‘Agriculture in the Classroom’ Returns with Video & Activity Booklet

This year, instead of the students coming to the farm, the farm comes to the students!

Maui County Farm Bureau’s popular “Agriculture in the Classroom” (AIC) program has been around since 2006, and usually features an annual field trip that takes kids Upcountry to the heart of Maui’s ag community at Haleakala Ranch. But for 2021, teams from Haleakala Ranch, Maui Electric, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources and UH Maui’s Master Gardener Program, Bayer, and Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts have put together an educational video and a fun, colorful activity booklet.

“We wanted to keep agriculture a part of the second-grade experience, even though we cannot host the students in person for our annual field trip,” said Maggie Kramp, Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts. “We had fun filming our segments, and hope the students will enjoy the lessons as much as possible until we can see each other again in person.”

The six lessons are: “Watersheds” presented by Jordan Jokiel, VP/Land Management, Haleakala Ranch “Healthy Soil” presented by Jessica Talbot, Sabrina Medina, Kelly Butler with Maggie Kramp, Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts “Canoe Plants” presented by Eric DelMaria, Master Gardener Program, CTAHR “Parts of a Plant” presented by Brian Hopper, Bayer “Powered by Fruits” presented by Shayna Decker, Maui Electric “The Role of Stockdogs on a Ranch” by Greg Friel, VP/Livestock, Haleakala Ranch

Teachers can opt to show the AIC video in class at one time or over a period of days or weeks. Each lesson plan runs for 12 to 15 minutes. The companion booklet allows teachers and students to review the lesson plans in a printed format and complete a variety of exercises. Students can also watch the videos and work on the activity booklet while they learn from home. Until regulations allow more than 1,200 second graders to pile on big yellow schoolbuses and head Upcountry (hopefully in 2022!), AIC farmers, ranchers and ag educators hope the virtual version of their lessons will still provide enjoyment and inspiration.

“Teaching second-graders about watersheds and the importance of water for everyone and everything, including agriculture, is something I’m excited about,” Jokiel said. “It’s never too early to provide children (and teachers/parents) with information they can think about and practice in their daily lives.”

The AIC information is created for second-graders in all schools: public, private or charter, or at-home learning. The video link and booklets will be provided to second grades across Maui, through MCFB’s partnership with County of Maui and Office of Economic Development.

“Mahalo to all our ag partners who have made this possible!” said Warren Watanabe, MCFB executive director. “Our keiki benefit tremendously from this early knowledge about their natural environment and how that’s connected to agriculture on Maui.”

Contact MCFB if you or your school would like to receive the video and activity booklet. To sign up for AIC 2022, our email is education@mauicountyfarmbureau.org.

MCFB-Sponsored ‘Cooking Hawaiian Style’ Gets Rave Reviews With the beauty of Maui’s green, wide open spaces as backdrop, “Cooking Hawaiian Style” grilled, chopped, steamed and sauteed through several days of shooting in mid-April. The locally produced television show set up its outdoor kitchen at Kula Country Farms and Kaonoulu Ranch, with 13 Maui guests joining host Lanai Tabura in action. Participants were enthusiastic in their responses.

“I was very impressed with the organization and detail,” said Kimo Falconer, president of MauiGrown Coffee, Inc. “I knew right away this was going to be a solid production. I’ve never been asked or even thought I had anything to contribute to a cooking show, and I came away feeling my dishes will be appreciated, especially being slotted between two well-known chefs!”

“Promoting local ag couldn’t have been better represented with that venue!” Falconer said. “It was so beautiful with all the cattle, goats, strawberries, chickens, etc. in the background.”

For Executive Chef Tylun Pang of The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, the experience was especially enjoyable as a fan of the show. “I like Lanai’s message of island culture to the audience and the diversity of his guests,” Pang said. “I believe a greater focus on sustainability and diversifying our local agriculture will be key to the islands’ economic future. Venues like this show are the perfect vehicle to get the word out to our community that every local purchase is important and can make a difference.”

