AgTEC Students & Faculty Share Successes with Statewide Partners

Representatives from AgSTEP recently visited the Central Valley to see firsthand how the F3 Initiative's AgTEC Workforce program has transformed agricultural education across the region. Led by former AgTEC Director and Arken Strategies founder Karen Aceves, the two-day tour brought together partners from across California as AgSTEP prepares to launch similar programs at additional community colleges throughout the state.

The group visited Clovis Community College, Reedley College, and Merced College, where faculty, staff, and students shared how they built the AgTEC program from the ground up and the impact it continues to have on learners, farmworkers, and local employers. Student testimonials offered a powerful reminder that AgTEC is more than a workforce training program—it's creating new opportunities and changing lives by meeting students where they are and preparing them for careers in modern agriculture.

"To the students who bravely shared their stories with us despite their nerves, thank you. You reminded all of us why this work matters. Your message was powerful and your ask was clear. 'How do we make programs like this stay? How do we build more of them?' " - Karen Aceves, Arken Strategies

As the AgTEC model continues to expand across California, the visit reinforced the strength of the partnerships that made it possible and the potential to bring these opportunities to even more students. By sharing lessons learned and celebrating the successes of Central Valley colleges, AgTEC is helping inspire the next chapter of workforce development throughout the state.

"I am so incredibly proud of what has been built here over the last four years," said Aceves on her LinkedIn post. "Our partners are changing lives, creating opportunity, and impacting generations." 

She also praised the participating colleges for their unwavering commitment to the program, noting that they have worked to make AgTEC "the new standard for what education can and should be."

Learn more and sign-up for the F3 AGTEC program as a student or employer partner at https://f3agtec.org/

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