-curricular requirements? 

The program is very strict on attendance. None of the presenters are paid for their time. We receive more applications than we select so it’s important that the participants attend. There are no extra curricular requirements as part of the program. It is hoped that after a person has graduated from Focus Agriculture, he/she will become more aware and involved in agricultural issues.

7. What is the application deadline? 

The deadline for applications for the program varies each year but it is normally the middle of January.

8. What is the cost of Focus Agriculture class? 

Focus Agriculture costs approximately $3,000 per participant. The participant is only responsible for $1,500 of the tuition of which $350 will be returned upon perfect attendance.

9. What are our expectations of our participants? 

In addition to fully participating in the classes, we expect participants to share what they have learned with friends, colleagues and others in the community. As a result, the program’s impacts are greatly multiplied.

Focus Agriculture 2025 Schedule

Session Dates

• Friday, March 14, 2025
• Friday, April 11, 2025
• Friday, May 9, 2025
• Friday, June 6, 2025
• Wednesday, June 25, 2025
• Wednesday, July 30, 2025*
  (Day on the Farm)
  *Or a date in August mutually agreed by both parties
• Wednesday, August 20, 2025
• Friday, September 26, 2025
• Friday, October 24, 2025

Participants are required to attend all sessions.