Manuel Cunha was raised on a small farm in Vacaville, California, where he developed a powerful work ethic. Possessing both a love of learning and agriculture, he graduated from the university system with a teaching credential. Manuel first taught at Sierra Unified School District where he built a strong Future Farmers of America program. He later moved to higher education with a teaching assignment at Cal Poly followed by 10 years of teaching agriculture at Reedley College. More than 30 years ago, he was hired to lead the Nisei Farmers League’s Legalization Program and today he is their long-standing president. The League represents growers, packers, processors and their employees on a variety of issues such as water, immigration and universal healthcare at both the state and federal level.