The Central Valley is known for its agriculture, but the people who harvest the food are often forgotten about. Migrant farmworkers’ labor drives the economy, yet they remain hidden within the fields they work in every day.

Being overlooked by society during times like these, where farmworkers are being targeted by ICE agents, inspired a group at Fresno State to step up and make a difference.

The Farmworkers Advocacy Club is taking the lead in making sure that farmworkers are appreciated and given the visibility they deserve.

The club was originally founded in 2022 by a group of College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) students, then fell through. In 2024, the club revamped with a new board and a new commitment to its mission.

Today, the club has six board members with about 20 volunteers and hope to grow.

Esmeralda Palafox, the president of the Farmworkers Advocacy Club and a third-year biology major on a pre-med track with an interest in cardiothoracic surgery, is one of the students making this movement happen.

Palafox, a daughter of immigrant farmworkers, is passionate about educating the campus community in its methods for supporting local farmworkers. She is working to serve underrepresented communities and those with low financial literacy who face barriers in the health care system.

Palafox is dedicated to driving the club to success.

During her childhood she spent most of her summers traveling to Oregon with her family, working in the fields.

“I remember every summer thinking, I wish I was at home or with my friends or going out on vacations, but my summers consisted of traveling, leaving my world behind, going to Oregon, staying in cabins and working,” Palafox said.

This showcases what a lot of children of agriculture workers take on at such a young age, hard work and early maturity. While other kids are enjoying their summers, they are out in the fields helping their families make a living.

“It’s something to know about it, but I think it’s a different thing to live it,” Palafox said.

Although her childhood came with some hardships, she pursued a higher education and is now able to teach her parents many things they didn’t have the opportunity to learn when they were younger.

Palafox’s involvement with the CAMP led to leadership opportunities, including a political internship in Washington D.C., where she lobbied for the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, a bill aimed at protecting farmworkers from heat-related deaths.

This experience led to a heat event that Palafox organized last summer, where the club went to Madera to photograph and highlight the reality that farmworkers face.

Most recently, on Oct. 8, was a social lunch with farmworkers in Madera to show appreciation. Farmworkers were greeted with food, goodie bags and personalized thank you cards offering gratitude for the food they harvest.

Palafox adds that they usually connect with the farmworkers by driving through agricultural areas like Madera, speaking directly with supervisors and building relationships to organize their outreach events.

“This year we’re more prepared, more eager and more motivated to do more stuff,” Palafox said. “We want to allow individuals on campus to be involved.”

The club aims to use student voices and experiences to advocate for farmworkers through education, outreach and direct support.

“We’re a club who stands on using our own experiences and our own voices to advocate for them through education, financial literacy, being able to take them food or to take them sweaters and do donation drives,” Palafox said.

One way to donate is to reach out directly to their Instagram and from there be directed to drop it off at the CAMP office.

Jose Eduardo Mundo, who served as the academic adviser for CAMP at Fresno State from 2021-2025, had played a key role in supporting students like Palafox in their academic and learnership journey.

“I am excited to see that other clubs and organizations are interested in collaborating with FAC and look forward to seeing more collaborations happen,” Mundo said. “It’s important to give back to our farmworkers who put their bodies at risk to pick our fruits and veggies. They work fast paced for long hours under the scorching Central Valley sun and freezing cold winters.”

Although Mundo isn’t the academic adviser anymore, he continues to guide students at Clovis Community College as the student success coordinator of the AgTEC program.

During October, the club had other events for students on campus. One being a DIY tote bag for farmworkers. This was a great opportunity for students to be creative and decorate tote bags for an upcoming Essential Needs Bag Project the club is working on.

A 5k run fundraiser is taking place on December 6, where students and the local community are encouraged to sign up.

This will lead up to a social lunch in December, where all the material made will be given to farmworkers. The club is actively looking for other organizations and clubs to collaborate with for this event.

“Whenever you go to our events, you’re allowing yourself to be involved in someone else’s life,” Palafox said. “A lot of farmworkers are scared, but they have bills to pay and they need to survive.”

Events like the social lunch are especially meaningful to the club as they aim to remind farmworkers that students on campus see, support and care.

Volunteers are always welcome and are advised to reach out directly through their Instagram.

“Come to the club, come help, come help make a change,” Palafox said.

With every event, the Farmworkers Advocacy Club continues to stand in solidarity with the people who keep California’s fields thriving.