A sixth grader from Turlock and his story about a raindrop was selected to be part of the 2025-26 California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom’s “Imagine this…” book collection.
The contest, now in its 32nd year, promotes agricultural literacy and creative writing by inviting students to write stories inspired by California agriculture. Winning stories are illustrated by selected high school art students and published in an annual book.
The student authors were honored during an awards ceremony at the California Department of Food and Agriculture headquarters in Sacramento in April. The ceremony, held in conjunction with California Ag Day at the Capitol, marked the first time student authors meet the student artists and see the illustrations created for their stories.
State winners were selected from entries submitted by third- through eighth-grade students from across California.
Representing Turlock Eagles 4-H, sixth-grade winner Porter Machado, of Turlock, earned recognition for “Hydro the Water Hero.”
In Machado’s tale, Hydro the raindrop tells the story of his life through the California irrigation system, “It sounds boring, but trust me, it was wild!” exclaims Hydro.
Other winners included: Clark Shannon, of Visalia, the third-grade winner, who attends Central Valley Christian School in Tulare County and wrote “Farmers Are Out of This World.” Fourth-grade honors went to Julia Samulski, of Modesto, of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Stanislaus County for “Annie and the Strawberry Dilemma.” The fifth-grade winner is Penny Deboer, of Fort Jones, of Turlock Eagles 4-H in Stanislaus County for “The New Queen.”
Seventh-grade winner Amelia Cobar, of Bakersfield, attends Legacy Christian Academy in Kern County and wrote “The Wish of Friendship.” The eighth-grade winner is Luz Jimenez-Cruz, of El Nido, of El Nido Elementary School in Merced County for “Bees and Almonds.”
An honorable mention was awarded to Rebecca Gonzalez, of Modesto, of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Stanislaus County for “The Place.”
“By encouraging students to think creatively about agriculture, we help them form personal connections that can last a lifetime,” said California Farm Bureau First Vice President Shaun Crook in a story about the contest in a recent Ag Alert article.
“By introducing agricultural concepts during their formative years, we can inspire curiosity, build understanding and potentially spark interest in agricultural careers.
The need for this work has never been greater. Each year, fewer people are directly involved in production agriculture. As that gap widens, the risk of misunderstanding and disconnect grows. Agricultural literacy is not a luxury but a necessity. An informed public is essential for sound decision-making, whether at the kitchen table or in the halls of government.
When we educate young people about agriculture, we invest in the future of our communities and state. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s voters, policymakers and leaders. Some will sit on city councils or boards of supervisors. When they do, we want them to remember their experiences with Agriculture in the Classroom and carry with them an appreciation for what it takes to put food on their plates.”
To view the Imagine this…book collection, visit: https://learnaboutag.org/programs/contest/books/
