CORRALITOS—Even from a distance, you can tell right away that the annual Down to Earth Women Luncheon is unlike any other event.
A sea of colorful outfits and hats filled Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos on Thursday. Women (and some men) joined together for the 11th year straight to celebrate women involved in, or supporting agriculture in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.
The luncheon is held to raise funds for Watsonville-based organization Agri-Culture’s Focus Agriculture program, as well as the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship fund and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau’s many educational programs.
Eleven years ago, Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp, Nita Gizdich and a few others were approached by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau’s Executive Director, Jess Brown, about creating an event focusing on women in agriculture. It quickly became a tradition—with attendance and fundraising increasing every year.
“We spend about six or seven months planning for this,” said Eiskamp, “and it just continues to grow. It’s been an incredible success.”
KSBW morning news anchor Brittany Nielson was on hand at the luncheon serving as Mistress of Ceremonies for the fourth year running. Before the event, Nielsen explained why she believed this annual celebration was unique.
“They just create such a neat atmosphere,” Nielson said. “They make it so fun. It’s definitely one of my favorite events that I’m invited to each year.”
Nielsen, who grew up in Watsonville and whose grandparents were farmers, acknowledged the impact that so many women have had in the local agriculture industry.
“These women set the bar high for the rest of us,” she said. “They’re just so inspiring. I am incredibly honored to be able to sit side-by-side with these lovely people who have contributed so much to this community.”
Every year, Down to Earth Women organizers choose a local woman who is involved in agriculture or food production to speak at the event. This year it was Kathryn Lukas, founder of Watsonville-based fermented food company Farmhouse Culture.
Lukas and others spoke to the crowd gathered at Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos, which has been host to the event for a while now. Eiskamp expressed her gratitude to Rancho Corralitos for their continuing support.
“We’re really lucky to have such a beautiful venue,” she said. “And they do a lot of work helping us out, too. We’re so grateful.”
This year’s Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Meghan Clifton, a senior at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School. The four-year, $4,000 scholarship is given out every year to a student who is currently enrolled in college and studying agriculture.
A raffle and live auction was also held towards the end of the event. Wine was provided by Storrs Winery and John & Caroline Eiskamp.
As for the tradition of wearing fancy, colorful hats, Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp said that it began the very first year of event: The weather was scorching hot on the day of that luncheon, reaching the 90s, so Nita Gizdich ended up bringing some decorative hats out to protect guests from the heat. People began the tradition of bringing and even making their own.
Among the dozens of hats present on Thursday, from a plain 49ers straw hat to gossamer, elegant ensembles, Salina Nevarez of UC Santa Cruz Community Relations donned a fancy sun hat adorned with a tiny red barn, strawberries and three banana slugs.
“I love this event,” Nevarez said. “It helps bring the community together in a wonderful setting. And it’s a great chance for us women to get together, let our hair hang down and be pretty.”
