Giving Back – Butte Agriculture Foundation
Q&A with Butte Agriculture Foundation…
What is the Butte Agriculture Foundation’s mission? The Butte Agriculture Foundation was formed in 2011 and works to further the educational outreach of the agricultural community. It supports locally organized agriculture groups by providing the resources and services needed to be successful in the efforts to inform and promote the value of our local agriculture.
Who does the Foundation serve? Local groups under our umbrella include Carnivore Crew Junior Livestock Auction Fund, Common Threads North, Durham Ag Boosters, Farm City Celebration, Friends of Agriculture, Glenn County Dairy Replacement Heifer Program, Glenn County Fair Heritage Foundation, Sierra Oro Farm Trail, and the Superior Ag Golf Classic.
Agriculture provides food, protects water and landscape, supports local businesses and keeps productive land in farms and open space. It is also deeply woven into the history, identity and way of life of our communities.
What are some of the Foundation’s main initiatives? Our core program is The Big Harvest (www.thebigharvest.org), a community fundraising drive benefiting local nonprofit agriculture organizations. With financial support from generous seed sponsors, each year the Butte Agriculture Foundation cultivates a pool of matching funds for a community-wide agricultural fundraising drive that takes place Nov.1 through Dec. 31 each year. Over the last 10 years we have raised more than $1 million for local agriculture education efforts. Local 4-H and FFA programs also participate in The Big Harvest.
What makes agriculture such an important part of Butte County? Agriculture is the foundation of Butte County’s economy, with one in five local jobs connected to agriculture. But its importance goes well beyond economics. Agriculture provides food, protects water and landscape, supports local businesses and keeps productive land in farms and open space. It is also deeply woven into the history, identity and way of life of our communities.
What role do volunteers play in the Foundation’s work? Our Board of Directors are all volunteers, but ever greater is that most of our programming is operated by volunteers, which is why the services the Butte Agriculture Foundation provides are so important. We offer financial management, event management tools and program support.
Are there any upcoming projects, programs or events you’re excited about? We are excited for the 2026 Big Harvest and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the programming and the support it has created for the ag community.
How can someone get involved with or support the Foundation? Please visit our website, ButteAgFoundation.org, and learn more about our programs. The Foundation is funded through donations, so we are always looking for supporters and new ag programs looking to benefit from our services. •