Maui County Farm Bureau is proud to be the show’s title sponsor this season, in partnership with the County of Maui. “We appreciate this opportunity to showcase Grown on Maui products,” said Warren Watanabe, executive director of MCFB, “and to remind viewers that preserving our crop and ranch lands is an essential part of island stewardship.” The backdrop chosen by show director/partner Ruben Carrillo was the vast working, green space that stretches from upper Kula past the Kula Ag Park in Pūlehu and Ōmaʻopio down to the central valley, which was once filled with sugarcane and is now being planted with a range of agricultural crops by Mahi Pono. Framing the shot was the southern coastline to the left and the West Maui Mountains. Along with the island herself, the stars of the show were definitely the Grown on Maui produce and proteins, including Maui Cattle Co.’s ground beef and top sirloin, Maui Kula Onions, cacao from Ku‘ia Farms in Lahaina, MauiGrown/Kāʻanapali Estate Coffee, Yee’s mangoes, a wide range of vegetables, Kula Country Farms strawberries and the soon-to-be new big crop for Kula Country Farms: blueberries.  Maui agriculture will also shine with a commercial featuring Maui working agriculture lands of Maui Gold Pineapple and its production facility, Mahi Pono and more.

“Cooking Hawaiian Style” Season 15 features 13 guests – five are MCFB representatives and the others are guests of CHS including big wave surfer Ian Walsh who makes his famous smash burger with ground beef from Maui Cattle Company (pictured above).

“Filming live for television is a bit beyond my comfort zone, especially as a ‘chef,’” said Hiranaga. “I had a wonderful time and was pleased to see how professional and well-organized everything was. Everyone on the team worked so well together. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together when the shows air in July.”

In addition to Walsh, Pang and Falconer, the other guests are: Gunars Valkirs, CEO of Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate; Kyle Caires, MCFB president; Sissy Farm-Lake, executive director of Bailey House and Maui Historical Society; Ikaika Blackburn, recording artist; Ridge Lenny, surfer; Chef Sheldon Simeon, Tin Roof; Chef Alvin Savella, Mala Ocean Tavern; Chef Noel Cleary and Chef Peter Pak, Maui Culinary Arts Program; Relle Lum, “Keeping It Relle” blogger; and Lois Hiranaga, floral designer. The season will air on OC-16 starting July 5. Photos: Ryan Sakamoto.

At this time, the legislative session is in its’ final week. There have been many conference committee meetings as legislators work on reaching agreement on various bills. We will provide a report on the final decisions on the HFB bills and other agriculture related bills next month. We thank those of you that provided testimonies on measures important to you and the industry. The Maui County Council is currently deliberating the County FY22 budget. We are very fortunate that Mayor Victorino has included the MCFB line item in his proposed budget. Your board of directors, representatives from the commodity groups, and the Kula Vacuum Cool board of directors has provided oral or written testimony in support of our budget. We also support funding for CTAHR and Maui SWCD who provide services critical to Maui agriculture. We are hopeful the County Council will continue their support of MCFB, CTAHR, and Maui SWCD.

Warren K. Watanabe
Executive Director 

In 2020, our board of directors set aside a budget and time to work on a MCFB 2021-22 strategic plan. Earlier this year, we started the strategic planning process, and we are making great progress. Thus far, we have agreed on objectives to: 1.    Ground Mission clarity (our essential purpose). 2.    Building organizational capacity and resilience to ensure long-term sustainability. 3.    Develop and implement a 2021-22 roadmap to guide the future of MCFB. To further these objectives and develop a plan, MCFB contracted organizational development consultant and strategic planning veteran Linda Morgan. At this time, Linda has completed the information-gathering phase of the process, gaining a wealth of information resulting from21 interviews conducted with representatives from government, education, partnerships, affiliates, MCFB membership, commercial ag and nonmembers. MCFB’s Board of Directors met May 1 to work with feedback gathered and develop our road map for 2021-2022. The final plan draft is expected to be completed by late May and launched into action soon thereafter. As always, we welcome input from our members and look forward to keeping you updated as we go. We are encouraged by the community’s responsiveness, and willingness to collaborate in our strategic planning process. To all those who have worked with MCFB to make this timely initiative a reality, mahalo nui loa! Kyle Caires, Ph.D. President, Maui County Farm Bureau, Board of Directors

Owners and founders Teena and Chauncy Monden have built their farm into an important agricultural hub over the past 13 years. Their main year-round crops are Kula onions and strawberries, and they also farm different seasonal crops, like blueberries, asparagus, squashes, pumpkins, avocados, flowers, and many different types of veggies and citrus. As well as fresh fruits and veggies from the Mondens’ farm, the farmstand also provides a diverse storefront for many other Maui farms.

