The elementary students have been studying Chavez, his values and his legacy.

Josie Culberston, 9, picks red cabbage from Irvine’s Incredible Edible Park. Students from Andersen Elementary in Newport Beach picked crops from the field as part of a history lesson on the work of Cesar Chavez.

MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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About Cesar E. Chavez

• Life:Born March 31, 1927 on a small farm near Yuma, Ariz. Died April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Ariz.
• Farm working: Chavez’s family became migrant farm workers when he was 10, after losing their farm in the Great Depression. He began working in the fields full time after eighth grade.
• Service: Joined the Navy in 1945, served in Western Pacific during end of World War II.
• Family:Married to Helen Fabela; eight children; 31 grandchildren.
• Organizer:Joined Community Service Organization in 1952; coordinated voter registration drives; campaigned against racial, economic discrimination; became CSO’s national director.
• Union: In 1962, founded National Farm Workers Association, which became United Farm Workers of America. The union’s efforts help lead to the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which protects farmer workers’ right to unionize.
• Motto: Si se puede (It can be done.)

Source: National Chavez Center

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"This is a good way to learn about what Cesar Chavez stood for," said Hadley McKinnon, 9. "We are learning his core values like sacrifice, helping the most needy, tolerance and nonviolence."

Students spent about two hours picking lettuce, cabbage, onions and lemons from the Irvine park, which was created by the city as a living pantry for the county’s needy.

Cesar Chavez, a Mexican American labor activist, cofounded the United Farm Workers. Chavez was a leading voice for migrant farm workers. He is credited with focusing national attention on these laborers’ terrible working conditions, which eventually led to improvements. Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, and died on April 23, 1993.

J.T. Russell, 10, said he’d much rather be in the field on the sunny, warm day than stuck inside his classroom.

"This is a lot of fun, and we’re really learning a lot of important things," Russell said. "There is no way we could get the same lesson inside our classroom."

The event has organized by the Volunteer Center of Orange County. This is the seventh year students from Anderson spent a day picking crops to remember Chavez.

"What these students are doing out here today is learning by doing," said Dan McQuaid, president of the Volunteer Center. "This is a way to get them out and doing something that really represents Cesar Chavez."

Students from Cal State Fullerton were also in the fields working with the fourth-graders from Andersen. The students from Cal State Fullerton will be in the fields to not only work with the elementary students but act as reflectors to engage the elementary students in conversation about Chavez and about the service they will be performing.

Leah Gavant, 9, said she not only learned more about Chavez today, but she also about how fruits and vegetables are grown.

"These is really awesome," she said. "I didn’t know how much work went into this. But I’m not tired at all," she said. "I’m having a great time."

Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com