At Nate Smith’s Optimal Auto Care in Santa Cruz, we’re passionate about serving our community both on and off the road. Recently, I stepped away from the shop for a day to take part in something truly special: Monterey County’s Farm Day at the Salinas Rodeo Grounds. Alongside my trusty Border Collie, Gordy, I joined other local ranchers and farmers to help bring the world of agriculture to life for third graders from across the region. It was a refreshing change of pace, filled with the laughter and curiosity of young minds discovering the hard work and joy behind farming.
This annual event is held for all third graders in Monterey County, bringing agriculture to life for thousands of young students. It’s a big event with three locations each year—Salinas, King City, and Monterey—ensuring every third grader can experience it.
Each Farm Day features stations where the kids learn about different aspects of farming, from crops to livestock. I was there for a sheepdog demonstration with my friend Glen, who brought the sheep and his Border Collies from his ranch in Prunedale. For many of the kids, this was their first chance to see working dogs in action, and their excitement was contagious. I enjoyed stepping out of my usual role and showing these young students what agriculture looks like beyond the farm.
With Gordy, I joined Glen and a few other friends who brought their talented dogs. Glen’s team included Uno, Chase, and Penny, while Andy and his wife accompanied Cypress. Tina brought Duke and two newcomers, Meta and Cassandra, who joined us for the first time, bringing their dogs, Ben and Mitzie. You could feel the energy and intelligence each brings to the team by watching the dogs interact. Most of the dogs in our group are Border Collies, except for Ben, an Australian Kelpie—a breed also well-known for its herding abilities.
There’s even a family connection among the dogs: Gordy, Chase, and Duke are full brothers from different litters, all sharing the same parents. We worked with the dogs in a small pen during the demonstration, giving the kids an up-close view of their skills. We talked about these dogs' natural herding instinct and how it aligns with the sheep’s instinct to flock together for protection. Explaining the training process and how the dogs respond to commands fascinated the kids, especially when they realized how much dedication it takes to train a dog for herding. They asked many questions about the dogs’ personalities, if they ever get tired, and how they learned to work well with us. Seeing their faces light up as they watch the dogs at work and hear about their unique personalities and quirks is always rewarding.
Farm Day allows kids to get a taste of the agricultural life that supports their community. Monterey County has a rich agricultural history; for the students, seeing all the animals and learning where food comes from is something they won’t forget. It’s not every day that I take time off to share Gordy’s skills with others, but being part of Farm Day felt like the perfect reason to step out of the office.
For more information about Farm Day, take a look at http://montereycountyageducation.org/