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Governing Board Recognizes
2026 Calendar Winners
 The Valley Air District celebrated the creativity of 14 student artists from across the San Joaquin Valley during the December 2025 Governing Board meeting. Students, their families and teachers were invited to attend the meeting in person at one of the District’s offices. The students’ artwork is featured in the 2026 edition of the Healthy Air Living Kids’ Calendar.
The District’s annual calendar is a bilingual, full-color wall calendar, featuring clean-air messages and drawings. The calendar is designed to educate and inspire the public to live a healthy air life and reduce air pollution in the Valley.
The District proudly recognized the following talented students featured in the calendar:
- Natalia Owens, 12th grade, Stockton – Cover artist “Let’s Keep Our Air Clean”
- Addison Shields, 4th grade, Visalia – “Let’s zip up pollution together!"
- Vicente Villarreal, 3rd grade, Madera – “No gas, switch to electric."
- Victoria Isabella Silva, 4th grade, Madera – “Keep air clean!"
- Alexandra Diaz Chavez, 10th grade, Stockton – “Breathe Clean Air”
- Aashvi Praveen Bhimaneni, 4th grade, Tracy – “Walking and biking every day keeps air pollution away.”
- Jack Stone, 5th grade, Clovis – “Quiet machines, happy skies!”
- Carlos Equihua-Morales, 2nd grade, Modesto – “Clean you’re A/C. Don’t let it get dirty and dusty.”
- Vivien Tath, 3rd grade, Modesto – “Switch to electric.”
- Harper, 3rd grade, Gustine – “Ride your bike or skateboard to school.”
- Scottland Reed, 6th grade – “Go greener and you can breathe cleaner.”
- Odette Flores, 4th grade, Clovis – “Be part of the solution, not the pollution. Go electric.”
- Alanis Leyva, 6th grade, Bakersfield – “Go green and keep it clean.”
- Dalilah Guzman, 6th grade, Hanford – “Help keep our air clean…ride electric to school.”
Each student also received a $100 scholarship, while the cover artist was awarded a $500 scholarship.
The free calendars were distributed to schools, community groups, healthcare facilities, churches, civic organizations, non-profits, and individuals. To download and print a copy of the calendar, click here.
It's never too early to start submitting entries for next year's calendar. Entries are accepted year-round. For contest rules and more information, visit the calendar contest webpage.
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Protect Yourself from Poor Air Quality
One minute, the sun is shining with a light breeze. The next, clouds roll in with trees bending in the strong winds. Shifting weather conditions like this can quickly change air quality around the Valley. When it does, residents can turn to the District’s Protect Yourself from Poor Air Quality webpage for helpful information and resources.
Several weather conditions can cause sudden increase in air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM). Higher PM levels can be harmful for everyone, but especially for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions. Weather events that can rapidly affect air quality include:
- High Winds/Dust Storms – Strong winds can lift dry soil and send dust and dirt into the air
- Wildfire Smoke – Smoke from nearby or distant wildfires can drift into the Valley, especially when winds shift
- Temperature Inversions – A layer of warm air can trap colder air and local pollution close to the ground
- Pre-Storm Outflows – Strong, dry winds that can move through the Valley before a rainstorm
These weather conditions can create unique air quality episodes. When they occur, residents can take the following steps to protect their health:
- Monitor air quality conditions conditions at AirNow.gov or myRAAN.com, or through the AirNow and Valley Air mobile Apps.
- Limit outdoor activity, especially for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions
- Stay indoors as much as possible during dusty or smoky conditions
- Keep windows and doors closed to prevent dust or smoke from entering
- Set home and vehicle HVAC systems to recirculate and use a high-efficiency filter (MERV-13 or higher if your HVAC system can safely use one)
- Use a HEPA air purifier or a DIY filtered box-fan to improve indoor air
- Reduce indoor pollution sources like candles, frying or vacuuming, especially during wildfire smoke events
- Keep sensitive individuals and pets indoors during blowing dust and smoky conditions
- If you must be outdoors when wildfire smoke is present, wear a properly fitted N95 respirator
- Visit a Clean Air Center for filtered air during wildfire smoke
- Consult your primary care provider if symptoms worsen or breathing becomes difficult
In addition, residents can report air quality issues like odors, dust and smoke at any time by visiting valleyair.org/complaints or through the Valley Air app.
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Annual Report Highlights Progress in
AB 617 Communities
Every year, the District publishes an Annual Report that highlights the progress made in implementing the Community Emissions Reduction Programs (CERPs) across the Valley’s four California Air Resources Board-selected AB 617 communities. In December, the 2025 AB 617 Annual Report was presented to the District’s Governing Board, showcasing the meaningful strides achieved over the past year. This report reflects the collaborative, community-driven efforts underway to improve local air quality.
In 2024, the District introduced ArcGIS StoryMaps as a new way to share this work, using an interactive, web-based format that brings the story to life through photos, maps and videos. The positive response from the community led the District to once again use StoryMaps for the 2025 report, highlighting the latest progress in an engaging and accessible way.
The annual reports also serve as a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about AB 617, providing background on the program and summaries of the four communities — Shafter, South Central Fresno, Stockton, and Arvin/Lamont. To explore the 2025 AB 617 Annual Report, visit the following links:
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Save Money with the District’s
Lawn Care Equipment Rebate
Residents interested in switching from gas lawn care equipment to electric can take advantage of the District’s Clean Green Yard Machines (CGYM) rebate program to make the transition a little easier on the wallet.
The program offers two rebate options for San Joaquin Valley residents:
Option 1: Replace your existing old gas- or diesel-powered lawnmower by taking it to a participating dismantler and purchasing a new electric lawnmower to qualify for a rebate. The eligible rebate amount is based on where you live and the purchase price of the new lawnmower. Valley residents can receive up to $250, once per address for every two consecutive years. Residents who live within a designated AB 617 community can receive up to $500 to replace their lawnmower.
Option 2: Receive up to $50 for the purchase of eligible new electric lawn equipment with no replacement. The rebate amount is dependent upon the cost of the new electric equipment. Eligible electric lawn equipment includes lawnmowers, edgers, trimmers, chainsaws and pole saws.
For more information about the program guidelines, please visit the CGYM website.
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District Shares Resources During
World Ag Expo
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Farmers, ag professionals and students were among the thousands of visitors who stopped by the District’s booth at the 2026 World Ag Expo in Tulare last week.
Over the three-day event, District staff connected with farmers, ag professionals, industry leaders, and the public to highlight innovative farming practices that improve air quality and share the District’s air quality resources, tools, and grant programs. Attendees also received handouts about ag-related programs, air quality activity booklets, calendars, and more.
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Visit the News Room for additional Valley Air District news releases. |
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