All About Donors       
Contributors gave nearly all the cash needed to build the new ag wing

By Third of eight parts, Brian Gaylord
The Californian

A LONG-HELD DREAM OF MEMBERS OF THE FARMING COMMUNITY WILL BE REALIZED SEPT. 1 when the National Steinbeck Center opens its new agricultural wing.

With a tab of $5.2 million, the wing did not come cheap, but donors have nearly paid the cost in full, Beverly Grova, the center's director of development, said Tuesday.

Contributions to the tune of $5 million have come in to the museum over the past three years for the Valley of the World: Agricultural History and Education Center. Individuals, corporations, foundations and government grants all contributed, with most of the money coming from about 200 donors.

Locals were not sitting on their hands when the hat was passed.

Salinas-based grower-shipper Mills Family Farms made a $150,000 contribution to the ag wing. Basil Mills, president of the board of trustees of National Steinbeck Center and founder/president of Mills Inc., said an ag museum of some sort was a dream of many in the industry, dating back decades ago.

"As a standalone (museum), it wasn't feasible," Mills said. "We saw we could add to ag history and add to the (Steinbeck) museum's history to attract more visitors."

Mills said the ag industry has been able to use Salinas-bred author John Steinbeck's worldwide popularity to honor pioneers in the industry.

Grova credits Richard Smith, an owner of Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad, with reaching out to other vineyards to raise money for the ag wing.

Smith said it was his family's turn to step up and contribute.

"The fact that it's ag is inviting," Smith said. "It's an opportunity for the people of the Salinas Valley to tell (the valley's) story."

Jeff Gillis, a partner with Salinas law firm Lombardo & Gillis, held a dinner at Casa Palmero restaurant in Pebble Beach in recent months that raised over $65,000 for the ag wing.

Gillis, who was born and raised in the King City area, said agriculture is important for residents of Monterey County.

"Most business is in the ag sector," Gillis said. "To me, it's the lifeblood and history of the Salinas Valley."

Lombardo & Gillis also has made a donation to the ag wing, Gillis said. He plans to coordinate another dinner fund-raiser for the ag wing in spring 2004, featuring restaurants in Cannery Row.

Sam Downing, chief executive officer of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, said the hospital is a donor to the ag wing because it believes in the educational component the ag wing will provide. The hospital gave between $100,000 and $250,000.

The ag wing had a recent contribution of $5,000 from Driscoll Strawberry Associates in Watsonville, the first contribution from berry operations, Grova said.