Growing our Future Capital Campaign
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Center for Land-Based Learning?
Why does the Center for Land-Based Learning need more space?
What is the timeline for the move?
Where is the site?
Who are the leaders of this project?
How will the Growing Our Future Campaign’s Innovation Fund be used?
What is the campaign goal and how will the funds be used?
Who is the architect and building team?
What is the Center for Land-Based Learning?
The Center for Land-Based Learning (originally called the FARMS Leadership Program) was founded in 1993 by walnut farmers Craig and Julie McNamara at a small 5 acre site in Winters. California. Since that time, we have inspired, educated and cultivated future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. From new farmers and entrepreneurs who need access to land and capital, to high school students just starting to explore career paths, the Center for Land-Based Learning provides the training, direction and resources that lead to success.
Our broad spectrum of programs, services and audiences make the Center for Land-Based Learning a unique driver of the California’s workforce development efforts and agricultural economy.
Why does the Center for Land-Based Learning need more space?
As the statewide demand for the Center for Land-Based Learning’s programs, services and expertise has increased, our impact and momentum have exceeded our capacity. Our ability to meet the increasingly critical needs of California is limited by the size of our facilities.
In 1993, our FARMS Leadership Program brought 30 students from the Bay Area and Yolo County into the region’s first high school educational program centered on agriculture and the environment. And now, 25 years later, that program connects more than 400 students from 58 California high schools to careers in agriculture. The size, scope and complexity of our programs have increased exponentially, but our facilities have remained the same: All of this work has been accomplished on the original site in Winters.
The Growing Our Future Campaign and the unique partnership we’ve established with Clark Pacific, Inc., will allow us to move our statewide headquarters to a larger site in Woodland, California. This opportunity provides:
- A centralized and highly visible location
- New facilities for housing our statewide headquarters, farming operations and training space
- More acreage for training farmers and educating students
- The capacity to expand existing programs and launch new ones
What is the timeline for the move?
Our architectural plans are in place and construction is projected to be completed by early 2020.
Our new site — a historic Yolo County farm just north of Woodland — is the perfect location for the Center for Land-Based Learning to train a new generation of agricultural industry leaders and farmers. Its proximity to Sacramento and the I-5 and I-505 corridors make the site accessible and visible. This will help create and solidify relationships with complementary organizations and the Central Valley farming community, and it places us within “influencer range” of the state capital and statewide leaders in agriculture and environmental resources.
With 30 acres of prime farmland, the Center for Land-Based Learning’s Farm Academy program can expand to help meet the industry’s workforce demands. Farmers-in-training will have the opportunity to consider perennial crops, such as orchards or vineyards. The new barns will enable large volumes of harvested crops to be processed, washed, packed and put in cool storage, while serving as a teaching facility for these processes.
Who are the leaders of this project?
The Growing Our Future Campaign has widespread support from business, community and political leaders across the state. View the Campaign Leadership »
How will the Growing Our Future Campaign’s Innovation Fund be used?
The Innovation Fund is an essential element of the Growing Our Future Campaign that allows us to take immediate advantage of the additional space and resources our new location provides. The Innovation Fund will support new programming that maximizes the impact and opportunities of our new location.
What is the campaign goal and how will the funds be used?
The Growing Our Future Campaign is an investment in the Center for Land-Based Learning’s future. It is designed to raise all the necessary funds to support this exciting growth opportunity by early 2020. Gifts and pledges are now being solicited as donors and friends join the effort to create a powerful, sustainable future for the Center for Land-Based Learning.
The $4 million campaign goal will be used to cover all construction, renovation and moving expenses associated with the move to our new Woodland headquarters.
Who is the architect and building team?
The architect for the project is Eric L. Doud, DESIGNWORKS; Steve Harrison of Harrison Construction is serving as general contractor for the project. The construction sub-contractors will be selected by late spring.
<< Back to the Center for Land-Based Learning Capital Campaign page.
Leadership Donors
Thank you to our leadership donors, whose commitment and support have made this move possible.
Mimi and Peter Haas Fund Craig & Julie McNamara John & Louise Bryson |
Leadership Donor Photo Gallery
Photos, from left to right: Representatives of Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Craig and Julie McNamara and Farm Credit Staff.