Ag One Foundation
December E-News
Ag One and the J.R. Simplot Company are delighted to announce that the Borba Family
will be recognized as the 2017 Ag One Community Salute honorees! Mark your calendar for Friday, July 14, 2017 to celebrate Tina Borba, Ross Borba, Jr., Mark and Peggy Borba. They are champions
of agriculture and of our communities. We hope you will join us in celebrating their
many achievements!
Many thanks to Simplot who has partnered with Ag One to sponsor the 2017 Ag One Community Salute honoring
the Borba Family on July 14, 2017. You will receive complete sponsorship and ticket information in early 2017, but
if you would like to make your sponsorship commitment in 2016, the sponsorship levels
are outlined on our website. Contact Ag One for more information.
Four women have been selected as the 2017 honorees for the 21st Annual Common Threads
Award, which recognizes women from the San Joaquin Valley for their agricultural,
philanthropic and community service. The Common Threads Award recipients are Mary
Mello, Hanford; Betty Morehead, Pixley; Bonnie Schultz, Riverdale; Ann Stone, Lemoore.
The honorees will be recognized at the 21st annual Common Threads Awards Luncheon
on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the International Agri Center Heritage Complex in
Tulare.
On December 10, Ag One and the Jordan College lost a dear friend and longtime supporter, Vernon
Conrad. Vernon was a dedicated valley agri-businessman and retired member of the Fresno
County Board of Supervisors. He was recognized as the 1996 Ag One Community Salute
honoree, which established the Ag One – Vernon Conrad Scholarship Endowment fund. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 14, at 10 a.m., at Dinuba First Baptist Church, 600 E. Nebraska Ave., Dinuba. The family requests
that remembrances be made to his endowment fund; contact the Ag One office for more
information, 559-278-4266.
Nearly 200 alumni and friends gathered for the Showcase of Opportunities at this year’s
Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at Sunview Vineyards of California, Inc. in Delano on Thursday, December 1. The audience included ag industry professionals from throughout Kern County as well
as current high school and community college students which provided a great networking
opportunity during the social hour. Fresno State Ag Ambassadors engaged with prospective
students and following the luncheon Sunview Vineyards hosted a tour of their Styrofoam
plant and bottling line. Proceeds from this event benefit the Carl and Barbara Fanucchi
Scholarship Endowment which supports Jordan College students from Kern County.
Ag One Board Member Kristi Robinson was recognized on December 1 at the “40 Under 40” Class of 2016 reception, presented by Business Street Online. The “40 Under 40” reception recognizes
outstanding business professionals in the private and public sectors of central California
who have yet to reach the age of 40. They have demonstrated a strong work ethic, and
are the leaders of today as well as tomorrow. Congratulations Kristi!
Join us in congratulating Ag One and Jordan College supporter Bill Smittcamp, who
was selected as the winner of the 2017 Leon S. Peters Award by the Fresno Chamber
of Commerce. The annual award recognizes an individual for their accomplishments,
leadership and commitment to the community. Smittcamp, who is a Fresno State alumnus,
serves on the Fresno State Board of Governors as well as the President’s Commission
on the Future of Agriculture. More
On December 2, Rodger Jensen and his son Doug visited the Jensen Library at the Smittcamp Alumni
House to meet the recipients of their scholarship. Rodger and his wife Margaret have
a fondness for education and how it has impacted their lives and careers. Pictured
(L-R): Alcidia Gomes, Senior Director of Development and Ag One Executive Director;
Rigoberto Guzman, scholar; Estefania Trujillo, scholar; Dr. Kathie Reid-Bevington,
Jordan College Associate Dean; Brooke Woods, scholar; Rodger Jensen; Alex Sytsma,
scholar; Dr. Joseph I. Castro, Fresno State President; Doug Jensen; Pierce Hanning,
scholar; Dr. John Bushoven, Plant Science faculty; Dr. Sandra Witte, Jordan College
Dean; Melissa Jacoby, scholar; Dr. Srinivasa Konduru, Ag Business faculty; Shannon
Fast, Associate Director of Development.
The Meyers Livestock Judging team and class received a special visit from Marvin Meyers
on December 1. Meyers, who the team is named after, was a leading force in revitalizing the Livestock
Judging program at Fresno State after budget cuts put the team at risk. Pictured with
Meyers are Livestock Judging students: (L-R, top row) Patrick McDonald, Kiley Gravatt,
Ariana Koster, Ashley Tarango, Sam Whitworth, Amanda Long; (bottom row) Cameron Rocha,
Madison Zittel, Lindsey Vieira.
On December 12, Andrew Cummings with T.G. Schmeiser Co., Inc. met with Tommy Burnett, the Agricultural Business student who received this year’s Penn Cummings/T.G. Schmeiser
scholarship. The Penn Cummings/T.G. Schmeiser scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate
or grad student with leadership and/or community involvement, majoring in Ag Business,
Animal Science, Ag Education, Enology, Food Science and Nutrition, Industrial Technology
or Plant Science.
Planting seeds of success…
- Ag Business Alumnus Paul Amador elected to Idaho State Legislature
- The Jordan College hosted the December Fresno Ag-Roundtable on December 4; guests convened at the Smittcamp Alumni House on campus and were invited to tour the farm following the meeting.
- Jordan College alumna partners with Dow AgroSciences, develops international STEM program.
- Ag One and Jordan College supporter Marsha Vucovich was recognized by the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts of America at the Distinguished Citizen Luncheon on November 22.
- Senator Andy Vidak welcomes Senate Fellow and Fresno State Agricultural Business alumnus Benjamin Granholm to Team Vidak.
- Plant science professor Dr. David Goorahoo along with Dr. David Zoldoske, Executive Director of Water Initiatives at Fresno State, and four Fresno State students received awards and all-expense trips from the Irrigation Foundation to attend the 2016 Irrigation Show and Education Conference from Dec. 5 to 9 in Las Vegas.
- Ag Business student George Helmuth was featured in a Fresno State Football Video.
- Calliope Correia from the Fresno State Horticulture Nursery and Michelle Ganci, Animal Science professor, were featured in Valley’s Gold episodes on Valley PBS.
Important Dates
March 22, 2017 – Common Threads Awards Luncheon, Tulare
May 1, 2017 – 45th Annual Turf Day Golf Classic, Belmont Country Club
July 14, 2017 – Community Salute honoring the Borba Family, Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Halls
Become an Ag One Member!
If you’re not already a member, please consider joining Ag One and receive 10% off selected items like wine and olive oil at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market! Join or renew your existing membership today!
