On Saturday, March 21, Fresno Chaffee Zoo will host Ag Day: Seed to Table, a vibrant celebration honoring the region that helps feed our community—and the world. This special event invites families, farmers, innovators, youth leaders, and community members to come together for a fun, hands-on experience that highlights the richness and diversity of agriculture across our region. Through interactive activities and engaging experiences, guests will have the opportunity to connect with others and celebrate the vital role agriculture plays in our community.
Throughout the day, guests will explore the many ways agriculture shapes life in the Central Valley. Interactive activities and community resource booths will highlight the importance of buying produce in season, reducing food waste, and strengthening local food systems. We are thrilled to have Chef Betsy Wiegand providing live cooking demonstrations during the event. There will be opportunities for visitors to learn practical tips for preparing nutritious meals using fresh ingredients, growing vegetables at home, composting, and preserving harvests through techniques such as canning and pickling.
Ag Day will also honor the rich agricultural heritage of the Central Valley and the migrant farm workers whose labor and stories have helped shape our food system. Through storytelling woven throughout the event, guests will gain a deeper appreciation for the people behind the harvest and the cultural traditions that influence how food is grown, prepared, and shared.
A highlight of the day will be the recognition of our Community Hero, Rizpah Bellard, President and Lead Agriculturalist of Nova Farming. A graduate of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Rizpah is dedicated to bridging the growing gap between people and their food through hands-on agricultural education. Through Nova Farming, she works with youth and beginning farmers and ranchers to create pathways to higher education, careers in agriculture, and more sustainable food systems.
Bellard’s leadership and impact have been widely recognized. She was named 2024 New Farmer of the Year by Community Alliance with Family Farmers, included in COWGIRL Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2024, and received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Jim Costa.
Guests will also enjoy live music from Ted Nunes, an Americana singer-songwriter born and raised in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley. For more than twenty-five years, Nunes has written and performed music inspired by the landscapes and people of the region and will bring an authentic Central Valley voice to our Ag Day celebration.
Fresh, locally grown produce will be provided to guests by Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), F3 Local, Donald Sherman with Sherman Produce Market, Miguel Avendaño Reyes from Siembra y Cosecha Farm, and Sarah Weil from Twin Tree Farms. Rooted in the real-world needs of working farmers, these organizations recognize growers from diverse backgrounds as vital knowledge holders and partners in building a stronger agricultural community. Through their work, they provide farmers with practical resources, information, and support that meet them where they are. Their initiatives help farmers become strong stewards of the land while advancing technology, encouraging enterprise growth, and strengthening the local food system. Together, these efforts support a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future for Central Valley farmers and the entire community.
Guests will be able to enjoy science displays from some of the Central Valley’s brilliant young minds with F3i Innovate, can take a visual and audio tour of the history of agriculture in the Central Valley with the Fresno Historical Society’s display, and learn some important produce shopping tips from Fresno Metro Ministries.
Ag Day at the Zoo is an opportunity to celebrate the people, traditions, and innovations that sustain our region. By connecting guests with farmers, food, and community partners, the event highlights how thoughtful food choices can support local agriculture, strengthen communities, and contribute to a healthier future for all.
