Local business receives award for school partnerships
For The Madera Tribune
Agriland Farming received the Crystal Tower Award at the 17th Annual Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon hosted by the Madera County Compact. From left are Todd Lile, Madera Unified School District Superintendent; Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools; Jim Maxwell, Agriland Farming founder; and Kevin Herman, Madera County Compact Chair.
Agriland Farming received the Crystal Tower Award at the 17th annual Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon, hosted by the Madera County Compact.
Jim Maxwell, CEO and founder of Agriland Farming, received the award during the luncheon on Aug. 30.
The business was recognized for their partnerships with Madera County schools in front of more than 125 business and community leaders.
Agriland Farming was nominated by Kimberly Bitter, from Madera Unified School District; Danene Guglielmana, from Eastin-Arcola Elementary School; and Kristin McKenna, from Madera Unified School District. Agriland Farming has been a partner with schools throughout the district for more than 10 years.
Agriland Farming regularly “adopts” schools and helps them beautify their campus by adding drip irrigation, plants, fresh paint, and providing maintenance. They also complete various projects on campus that are specific to each school site.
Every year Agriland provides Christmas dinners for Madera Unified families in need and the company has an internal scholarship program for children of their employees.
Each year, Agriland Farming is a major contributor to the Madera Unified’s Ag Camp and hosts students at their site to show them various aspects of the ag industry.
Agriland exemplifies the Madera County Compact’s mission, “Working in partnership with education to prepare young people for the increasing demands of society and the workplace.”
“The dedication Agriland has for our students and the community as a whole is outstanding and comes from the heart,” said Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “We are so privileged to work alongside this business to help shape the future, promote student success and change the lives of their families by building our local workforce.”
The luncheon highlighted the exceptional student work Madera County has to offer. Madera South High School students created table centerpieces and filmed a video which highlighted Agriland’s partnership.
Two students from Madera County Superintendent of Schools Pioneer Technical Center spoke on the positive impact Career Technical Education programs have had in their lives. Desiree Barajas, currently in the Construction Technology and Welding Process and Fabrication programs and Fidel Jimenez, in the Welding Process and Fabrication program both spoke of the importance of the program for their future.
The luncheon was hosted by the Madera County Compact and was held at the office of the Madera County Superintendent of Schools. It was sponsored by Camarena Health, Deerpoint Group, Educational Employees Credit Union, Madera County Superintendent of Schools, The Specialty Crop Company, State Center Community College District, and UC Merced Center for Educational Partnerships.
The Madera County Compact is a group of business, community and education leaders working collaboratively to support efforts to improve the quality of life in Madera County.
They promote business partnerships with schools to improve the achievement levels and skills of students and prepare young people for the increasing demands of college and career.
Past recipients of the Crystal Tower Award include A/Dolphin Associates, B-K Lighting, Bridge Store, Robert Brosi, D.D.S., Camarena Health, Citizens Business Bank, Delaware North (Tenaya Lodge), Educational Employees Credit Union, Evapco West, Greenleaf Orchards, JBT FoodTech, Kern Family Farms, Kings Valley Industries, Kuckenbecker Tractor, Madera Agricultural Services, Madera Community Hospital, Madera Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Movies Madera, Mowers Plus, Oakhurst Physical Therapy, Ozterity Lighting, Pacific Ethanol, Pete’s Sport Shop, Ponderosa Telephone, Rancho San Miguel, Round Table Pizza, Sierra Ambulance, Sierra Telephone, S & J Lumber, Valley Bowl, The Vineyard Restaurant, Vulcan Materials, WestCoast Products & Design.
