Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs

From the fields of Newton, Kansas, to a rewarding career as a certified John Deere Technician, Kyle Basye turned his passion for agriculture and machinery into a profession.

With support from the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) and guidance from Henry Coronado, Kyle received the financial assistance he needed to attend Fort Scott Community College, easing the burden of tuition and allowing him to focus on his training.

Today, Kyle is employed full-time with Prairieland Partners in McPherson, Kansas, earning $25 per hour with benefits—and NFJP continues to provide encouragement and career support long after graduation.

"It helped a lot with my tuition and other things. I would definitely recommend other students apply for the grant. It provided much needed assistance." – Kyle Basye
Stories like Kyle's show how investing in farm workers and their families creates pathways to skilled careers, economic stability, and stronger communities.

🧑‍🌾 🚜 Hoy 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶́𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀, cuyo esfuerzo ayuda a alimentar a nuestras comunidades y cuyo amor fortalece a sus familias. Después de largas jornadas en el campo, su mayor alegría es regresar a casa para recibir los abrazos, las sonrisas y el amor de quienes más los esperan. ¡𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘇 𝗗𝗶́𝗮 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘆 𝗵𝗲́𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗱𝗶́𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗼!

🧑‍🌾 🚜 Today, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 — whose hard work helps feed our communities and whose love strengthens their families. After long days in the fields, their greatest joy is coming home to the hugs, smiles, and love they work so hard for. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word of their freedom—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It was signed into federal law in 2021 to honor this historic milestone, recognize the end of slavery, and celebrate African American history and culture.

✨From the citrus groves to a career in healthcare, Olivia Martinez’s journey is a powerful example of determination, opportunity, and growth.✨ “𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.” – Olivia Martinez

In July 2025, Olivia visited Proteus’ Porterville Service Center in search of a new career path. As a long-term seasonal farmworker and citrus picker earning minimum wage, Olivia balanced demanding agricultural work while raising her two young daughters. She chose farm work because it accommodated her childcare needs, but she knew she was capable of achieving more for herself and her family.

Through co-enrollment in the National Farmworker Jobs Program and the Farmworker Advancement Program, Olivia received career counseling, case management, job-readiness preparation, supportive services, and vocational training in Pharmacy Technician at the Porterville Adult School.

In December 2025, Olivia completed her Pharmacy Technician training program with perfect attendance and earned her vocational credential. With support from her Case Manager, Viviana Ambrosio, Olivia was hired full-time as a Pharmacy Technician with Lindsay Pharmacy, where she now earns $18.90 per hour.

Stories like Olivia’s remind us how workforce development programs help farm workers build sustainable careers and brighter futures for their families.

🌾 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. For years, Berenice Sierra worked seasonal agricultural jobs to support her family. As a mother of two in Madera, she knew the challenges of long hours, unstable work, and uncertainty. But Berenice wanted a more stable future for herself and her children.

With support from Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc. (CVOC), she enrolled in the General Business Occupations training program. Over 19 weeks, she learned Microsoft Office, Excel, basic math, English, and clerical office skills.

Balancing school, family, and daily life was not easy — but Berenice stayed committed.

On September 5, 2025, she completed the program. On October 30, 2025, she began working with Valley Home Solutions Inc. as a Customer Service Representative, earning $16.50 per hour.

Berenice’s journey shows what is possible when farm workers have access to education, training, and support.

🌱 From uncertainty to opportunity.
🌱 From survival to stability.
🌱 From the fields to a brighter future.

𝗔𝗙𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀: The National Farmworker Jobs Program provides a broad mix of occupational and vocational training designed to move farmworkers into stable, higher-paying jobs—both within and beyond agriculture. Here’s how farmworkers are building brighter futures:
🛠️ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀
From healthcare to transportation to skilled trades, participants gain industry-recognized credentials that match local job demand:
-Healthcare (e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant)
-Transportation (e.g., Commercial Truck Driving)
-Skilled labor (e.g., forklift operation, clerical work)
💼 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻
With On-the-Job Training, participants get hired and trained at the same time—while employers receive support to invest in their workforce.
🔧 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Apprenticeship-style programs combine classroom instruction with real work experience, helping workers transition smoothly into new careers.
📈 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀
Whether it’s digital literacy or technical training, NFJP helps workers move beyond low-wage agricultural jobs into growing industries.
💡 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
For those ready to lead, training includes business planning, financial literacy, and building a successful small business.
🤝 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Programs are tailored with employers to meet real workforce needs—often leading directly to a job upon completion.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.