Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) has expanded its board by adding three new members.

Named to the board are Heidi Whitcomb, CEO of Ventura Rental Party & Events, Melinda Beardsley, president of Beardsley & Son and Bradley Dykes, branch manager of Morgan Stanley in Oxnard.

For Whitcomb, the decision to join the board was easy. "I have a passion for children and believe in SEEAG's mission to educate and excite children about where their food comes from," says Whitcomb. "Making healthy food choices will benefit students and their families."

The nonprofit organization helps young students and the public in general gain a better understanding of where their food comes from. Students take part in classroom presentations and free farm field trips as part of SEEAG's Farm Lab. SEEAG's new Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative educates and inspires children to eat healthy by adding locally grown Ventura County specialty crops to their diet through its Farm Fresh Mobile Classroom. SEEAG's STEM Careers in 21st Century Agriculture shows middle and high school students the diverse job opportunities available in today's agricultural industry.

Beardsley is the fourth generation in a family involved in Ventura County farming. "Agriculture is an important part of all our lives," says Beardsley. "Being a part of an organization focused on educating and encouraging the appreciation for agriculture is a privilege."

Dykes agrees, “SEEAG's work introducing thousands of students to farms, farming and the origins of their food, has a positive impact on our community and will change young lives along the way."

Mary Maranville, SEEAG's founder and CEO, says adding to the board was necessary. "Board members will be responsible for helping guiding SEEAG as it expands its educational reach further into Southern California," says Maranville.

SEEAG also hosts Ventura County Farm Day each year in November. It is a day when the public is invited to visit farms throughout Ventura County.

For more about SEEAG, go to www.seeag.org.

About SEEAG
Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 25,000 elementary school students in Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at mary@seeag.org