The Independent’s Local Heroes

Teri Bontrager: Agricultural Shepherd

There has been no greater kumbaya moment in the past year in Santa Barbara than the announcement last fall of the formation of the Ag Futures Alliance (AFA). A long overdue working partnership betwixt two historically warring factions—the aggies and the enviros—the alliance was made possible thanks to the behind-the-scenes negotiations of several individuals from both sides of the fence. There was perhaps no bigger player in the long stewing process than Teri Bontrager, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau. Bontrager, who has headed up the local Farm Bureau since 2001, but has been an agriculture advocate since 1977 when volunteering at the Garden City, Kansas, Farm Bureau, recently summed up her motivation for helping to forge the Santa Barbara AFA: “Farmers are our original environmentalists. We strive to take care of our land. We [aggies and enviros] all want to keep Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, and I have always been of the belief, ‘Let’s just sit down at the table and talk,’ and that is exactly what we have done.”

While the AFA is a major milestone by any measure, it is by no means the only good to come during Bontrager’s tenure. There is the Agriculture Education Foundation, which provides scholarships and helps get school gardens up and running; the recent work on the new water waiver being hashed out for farmers; and the redoubled vigilance of leafy greens growers and shippers in the wake of last year’s E. coli scare. “Given the varied and often big issues farmers face, it is so important for us to be a part of the decision-making process,” said Bontrager. “But people are busy and it is hard for individuals to speak out on their own behalf … I am honored to be able to help.”

You can read about the rest of the winners at The Santa Barbara Independent.