December 2017

Helping Hams provides 250 hams to local charities

Ten local organizations will receive 250 hams to share with families in need this holiday season as part of Fresno State’s fifth annual Helping Hams campaign. The campaign raised $7,795, surpassing its goal of $7,500 to purchase 250 hams. The additional $295 raised will be allocated to the Fresno State Student Cupboard. The largest contribution was a $3,500 donation from RCO Ag Credit, Inc., an agriculture finance company based in Fresno. “Supporting the Helping Hams campaign is a meaningful way to help feed hungry families during the holiday season,” said Mitchell Metzler, president and CEO of RCO Ag Credit, Inc. and former Ag One President. “We are proud to see the growing momentum of this campaign and are especially encouraged with the increased support of Fresno State students and others in the community.” Read more →

Fresno State sweeps California Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet

Congratulations to the eight Jordan College students who won the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) Collegiate Discussion Meet team competition at the recent CFBF Annual Convention. Fresno State seniors Abigail Carlson and Emma Briggs finished 1st and 2nd individually (Trevor Autry, Mikayla Kopp and Samuel Looper were top 8 finalists). Other team members included Cameron Ford, Jonathon Porter and Clayton Sheehan. Many thanks to Dr. Steve Rocca and students Tim Truax and Jacob Vazquez for their coaching support. 

Our 4th Annual Trap Shoot was a blast!

This year’s Ag One Trap Shoot drew more than 100 shooters to the Kingsburg Gun Club on Thursday, November 30 to raise support for the Jordan College! Participants had a fun afternoon of clay shooting, BBQ lunch, social hour and tri-tip dinner followed by a short program and awards. Congratulations to the winners of the competition – Class A: Don Tatti (1st place), Garrett Chojnacki, Jack Lee and Mark Yoshimoto (tied); Class B: Sullivan Grosz (1st place), Rick Cosyns, Evan Yoshimoto and Lars Petersen (tied); Class C: Kevin Layne (1st place), Jerrid Climer (2nd place), Miles Sheldon (3rd place).

The Adventures of Mr. Murphy

Fresno State alumnus and Jordan College supporter David Vartanian has written a book about his beloved bulldog, Mr. Murphy. Vartanian created a scholarship in 2015 in memory of Mr. Murphy to support pre-veterinary students, and sales from his new book will benefit that scholarship. “The Adventures of Mr. Murphy” is a non-fiction book based around the activities that two best friends shared together. Mr. Murphy was an English Bulldog rescued from the SPCA in Fresno. The book was illustrated by Joel Beery, a 2008 graduate from the College of Arts and Humanities and a current graphic designer in the office of University Communications at Fresno State. You can purchase the book on Amazon (link below). Read more →

Multicultural Scholars visit with program partners

 Thank you to the ag lenders who sponsor the Multicultural Scholars in Agriculture program that encourages Fresno State students to mentor local high school students pursuing careers in ag science and technology. Created in 2014, the endowed partnership was created by gifts from American AgCredit, Cobank, Farm Credit West, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Golden State Farm Credit and is matched by a Title V-Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Pictured above are four of the scholars, the faculty advisor Dr. Steven Rocca, representatives from Golden State Farm Credit, Farm Credit West and Fresno Madera Farm Credit, as well as Alcidia Freitas Gomes and Shannon Fast from Ag One. Read more →

Meyers Livestock Judging Team Preparing for Competition

Marvin and Tish Meyers met the newest members of the Meyers Livestock Judging Team on Dec. 12. The team was able to present a mock judging competition for the Meyers’, who were the first donors towards the program and whom the program is named after. Regular competition starts on Dec. 31 with the Arizona Nationals, followed by the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January. Join us in wishing them luck!

Congratulations Dr. David Zoldoske

Join us in thanking Dr. David Zoldoske for his 34 years of service to the Jordan College and Fresno State, and congratulate him on his retirement! David is the director of the Center for Irrigation Technology and California Water Institute.

Dairy herd is growing

The dairy herd is improving thanks to generous donations this fall. New additions include heifers from the Red Wave Sale thanks to Lloyd and Fred Fagundes, President Castro and Dean Witte. The dairy program also received donations of semen and embryos from longtime supporter Ken Melvold and an additional Jersey cow from Dr. Louise Castanelli.

 Year-End Giving

As the end of 2017 quickly approaches, we often think about the holidays and festivities, and we sometimes think about ways to give to our beloved institution. If you are planning or considering a year-end gift to support the Jordan College or Ag One, please reach out to us. We would be honored to help guide you through your year-end contribution or any other giving you might be considering. Certain gifts of securities (especially mutual funds) can take several weeks to process and we are here to help. Thank you and we hope you enjoy a fabulous holiday season!

Planting seeds of success…