Meet our Staff
Meet Our Children's Storybook Garden & Museum staff. Each of them make a great contribution to the Garden. They help keep the Garden running with all kinds of fun and educational programs, events, maintenance and beautiful gardens... Our staff is always ready to answer any questions and provide you with an amazing Garden experience.
Candie Barnhart
Executive Director
Candie's skills and expertise in management, marketing & event planning have been gratefully received in our organization’s operations and programs. She works closely with our board members to ensure the best outcome for all. Candie is a native to the Central Valley, growing up in Hanford and raising her children here.
When Candie is not at the Children's Storybook Garden you may see her around town as a local Real Estate agent helping her clients find the perfect home. You can also find her with her daughter picking up fresh produce at our local farmers market & socializing at downtown events. She is a member of the Soroptimist International of Hanford and loves to support her community.
Favorite Quotes:
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~Walt Disney
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.
Socorro Perez
Landscaper
Garden Manager
Socorro has been a gardener since he was very young. Nature caught his attention at an early age while he helped his father plant beans, corn, and other vegetables in their family garden. He enjoys working with good rich soil and beautiful trees and plants. He moved to Lemoore a year ago because it is a nice quiet place to live. Especially after working for many years in the busy bay area. He loves his job at the Children's Storybook Garden because it brings him much joy to make it beautiful. He and his family like living in the Valley and they appreciate all the friendly and kind people they have met. His favorite quote is, "To make a beautiful garden is a work of art."
Jean Collier
Office Manager
Jean started volunteering at Children's Storybook Garden shortly after the grand opening in November 2017. She offered to help with office tasks as a way to give back to the Garden for providing such a fun, safe place for her granddaughters Lily and Hannah to play, create and help grow healthy food. Jean's office skills come from working for over 30 years for a dairy genetics export company.