to the Award of Honor, Patricio was also presented a resolution from the California Legislature—a Joint Members Resolution from Representatives Anthony Cannella, Heath Flora and Adam Gray. Preceded by introductory remarks from Nassif, Patricio delivered an inspirational speech that resonated with each and every guest. “Growing up, our parents instilled an important principle in us that I have tried to impress on my children,” said Patricio. “That simple principle was hanging around with the good kids. By being
around the better kids, it would make you better. By being around the best kids, it could make you work harder and achieve more. Western Growers are the better kids. They are the best kids, and hanging around these kids have made me better.” STARTUP WINS $250K TO DEPLOY LABOR-SAVING TECH IN THE FIELD Augean Robotics, an early-stage robotics company that has built an autonomous vision-based robotic platform, walked away from the WG AgSharks® Competition with a $250,000
equity investment offer after facing off against four other startups. The seed funding, which was awarded by S2G Ventures, will allow the robotics startup to continue to scale and fine tune their product toward early commercialization next year. Its product, Burro, is a robot that follows farmworkers and functions as a virtual conveyor belt between pick points and collection points, allowing hand pickers to pick continuously rather than wasting up to 30 percent of their time shuttling produce. “In S2G and Western Growers, we see a group with boots on the ground and eyes on the horizon—keenly aware of the day to day needs of farmers and the incredible potential for robots in agriculture over the coming decade,” said Charles Andersen, CEO of Augean Robotics. “We are honored to have their support and look forward to working together as we bring collaborative robots to the industry that needs it most.” WORLD-RENOWNED SPEAKERS LEAVE GUESTS WITH POWERFUL MESSAGES The topic of embracing growth and change were top of mind during the Changing Minds to Influence Results with Arbinger and Advances in Genomics sessions during the Annual Meeting. Juan Enriquez, one of the world’s leading authorities on the uses and benefits of genomic research, shared a presentation on genomics and how advancements in the field will fundamentally change life in the future, while Mike Merchant, senior consultant for the Arbinger Institute, facilitated an emotional and eye-opening conversation about achieving an outward mindset. Through personal stories from WG members, the workshop demonstrated the importance of taking into account one’s impact on others and focusing on the needs of the organization as a whole. “Arbinger is more than a culture. This is a healing,” said Merchant. “It’s a way to humanize every interaction and speak the same language.” Additionally, keynote addresses from Judge Andrew Napolitano, Robert O’Neill and Jon Dorenbos left guests in awe. During the PAC Lunch, Fox News’ Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Napolitano shared insights on the current political environment. On the following day, O’Neill took the stage and provided an inside look into leadership and decision- making as a Navy SEAL Team Six leader.
Lettuce, Gourmet Salad Blend The lettuce varieties in Gourmet Salad Blend are highly praised for uniqueness and flavor. The blend contains multiple colors and leaf
types, creating a beautiful bed of lettuce. Gourmet Salad Blend is perfect for market gardeners and chefs.
Growers on the cutting edge of today‘s market trends ask for Seeds by Design when looking for Organic, Heirloom or Hybrid vegetable seeds.
P.O. Box 602 Maxwell, CA 95955 Phone : (530) 438-2126 Fax : (530) 438-2171 www.seedsbydesign.com
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JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019
Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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