A 9-week program beginning early in 2013, WHEEL is an effort by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau and its partner, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, to increase English language skills for agricultural employees. The many benefits of this program include those related to work safety, productivity, morale, and attendance, as well as job fulfillment, efficiency, self-confidence, and adaptability for employees. The WHEEL program is designed to give agricultural employees a chance to better engage in the community through superior language skills and volunteer opportunities.

Classes in the WHEEL program are free of charge for both Farm Bureau members and non-Farm Bureau members. Also, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce will custom design language plans for specific businesses, in order for employers and employees alike to get the most out of the program’s elements.

Traditional WHEEL program elements, which may or may not be incorporated into every individual business’ English language learning plan, include Celebrando la Lectura, Family Literacy Workshops, School Engagement, English Classes, Financial Literacy, and Community Service.

Celebrando la Lectura

This celebratory portion of the program is meant to deliver details on the other program elements, as well as dependent care information and low-income support programs and services. Another component of every Celebrando la Lectura is an hour-long session that engages participants in reading to their children and teaching them through age-appropriate books, which are distributed during the session.

Family Literacy Workshops

Offered by the Community Action Partnership Sonoma County, the Family Literacy Workshop element consists of (6) hour-long classes designed to teach family literacy to parents in the workplace. By supporting these parents as the primary educators of their own children, the classes not only improve the family literacy element overall, but also the English skills and employability of the parents themselves.

School Engagement

This element is intended to connect employees with the school representatives within their local school districts. These local representatives come from the schools in which the employees’ children attend, so they are able to give tips and hints to parents to aid them in helping their children succeed academically.

English Classes

English classes take place on varying days during after hours at the workplace. English teachers spend approximately 4 hours per week with employees, teaching them industry-specific language and more.

Financial Literacy

Immensely important financial topics are discussed within this program element, including buying a home or car, managing money and bank accounts, and budgeting for the household.

Community Service

This program element encourages community participation through the setup of specific arrangements for employees to become helpful volunteers on any numbers of projects and efforts.

WHEEL program classes occur between 4-6 p.m. at Farm Bureau, located at 970 Piner Road in Santa Rosa, and are currently scheduled for February 11, 12, 19, 25, 26; March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19; and April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15. Contact the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce by phone at (707) 545-1414 or by email at info@santarosachamber.com to register and to learn more about the program dates.

The Sonoma County Farm Bureau is bringing the 24th Annual Great Sonoma Wine and Crab Fest to the Grace Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Feb. 2, 2013, from 5-8 p.m. Scheduled festivities include award-winning wines paired with a Sonoma Coast crab dinner and tasty gourmet hors d’oeuvres prepared by local chefs, as well as silent and live auctions. In order to take part in the celebration of local agriculture and to help support scholarship and agricultural education programs, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau asks that participants RSVP no later than Jan. 25, 2013.

When you RSVP for the event, you are given three ticket options to choose from. The preferred ticket option includes a Captain’s Table for 10 people. At $95 per person, the Captain’s Table includes private reserved seating and a wait staff to provide a luxury dining experience for you and your guests. The next seating option is a Reserved Table for 10 people at $80 per person, or you can purchase individual tickets for $75 each.

Beginning at 5 p.m., guests can enjoy special pairings of award-winning wines and hors d’oeuvres while browsing through items in the silent auction. Then at 6:30 p.m., a Sonoma Coast crab dinner will be served before the excitement of the live auction goes full swing.

For restaurants interested in participating, there is a Culinary Participation Form available on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau website. In order to take part in the Great Sonoma Wine and Crab Fest, it is asked that the restaurant prepare and serve hors d’oeuvres and appetizers for 300-plus people. The restaurant’s reception table must be set up by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event, and it must include restaurant displays, decorations and/or signage, as well as heating and serving materials.

For wineries interested in participating, there is a Winery Participation Form available on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau website. In order to take part in the Great Sonoma Wine and Crab Fest, it is asked that the winery owner, winemaker or a winery representative pour select wines for guests during the reception. Materials such as spit buckets, wine glasses and banquet tables with white linen tablecloths will be provided. However, the winery must set up displays, decorations and/or signage. It is also asked that all wineries be set up by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event.

The Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Great Sonoma Wine and Crab Fest is a fundraising event above all else, and they greatly appreciate donations for the live and silent auctions. Any person interested in donating for the event in order to support agricultural education, scholarships and agriculture in the classroom activities is asked to please visit the Donation Item Form link on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau website. Suggested donation items include vacation rentals, wine pairing dinners, event tickets, gift baskets and even cash donations. All donors will be recognized in the Sonoma-Marin Farm News and on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau website.

Please visit www.sonomafb.org or contact the Sonoma County Farm Bureau at (707) 544-5575 if you have questions.