Efrain Cisneros, a student in TCOE’s Community Based Instruction Classroom in Exeter, almost didn’t submit a piece of artwork for this year’s Tulare County Farm Bureau Student Art Calendar. Luckily for over 5,000 teachers who will receive the calendar to share with their students, Efrain completed a beautiful illustration of grapes. For the second year in a row, his artwork is featured on the back cover of the annual calendar.
The inspiration for his artwork was a vineyard in Farmersville “I like their colors,” he said of the purple fruit. Efrain photographed the vineyard to study the colors and the way the light falls on the grapes. “I took a photo, but I created the art in my own mind.”

The artist featured on the cover of the calendar – for the third year in a row – is Sara Satko of Doulos Academy in Porterville.

Yesterday, Sara, Efrain, and 12 other students featured in the calendar were recognized by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. This year, the Farm Bureau shared that nearly 1,000 students representing 35 schools submitted artwork.
Winners include:

Sara Satko, Doulos Academy, Porterville (front cover)

Efrain Cisneros, TCOE Community Based Instruction Classroom, Exeter (back cover)

Aubree Fusick, Heartland Charter School, Porterville

Kendra Hodson, Tulare Western High School

Eloyza Ceballos, Waukena Joint Union School, Tulare

Addison Shields, Mineral King Elementary School, Visalia

Axel Zepeda Iglesias, Redwood High School, Visalia

Maylin Ibarra Aguilar, Heritage Elementary School, Tulare

Camila Mora, Tulare Western High School

Isla McCullough, Three Rivers Union School

Lauren Fammatre, Sharpshooter Project, Visalia

Ella Laurente, Orosi High School

Sarai Vasquez Solorzano, Orosi High School

Sophia Quintero, El Monte Middle School, Orosi

Tulare County teachers will receive a copy of the calendar this month. The calendar, which runs from April 2026 through March 2027, is full of fun county and state agriculture and nutrition facts designed to promote an appreciation of Tulare County farm commodities and healthy nutrition.

Photo above:

~ Students featured in the 2026-2027 Tulare County Farm Bureau Student Art Calendar pose with Farm Bureau Executive Director Tricia Stever Blattler (left), Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire (right), and members of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

~ The artwork created by Efrain Cisneros depicts grapes from a vineyard in Farmersville. Cisneros is a student with TCOE’s Community Based Instruction Classroom in Exeter.

Do you ever wake up feeling grumpy? Like you don’t want to go to school? If so, then you might relate to Patty in “Grumpy Patty Goes to School” by Taleen Amari, a first grader at Oak Grove School in Visalia. Patty is feeling grumpy one morning and even music on her bus ride can’t help boost her mood. However, when she sees a friend looking sad on the playground, grumpy Patty knows she has to turn things around and help.

“Grumpy Patty Goes to School” is among 81 creative works written and illustrated by 106 students from 13 Tulare County schools. These works are a part of Young Authors’ Faire (YAF) and can be enjoyed through the Virtual Book Gallery link at tcoe.org/YoungAuthorsFaire.

Every year, the Tulare County Office of Education invites students to participate in YAF. The event offers budding writers in grades K-8 an opportunity to showcase their writing and illustration work at the county level and be recognized in a variety of genres. Exemplary works will be recognized at the end of April in categories such as: fiction, non-fiction, class book, graphics/images, and hand-drawn illustration.

Photo above:

~ “Grumpy Patty Goes to School”  is written and illustrated by Taleen Amari, a first grader at Oak Grove School in Visalia.

The 63rd annual SCICON Barbecue & Wildflower Festival will be held Sunday, April 19, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Visitors to the event will be able to see the newly renovated raptor center, which features a long flight cage designed to help rehabilitate birds of prey. The event will also feature new vendors with hands-on activities for families.

There is no charge to visit the campus or enjoy numerous activities, including wildflower walks and entertainment. Springville singer, Patti Torrey, and her country band, the Irregulars, will be performing in the lodge.

Tickets for the barbecue luncheon will be available for $20, or $15 for seniors over 60, military with valid ID, and children under 12.

Cash and credit cards are accepted. Organized by Friends of SCICON, the barbecue raises money to support the SCICON program. For more information, call 559-539-2642.

Photo above:

~ Visitors to the annual SCICON Barbecue & Wildflower Festival can check out the newly renovated raptor center and flight cage.

This winter, Earlimart Middle School started its first-ever wrestling program with 10 wrestlers under the direction of coach Angel Nava. Wrestlers were students from grades 6-8 and they participated in the South Valley League that is part of the Central Valley Youth Wrestling Association. They also competed in two tournaments that required a top-four finish to advance to the Northern California Tournament of Champions (TOC). Eighth-grader Santiago Perez, a first-time wrestler, was able to make it to the TOC.

“Santiago's journey started months ago, qualifying through league and two sectional tournaments by showing up every day, leading by example, and never giving up,” said Nava. “This is a reflection of the dedication he brings each and every day. Watching Santiago on the mat, his family felt great pride and joy as he competed. They also made sure to support him every step of the way. I am so happy to see his hard work be recognized. Santiago plans to continue wrestling at Delano High School and he will achieve so much in his future, just as he does in the classroom, because he makes sure to always try his best in all he does.”

The wrestling program was brought into the school through teacher interest and administration/district support.

Photo above:

~ Eighth-grader Santiago Perez, a first-time wrestler for Earlimart Middle School, qualified for the Northern California Tournament of Champions.

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Juliana Davidian, Dianne Shew

To receive the News Gallery Week, sign up using the form, or contact Jennifer Fisher at jenniferf@tcoe.org or (559) 733-6172.