With great sadness, we have lost a pair of the truly great Valley pioneers and farmers. Jack and Pauline McConnell's untimely loss will be felt not only here in the farming community, but Valley-wide.

Jack and Pauline McConnell were honored as our Farmers of the Year in 2007. Jack was our longest-standing board member, and had served on the board for nearly 60 years. Pauline served as president of the Farm Bureau Women, and served on the California Mid-winter Fair Board for many years. For more information about the McConnells and their lifelong service to the community and the ag industry, please click here to visit our web page in their memory.

Click here to read about the Jack & Pauline McConnell Memorial Scholarship established to honor this incredible couple.

Hungry urban communities feast daily on the more than 100 different crops that bask in the Imperial Valley sun.

On nearly a half-million acres of land, Imperial Valley farmers grow almost anything under the sun, from aquaculture to zucchini. Bamboo shoots, sugar cane, beef, corn, artichokes, honey, cilantro, citrus, hay, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and a multitude of other crops that meet a market need can be found growing in our county.

In addition to providing an efficient, inexpensive and safe supply of food, fiber and fuel, the lush fields of Imperial Valley offer habitat to hundreds of thousands of birds every year. Of the 800 or so bird species found in the United States, over 400 have been spotted in and around the agricultural areas of the Valley.