The Hood River SWCD has worked closely with OSU Extension and the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers to facilitate local bilingual agricultural trainings meaningful to the tree fruit industry. Many training opportunities are offered in Spanish and led by experienced trainers from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, OSU, or private contractors who specialize in agricultural education. The focus of these trainings is to address the evolving demands of the tree fruit sector and to support those who within it. The sessions are designed to be responsive to industry needs, offering relevant and practical information. Please look at the list below for current and previous trainings opportunities. For more information on a current class, click on the class title. If you have specific needs or suggestions for future trainings, do not hesitate to contact us.
2026 Classes
Orchard Horticulture (Spanish), February 24th-26th
This class is taught by Leo Garcia, former professor of horticulture at Wenatchee Valley College. Learn the reasons behind all the things we do in an orchard. Learn about soils, plant nutrition, stages of tree growth, irrigation, water management, thinning and pruning techniques, pest and disease management, etc. Click here to register
Free Respirator Fit Testing and Medical Questionnaire (English & Spanish), March 3rd & 4th
This free event will provide free medical questionnaire reviews and respirator fit tests (required annually) with trained staff and medical personnel from Providence Occupational Health. Appointments are about 20 minutes. Certifications of compliance provided! One Community Health will have their mobile medical unit onsite if interested in those services call Melissa Reyes at 541-256-4239 or mereyes@onecommunityhealth.org. Thank you Providence Hospital, One Community Health, Skyline Hospital, GS Long and Hood River Chapter of the OR Farm Bureau for your partnership!
Respirator Fit Testing Train the Trainer (English and Spanish), March 10th
Learn how to administer respirator fit testing to employees at your farm! This 6 hour class is taught in English and Spanish by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. 5 Core Pesticide Credits available in OR and WA. To register or for more information about the English Class, click here. To register or for more information about the Spanish Class, click here.
Sprayer Calibration (English & Spanish), March 18th
This one day workshop taught by the Washington State Department of Agriculture will focus on how to calibrate an air blast sprayer to apply pesticides in a targeted way. This class will be offered in both English and Spanish. 7 Core Pesticide Credits available in OR and WA. To register or for more information about the English Class, click here. To register or for more information about the Spanish Class, click here.
Worker Protection Standards & Pesticide Handler (Spanish), April 16th
This training is for pesticide handlers to learn how to use pesticides in a safe, effective, and legal manner and reduce the risk of exposure. Certification of compliance provided. 8 Core Pesticide Credits available in OR and 7 in WA. Click here to register
Past Classes
Orchard Scouting for Pest, Disease and Beneficial Insects
This 2-day class will provide people with hands-on skills to scout for pests and disease in their orchards, and to understand which beneficial insects are present and how they assist with pest management. This training includes both classroom and field work.
Private Pesticide Applicator License Exam Preparation
This course includes 3 days of instruction provided by an experienced trainer from the Washington State Department of Agriculture or the Oregon State University Pesticide Safety and Education Program. The private pesticide applicator license exam will be administered onsite during the third day of training. Spanish language pre-license class will be held in January of 2027. English language pre-license class held in Fall each year.
Spanish for Orchard Managers
This 6-week interactive course equips orchard managers and supervisors with the Spanish language skills needed to communicate effectively with their crews. Each week blends key functional phrases, cultural insights, and leadership strategies to help managers foster respect, clarity, and efficiency in the workplace.
Supervisory Skills and Leadership
This interactive workshop is taught in Spanish and includes three days of coursework. Participants will develop supervisory skills and work with real-life examples of management situations.
