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Ag Day brings farm to Great Valley
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Martin Mijares brought his quarter horse named Chocolate to the Great Valley farm event. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT/The Bulletin
WESTON RANCH – Great Valley School’s Agriculture Education Day was marked by several firsts.

For starters, the annual event was the first time in its eight years that the entire school was able to share in the experience.

“We used to be on year-round tracks. It really made it tough for those off-track to attend,” organizer Jeannie Pacheco said.

She estimated 1,300 students attending the event held on Friday.

Ag day received financial support from the school’s Parents Teachers Committee, private donations, and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.

It was the first time that the South San Joaquin Irrigation District contributed to this particular farm day.

“We saw this as a wonderful opportunity – a win-win,” said SSJID communication coordinator Troylene Sayler.

SSJID recently awarded the school with a grant of $1,000 from its Community Education and Awareness Program.

Pacheco said the grant made possible the water cycle bracelets for the entire student body. The presentation was conducted by Lathrop High AVID students.

SSJID also conducted a presentation, displaying the same irrigation model used at the Manteca AgVenture.

This year’s Ag Education Day included over 50 presenters. Some were parents of Great Valley students while others were from the Weston Ranch High chapter of Future Farmers of America and the surrounding counties making up different aspects of agriculture.

But it was the students who greatly benefitted.

“I look forward to farm day,” said sixth-grade student Avi Rekhi, who has been attending the Great Valley event every year since kindergarten. “I always like seeing the animals.”

Connie Thompson, who has been a long-time parent of the school, brought in her 3-year-old rabbit, Pip.

“It’s always surprising for me to hear students say this was their first time ever petting a rabbit,” she said.