First we’d like to acknowledge the many people who made this project possible:
Funding for this project was provided by a grant from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Many thanks and gratitude to the following individuals who provided their assistance in this project:
Agricultural History Project Steering Committee:
Donna Bradford
Bob Culbertson
Lynne Grossi
Jeannie Kegebein
John Kegebein
Nic Keiderling
Stan Nielson
Laura Rider
Sheila Prader
Many thanks also to Kelsey Waugaman, Linda Lorenzen, Jennifer Keiderling, Jeannie Kegebein and Kaleena Kane, all of whom provided valuable assistance in helping to complete this project.
Thanks to Donna Bradford for her project leadership,and to Jeannie and John Kegebein and Lynne Grossi for their insight and assistance; to Lindsey Roberts and Stephanie Fontana, who helped with graphics, email and social media outreach, and to Lisa Bennett, who provided invaluable assistance with methodologies and data analysis.
377 surveys were completed online and in printed form from which the data were later entered into the system.
Overall, the results of both the focus group study and the online community survey indicated that there is a strong desire for a living history farm as a vehicle to tell the regional stories of farming, agriculture, food sciences, geography and people. It can provide education and skills-training opportunities for children and youth, volunteer opportunities for youth and adults, and add to the economic vitality of the region.
However, at the same time, just over half to two-thirds of survey takers indicated they had either no or just some level of interest in supporting the farm through donations, membership or as a volunteer. Each of these sources of revenue are important for success, so these results should be cautionary. That said, interest and excitement could very well change and grow as plans move forward and the farm begins to become more of a reality.
At the November meeting, the Agricultural History Project board of directors voted to put together an advisory committee to explore the details involved with executing a living history farm.