“We are so fortunate to have a bunch of Maui farmers that allow us to sell their products,” Teena says. “We’ve got Mr. Howard Hashimoto who drops off his cabbage every Monday, and we also get his persimmons from his family trees. B. Otani Farms gives us carrots, beans and broccoli. Mr. Evonuk drops off his herbs on Fridays. Triple N Farms harvests their lettuce and bok choy for us every Monday, and sometimes sell their family’s pineapples and persimmons too. Occasionally, we also sell Waipoli’s greens. Waihe‘e Valley Plantation drops off their tomatoes and mac nuts. We also have Ono Organic who supplies us papayas and bananas, Jamie Shishido brings green onions and cilantro, Kula ʻAina drops off sprouts and spring mix, and Ricky Kametani brings us fresh ginger.”

The Mondens lease approximately 70 acres from Kaono‘ulu Ranch and employ nine people. In addition to their regular produce, the Mondens sell their own strawberry jams, BBQ sauces and strawberry lemonade, as well as their own blueberry and strawberry plants, and farm-grown succulents. They also offer fresh local honey from Ali‘i Bee, jams and salts from Jeff’s Jams and Jellies, liliko‘i curd and poha jams from JYY, Inc., Mr. Shim’s Kula coffee, Haleakala Creamery’s caramels, and Maui Mamaki Tea bags. Farmers drop by occasionally wanting to sell their seasonal fruits and veggies to the community—like mangoes from the Yee’s Orchard, and lilikoi, lychee and sugarcane from Puakane Farm. The plant shop features flowers from Jodean Wong, tropical bunches all the way from Hana from Matt and Barbara Keiley, and plants from Pukalani Plant Company. Kula neighbors bring over seasonal crafts, jewelry and art for sale.

“We always look forward to seeing and talking to our farmers and neighbors, and every week it’s something!” Teena says. “Our farmstand is a great place to come up and spend time with your family, whether it’s the strawberry u-pick, the pumpkin patch, or just visiting our gardens and our farm animals. We love our community, and since our farmstand has been open, it has been a gathering spot. We are very grateful for our farm, our family, all of our farming friends, neighbors, and all of our farm visitors and customers.”

Lois Hiranaga, floral designer, with Lanai Tabura on the set of “Cooking Hawaiian Style” with a dessert featuring Kula Country Farms strawberries.

Farmstand hours are Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays. U-pick strawberries are available Wednesdays and Saturdays through the month of June, weather permitting.

Agriculture in the (Virtual) Classroom As we reported at the start of our newsletter. MCFB’s annual field trip is available via video and activity booklet. Teachers can contact MCFB at info@mauicountyfarmbureau.org to receive the link and booklet.

Mahalo to our agriculture partners: Bayer, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, Haleakalā Ranch, Maui Electric, and Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

A grand mahalo to Lynne Woods for chairing the membership committee. We appreciate your time and support.

Looking for a fun way to meet Maui’s farmers, ranchers, agricultural businesses and friends of agriculture? Join us on our Membership Committee. Also, let us know if you would like to step in and chair this committee.

General Membership Meetings – stay tuned for our next general membership meeting in June. Members are also welcome to join MCFB’s monthly board meetings held on the last Wednesday of each month, 5 pm – 6:30 pm. We will resume in person meetings this month. Please contact WarrenMCFB@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Join MCFB! – Membership in the Maui County Farm Bureau is your best way to stay informed on all agricultural programs, issues, and educational opportunities that can impact your family farm or ranch. If you are a Friend of a Farmer, we welcome your support as well. Our new online portal makes paying for your membership easy and convenient. Learn about membership benefits here. Through your membership support, MCFB is able to advocate for the entire agriculture community.Join or renew membership here.