North State Parent October 2019

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e the change By Jenna Christophersen Paige Bush Making a Difference from the Ground Up are people in this world who offer suggestions,” says Colleen Cecil, executive director of Butte County Farm Bureau (BCFB), where “There Paige Bush sits as a board member. “And there are people who offer help. Paige always offers help, and she’s such a kind, generous soul that you can’t help but want her to be involved with everything.” Born and raised in a walnut and almond farming family in Chico, CA, Paige deeply values agriculture in the North State. She studied agricultural business with a concentration in marketing at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and quickly found a job as the marketing manager at an international produce company. She loved the position, but she could not help but recall sitting around the dining room table as a child and hearing her mother and grandmother share stories from their jobs as schoolteachers. “I always saw the difference they made for kids, and I guess that was always in the back of my mind,” Paige says. After three years as a marketing manager, Paige moved back to her hometown to earn a teaching credential at California State University, Chico. This year, as she enters her sixth year of teaching second-graders at McManus Elementary School, Paige says she loves teaching because teachers can be “the stability in these kids’ lives.” She loves getting swarmed with hugs from 22 seven-yearolds. “She brings such positive energy,” says McManus principal Chris Weaver. “She’s proactive inside and outside of the classroom. She is one of the leaders of the positive culture of our school.” “Proactive” describes Paige well. Over the past few years, Paige noticed most of her students have very little connection to the actual process of growing food. Although the agricultural bounty of the North State surrounds Chico, McManus’s location in the middle of town means few of the kids have access to property to grow anything. Last year, when Paige surveyed her students and learned how few had truly witnessed the life cycle of a plant or grown a consumable plant, Paige resolved to share her passion for agriculture with her students. Paige began the new agriculture curriculum for her second-graders in the fall of 2018. She purchased some supplies herself and found donations for others, then trooped her classroom out to the school garden. Over the semester, the kids prepared the soil; planted spinach, chard, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and romaine lettuce; and watered and weeded the garden. Paige used the kids’ enthusiasm in the garden to reinforce other skills and lessons. Measuring plant distance involves math problems, keeping growth records requires reading and writing, and caring for the plants teaches patience and responsibility. Kristine Keene, Paige’s former principal, points to the garden project to illustrate Paige’s ability to plan well and gather community support to benefit kids. In time for the fall harvest, Kristine says, “Paige went and got donations of colorful gloves, shiny new rakes and shovels, and other garden supplies. Kids love that. They love working in that garden; they are relaxed, eager and excited.” Their produce stand also raised money to help the class take a “kindness field trip” to a local retirement home, agricultural field trips to Book Family Farms and the Wednesday morning farmers market, and even back to Paige’s roots at Parsley Farms, her family’s 400-acre walnut orchard. Paige and her husband Dustin met at a junior livestock event ten years ago. Dustin grew up on a cattle ranch and has stepped into the walnut world since he and Paige moved to 16 acres of walnut orchards. “Since we both grew up on farms, it’s fun to raise our sons, Parker (age five), and Kellen (age two), on a farm,” says Paige. “Parker says he’s going to be a cowboy farmer. It’s so fun to pass on that passion.” Paige not only shares her agriculture passion with her sons and students but also shares her passion for caring service with everyone around her. “She’s the first person to raise her hand to contribute,” says Chris, calling Paige “instrumental” in the school’s response to the Camp Fire and organization of McManus’s annual variety show, an increasingly popular event thanks to the positive, supportive atmosphere Paige creates. The variety show puts on stage what others see in the conference room, the classroom and the garden, that Paige’s love and enthusiasm make those around her grow and bloom. Ó Jenna Christophersen is a Chico native who fell in love with writing as she wrote her first words as a student at McManus Elementary School. The mission of our be the change column is to feature community members from the North State who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to pn@northstateparent.com. 6 North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993
