November E-News

Join us for the 37^th annual Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at Sunview Vineyards in Delano on Thursday, Dec. 1. This event is a great opportunity to see all that Kern County has to offer the community, students and agricultural industry! Enjoy a BBQ lunch while visiting with Fresno State, Bakersfield College and local high school students, then stay for a facility tour. The social begins at 11 a.m.followed by lunch and program at noon and the tour at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, RSVP by Nov. 25. For information about sponsorships or to purchase a ticket, visit our website. 

Nearly 200 alumni and friends gathered at Fresno Equipment Company in Five Points to kick off the inaugural West Side Agriculture Alumni and Friends Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 10! Guests enjoyed a BBQ lunch and visited with fellow alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the Jordan College as well as Mrs. Mary Castro and Victor E. Bulldog III! Special thanks to Farm Credit who sponsored the luncheon, Fresno Equipment Company who graciously hosted our guests and the sponsors and attendees who helped make this event a success. Event proceeds benefit students and programs in the Jordan College.

Thank you to all who participated in the third annual Ag One Trap Shoot at the Kingsburg Gun Club yesterday! More than 50 shooters came out to support Jordan College students and programs. Special thanks to our sponsors: naming sponsor RBT, Inc., dinner sponsor Nichino America, Inc. and trap house sponsor Wiseconn Engineering, Inc. Congratulations to the winners: Class A – 1st place Mark Yoshimoto, 2^nd place Wayne Lee, 3^rd place Bill Vogt; Class B – 1^st place Mike Garvey, 2^nd place Nate Laux, 3^rd place Cody Conley; Class C – 1^st place Chris Jue, 2^nd place Dustin Stewart, 3^rd place John Dam

On November 7, the Jordan College and Ag One hosted its semi-annual partners meeting with industry leader Bayer.  The Jordan College and Bayer began deepening their existing relationship, stimulated by their sponsorship of the entomology laboratory in the Jordan Agricultural Research Center.  The meeting took place in the research center and focused on strategic areas of collaboration.  The partnership will continue to coalesce around student engagement, talent and career development, research, training and promoting the benefits of this relationship.  The next meeting is tentatively being planned for the spring semester.

The Common Threads Committee is now accepting nominations for the 21st annual Common Threads Awards honoring women in agriculture. Honorees are selected from Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties for their remarkable contributions to agriculture and their community. Nominees must show outstanding involvement in agriculture, and have made a difference by giving of their time, talent and treasure. Please submit the nomination packet with a cover letter (including a picture) by November 23. For a PDF version of the nomination form or for the nomination criteria, click here. 

Thanks to a generous gift from RCO Ag Credit, the annual Fresno State Helping Hams drive at the Gibson Farm Market is off to a great start and half way to the goal of $7,000 by December 9. RCO Ag Credit President/CEO and former Ag One president Mitch Metzler and CFO Anthony Leon joined Dean Witte along with members of the Fresno State Cabinet and Associated Students Inc. to launch the campaign on Nov. 7 at the farm market. Money raised will provide holiday hams to organizations affiliated with Fresno State who serve the needy in our community.

The Fresno State Winery dreamed of producing a special blend to honor Dr. Vincent Petrucci, known by many as the father of Fresno State's viticulture and enology programs.  In February, Dr. Petrucci worked with Fresno State winemaker Matt Brain on developing the special blend. They landed on the combination of Petite Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This limited bottling is available to Fresno State Wine Club members and will be the first wine offered through the Fresno State Winery's new exclusive wine Allocation List for alumni and friends. Alumni and friends of the Jordan College are invited to join the Allocation List and take advantage of this special blend. To join the exclusive list, click here.