Ag One Foundation
July E-News
On June 22, Fresno State President Joseph Castro signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the
University of the Azores Angra do Heroismo campus on the island of Terceira. The academic
exchange agreement will create agricultural opportunities for Fresno State students
to study abroad in Portugal and for Portuguese students to experience Central Valley
agriculture. The signing included a performance by the Livingston Philharmonic Band
playing the Fresno State fight song to a packed house of mainly alumni and friends
from the Central Valley(video here). Photographed signing the MOU (l-r) are Angra Mayor Alamo Meneses, representing the
President of the Azores was Director of the Sea, Science and Technology Fausto Brito de Abreu, Pro Rector
of the University of the Azores Susana Leal, Fresno State President Joe Castro and Tulare Angra Sister City Foundation
representative David Mendonca. More on partnership here.
Jordan College alumnus John Migliazzo, an attorney for the Michael J.F. Smith law
office, started his one-year term on July 1 as the president of the Ag One Foundation at Fresno State. John received his bachelor’s
degree in agricultural communications with an emphasis in public relations (cum laude)
in 2007 and was a student senator. He then attended San Joaquin College of Law and
received his law degree in 2010. He has been active in the community and the Ag One
organization for many years, serving previously as vice president, treasurer and secretary.
Fellow alumnus Bill Purewal joins the executive committee as secretary. He is the
owner of PureFresh Sales, a produce marketing company that handles a wide range of
fresh fruits and vegetables domestically and internationally. The Selma native graduated
in 1998 with an agricultural business degree. Other new board members include John
O’Rourke of RJO Produce (Fresno State, 1993); Jim Razor of J.G. Boswell Co. (Fresno
State, 1990); Kristi Robinson (Cal Poly, 1999); Steve Spate, Raisin Bargaining Association
(Reedley College, 1980); and Annie Stuhr, Fresno Madera Farm Credit (Fresno State,
2004). More
September 11, 2016 marks the 39th annual Ag Boosters BBQ at Borba Ranch, Madera generously opened to us by Mark and Peggy Borba! You can purchase individual tickets or tables as well as our very popular Harvest
Sponsorship online here or by calling the Ag One office at559.278.4266. Our committee has been busy planning an enjoyable evening for you and other industry
representatives from throughout the Valley while raising support for higher education
through Ag One at Fresno State and California Women for Agriculture (CWA). Gates open at 4 p.m, followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, please visit the Ag One website.
Last July, Ag One honored Central Valley almond farmer Antonio “Tony” Campos as the
2015 Community Salute recipient for his devoted service to California agriculture
and the food systems industries as well as his commitment to the community. The successful
event raised over $550,000 and drew nearly 1,000 guests, alumni and friends to celebrate
Tony and the impact he has made in the world of agriculture. Proceeds from the event
established the Ag One – Antonio “Tony” Campos Endowment providing $20,000 annually
to support international experiences for deserving students in the Jordan College
of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State. more
Jim Marderosian, President of Bee Sweet Citrus visited the future home of the Jordan
College's state-of-the-art citrus packing line. Bee Sweet has been instrumental in
working with the Jordan College's Department of Industrial Technology as well as the
Plant Science Department to share their guidance on cutting-edge technology in the
citrus industry. A lab space located in the Industrial Technology building is currently
being converted to house and operate a brand new citrus packing line. The state-of-the-art
equipment will provide students majoring in multiple disciplines the opportunity to
learn and gain hands-on experience with the latest technology in sorting and packing
equipment. Visit our news story for more in the department of Industrial Technology.
Planting seeds of success…
The Jordan College's Bulldoggers Rodeo Team continues ongoing success in Casper, Wyoming
last month. Freshman Brittany Dias (Hanford) and sophomore Colton Campbell (Klamath
Falls, OR) led the team with top-four individual finishes at the 68th annual College
National Finals Rodeo in June. Other Bulldoggers that placed well included junior
Cynthia Konda (Terra Bella) in barrel racing, senior Tegan Turner (Lemoore) in goat-tying,
sophomore Jamie Giefer (Springville) in the breakaway event and junior Dillon Hushour (Fairfield) in the steer wrestling competition. The rodeo team
capped a successful year under the guidance of first-year coach Tony Branquinho, who
joined the college last fall thanks to a gift from Central Valley Rodeo Inc. that
will also pay for equipment and facility improvements. more
Three Fresno State plant science seniors, Aldo Garcia, May Yang, and Yue Wu, were
among six undergraduate students selected nationally to the Greenfield Scholar program
by the American Society of Agronomy and the International Certified Crop Advisor program.
The students, who are active members of the Fresno State Plant Science Club and Tri-Societies
Agronomy, Crop and Soil Science Association, will travel to the society’s annual conference
Nov. 6 to 9 in Phoenix with 7,000 scientists, professionals, educators and students,
and will be matched with mentors to develop leadership skills. More
Fresno State's 2013 Touriga earned a silver medal from Sunset magazine’s 2016 International Wine Competition last
month and after winning several other awards recently (the vintage is nearly sold
out). Fresno State wines have won 17 honors this year and more than 600 awards since
1997.more
Fresno State's Center for Irrigation Technology staff members Bill Green, Tim Jacobsen
and Kaomine Vang along with Fresno State plant science professor Dr. Dave Goorahoo made
presentations in campus water research facilities and on the 1,000-acre University
Agricultural Laboratory to 21 different educators from around the nation. The academy
offered information and training directed at developing irrigation topics in high
school and community college agricultural education curriculum. Sessions covered agricultural
sprinklers, pump efficiency, soil mapping and center pivot irrigation troubleshooting. more
Important Dates
- August 18-19, 2016 – Advanced Olive Milling Seminar, hosted by the Institute for Food and Agriculture
- September 11, 2016 – Ag Boosters BBQ, Borba Ranch
- October Date Pending – Kern County Alumni & Friends Luncheon
- November 10, 2016 – West Side Alumni & Friends Luncheon, hosted by Fresno Equipment Company in Five Points
- November 17, 2016 – Ag One Trap Shoot
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