Del Mar CA— Plant the seeds for a lifetime appreciation of farm-fresh healthy nutrition by donating to Don Diego Scholarship Foundation’s Plant*Grow*Eat (PGE) transportation program. You’ll get free publicity, VIP parking and admission to the 2019 San Diego County Fair on “your” day plus the delight of sharing an exciting growth experience with eager elementary students.
To advance the Fair’s PGE agricultural education program, Don Diego sponsors buses that bring students from Title I schools to the Fair’s Infield Farm. They showcase their carefully nurtured produce, receive a ribbon for their efforts, then scamper off to explore farm exhibits and even pet an animal or two!
Whether they grow a fat, red radish as big as a tomato or a teeny, tiny tomato no larger than a radish, the children are justifiably proud of their efforts. Last year, Perkins Elementary second-grader Romeo confided, “I don’t like radishes when we get them from the store. But when I eat the one I grew, it tasted good!” Special Education student Kevin could not stop smiling when he won a blue ribbon. Showing his PGE savvy, Kevin reported, “I planted this. I grew this. And now, I will eat it!”

Bus sponsors have as much fun as the children whose agriculture adventure they make possible. In 2018, Del Mar Foundation’s Ira Sharp noted, “The judges take the time to praise each child. I love checking out their veggies and seeing the pure joy.”
SDG&E’s Morgan Justice-Black and Addie Woodard said, “Our donation is very well-spent. It’s so cool to know that children are learning where their food comes from.”
Don Diego Executive Director Chana Mannen, who as former Deputy Manager of the Fair created PGE, reports, “Parents accompanying their children have told me that they participated as elementary students and that the experience led them to develop an enduring love of gardening. We are confident that this year’s crop of kids will reap a rich harvest in their life ahead, and we thank our donors for making this possible.”
To help provide a memorable edible education, visit www.dondiegoscholarship.org, email dondiegoscholarship@sdfair.com or call 858-792-4210.
The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation was named for Don Diego, AKA Tom Hernandez, who served as the Fair’s welcoming goodwill ambassador from 1947-1984.
To date since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has awarded nearly $975,000 in scholarships to 232 students and in agriculture education grants. More information is at www.dondiegoscholarship.org and www.facebook.com/DonDiegoScholarship.