for community By Margaret Beck FROM THE REDDING DUCKY DERBY LEAPS THE SUNDIAL RIFFLE RAFFLE What happened to the Redding Ducky Derby? It has been reimagined as the Sundial Riffle Raffle taking place this year during the River Bowl, Friday, October 18. Since the inception of Redding East Rotary’s Ducky Derby—the Sundial Riffle Raffle’s preceding event—over $4.5 million has been raised and returned to local communities for youth development programs and drug-free and alcohol-free activities. These programs have benefited countless young people in the North State and the Redding East Rotary isn’t duckin’ out now. “The Sundial Riffle Raffle is a unique partnership between the youth and adults of our community,” explains Marge Beck, the Redding East Rotary’s fundraiser chairperson of 15 years. “The project mission remains the same: substance abuse prevention and youth development. It’s our goal to continue to return 100% of raffle ticket sales to the qualified selling groups.” Behind the scenes, the Redding Ducky Derby had become very costly with the Redding East Rotary renting the ducks, having them shipped and investing hundreds of working hours in getting them stickered, hauled to the event drop site, retrieved and returned. The actual Duck Drop was a highlight of a craft fair at a Redding park, which drew crowds of over 10,000 during the two-day event. “The spectacle of the event and the community involvement in the process was wonderful. However,” Marge explains, “times change, the craft fair ended, and it was simply a lot of cost and work for a 30-minute derby. Our contract with the duck rental company requires that we forgo an event on the Sacramento River for three years. After that, we could launch a Sundial Riffle Raffle outdoor river event with our new mascot, Sammy Salmon. Wouldn’t it be fun to have 40,000 salmon racing down the river?” The community is encouraged to continue supporting the fundraiser during this time of transition. As Marge says, “It’s all about the kids. Our community is extremely generous and supportive of our youth. This event empowers them to raise funds for their own programs. Redding East Rotary provides the infrastructure, the community businesses help with the cost by providing sponsorships and prizes, and the kids get all the return. We are teaching our children with ‘a hand up, not a handout.’” The culminating event of the Sundial Riffle Raffle will take place at the River Bowl football game at Enterprise High School. Come watch the event on the screen or join in via Facebook Live! Rumor has it that there will be a Blackhawk helicopter landing on the field. Maybe Sammy Salmon can hitch a ride! Be sure to “like” facebook.com/SundialRiffleRaffle and share posts to help engage friends, students and colleagues in this big splash for youth! Visit sundialriffleraffle.com to learn more about buying tickets and the outstanding prizes you can win. Ó Margaret Beck, Past President of Redding East Rotary has been a member of the Club since 1993. She has been an insurance broker in Redding since 1978. She has chaired the Sundial Riffle Raffle fundraiser for 15 years. Gymnastics for Boys And Girls Tumbling And Trampoline Toddler Classes • Ninja Classes Home Of Cheer Valley Vortex Now Hosting Birthday Parties ENROLL TODAY AT: shastagymnasticsacademy.com 2024 Waldon St., Redding • (530) 229-9194 Located in the Lassen National Forest Locally owned Since 2015 Romantic Getaway • 7 Cottages/Suites Upscale Restaurant & Bar • Open Year-Round It’s a Date Take a break from the busy with some special one-on-one time for you and your partner. Each month we will present a different suggestion here. Gather these ideas and plan something special together. 41515 Hwy 36E • Mill Creek • 530-595-3388 • HighlandsRanchResort.com Please say you saw it in North State Parent magazine. This helps us grow! www.northstateparent.com • October 2019 7
Page 1 and 2: FREE SINCE 1993 NORTH STATE OCTOBER
Page 3 and 4: The McConnell Foundation helping bu
Page 5: NORTH STATE Kids’ Farm Day & Fami
Page 9 and 10: Photo by Jessica Croshaw @jess.cros
Page 11 and 12: NORTH STATE MAMAPRENEURS Mamapreneu
Page 13 and 14: NORTH STATE MAMAPRENEURS Mamapreneu
Page 15 and 16: for health By Kristy McCammon Freed
Page 17 and 18: When it comes to my baby’s health
Page 19 and 20: Working From Home: How to Manage Yo
Page 21 and 22: A blended academic model including
Page 23 and 24: 2019 Harvest Happenings Historic Ha
Page 25 and 26: Learn About Local Preschools Katie'
Page 27 and 28: GOING PLACES OCTOBER THE EVENTS CAL
Page 29 and 30: GOING PLACES OCTOBER SHASTA COUNTY
Page 33 and 34: Please say you saw it in North Stat
Page 35 and 36: GOING PLACES OCTOBER Mt. Shasta Sis
Page 39 and 40: Talk Early. Talk Often. Marijuana c
Page 47 and 48: GOING PLACES OCTOBER booths & more.
Page 51 and 52: GOING PLACES OCTOBER Horse Care; Or
Page 55 and 56: What Does A Safe Sleep Environment

North State Parent October 2019

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