Tulare County To Honor Ag Museum Donors

November 18, 2011

Tulare County History of Farm Labor & Agriculture Museum officials will recognize Southern California Edison and the Tulare County Office of Education for providing more than $200,000 of in-kind and financial donations. All donations made were used towards creating and providing programming for the museum’s Learning Center.

An event to recognize the two donors will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 21 at the Ag Museum at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia. During the event, a fixture honoring the donors will be unveiled above the doors at the museum’s Learning Center. Students from local schools will also view a newly created video featuring the history of the Yokuts Tribe.

“The success of the Ag Museum is not possible without the generous in-kind and monetary support of Southern California Edison, the Tulare County Office of Education and many other community donors,” said Mike Ennis, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “Tulare County is proud to recognize these two donors by having a permanent fixture placed in the museum.”

Currently, the museum’s Learning Center hosts thousands of students each year who are studying local history. For each new exhibition, the Tulare County Office of Education’s Impact Center staff creates videos for students to view in the Learning Center. These films bring to life the stories of the ethnic groups featured in the exhibition, while addressing California State Content Standards for History/Social Science. 

“We are proud to be a partner in the History of Farm Labor & Agriculture Museum,” said Jim Vidak, Tulare County Superintendent of Schools. “The exhibitions and videos provide students with a rich perspective on the immigrant and native groups that made Tulare County one of the world’s foremost agricultural producers.”
                                                            
Students from Stone Corral Elementary School and Sundale Union School will attend Monday’s event and have the first view of a new video that provides information on the Yokuts Tribe. In addition, Southern California Edison will showcase “Electrification of Tulare County,” an exhibit which tells the story of the company’s 125 years of serving Tulare County.

“There is no more meaningful way for Edison International to celebrate 125 years of history than to be counted as a partner with the Tulare County Office of Education in the mission of this museum and learning center,” said Bill DeLain, Southern California Edison Region Manager.