SWOCC release - COOS BAY, Ore. – Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to honor Valley Flora Farm and Pansy Lane Farm with our 2026 Career Technical Education (CTE) Industry Partner of the Year Award. Southwestern’s CTE partners' steadfast support of our programs has been integral to our students' success. They provide essential industry insight, hands-on learning opportunities, and guidance that ensures our curriculum stays aligned with real-world workforce needs. DeAnne Varitek, Dean of CTE Programs at Southwestern, said, “Our CTE advisory board members are an extraordinary group of partners whose commitment to students and community truly sets our programs apart. By sharing their expertise, aligning our work with current industry standards, and creating meaningful internship opportunities, they ensure our students are not only learning, but experiencing the realities of their future careers. Their generosity of time and insight keeps our curriculum relevant, rigorous, and deeply connected to the workforce, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued leadership and support.” Valley Flora 2026 Recipient: “Zoë Ida Bradbury DeSurra, co-owner of Valley Flora Farm, has been an invaluable partner to our Career and Technical Education programs, exemplifying both outstanding farming and community education. A leader in local market growing, Valley Flora models agroecology through certified organic practices, ecological pest management, and a strong local distribution network. Their exceptional produce has raised the standard of agriculture in Coos and Curry counties, and we are proud to honor them with the CTE Advisor Award.” –Maria Farinacci, Assistant Professor of Agroecology: Born and raised in a river valley on the southern Oregon coast, Zoë grew up immersed in small-scale farming, from spring lambing to fall salmon runs, experiences that shaped her lifelong commitment to sustainable agriculture and resilient local food systems. After working in the nonprofit sector, she returned to Langlois in 2008 to found Valley Flora with her mother and sister. What began as a small family venture has become a cornerstone of the Southcoast food system, supplying year-round organic produce to families, schools, food banks, and co-ops across Coos and Curry Counties. With degrees from Stanford University and a Master’s in Community Change and Food Systems, Zoë blends academic expertise with hands-on experience as a Kellogg Food & Society Policy Fellow, published writer, and co-editor of Greenhorns: 50 Dispatches from the New Farmers’ Movement. Through certified organic, agroecological practices and a deep commitment to education and community, Valley Flora demonstrates that farming can be both economically viable and firmly rooted in sustainability, integrity, and stewardship. Pansy Lane Farm 2026 Recipient: “Larry and Rebecca Javorsky of Pansy Lane Farm have greatly enriched our Career and Technical Education programs through generous mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities. By welcoming students for internships, field trips, and real engagement with production agriculture, they offer experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Their commitment to curiosity, skill-building, and community helps -students see their role in building a healthy, resilient food system – making Pansy Lane Farm truly deserving of the CTE Advisor Award.” - –Maria Farinacci, Assistant Professor of Agroecology. Larry and Rebeca Javorsky’s journey began at Montana State University, where a shared love of the outdoors and growing things brought them together, inspired by generations of family gardeners and supported by degrees in biology and natural resources. From Montana to Arizona’s high desert, the Willamette Valley, and now the Oregon Coast, they have cultivated flowers, food, and community wherever they’ve lived. In Coos Bay, they transformed their property into Pansy Lane Farm, an invaluable partner to our program, providing generous internship opportunities that give students hands-on experience in agriculture and farm operations while building skills, confidence, and understanding of resilient local food systems. Through mentorship and community connection, they help students see how individual farms contribute to a broader regional landscape. It's with great pleasure that we present these two excellent organizations with our CTE Partner of the Year Award.  To learn more about Southwestern’s career technical training programs visit www.socc.edu, or call 541-888-7405 to make an appointment with an advisor.