October 2017

Take aim for the 4th Annual Ag One Trap Shoot on Nov. 30!

You're sure to have a blast at this year's Trap Shoot on November 30 at the Kingsburg Gun Club, proudly sponsored by Pearson Realty and Ultra Gro Plant Food! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of clay shooting, social and tri-tip dinner while supporting the Jordan College. Plus - you won't want to miss out on your chance to win a Benelli shotgun or a YETI cooler in the raffle drawing! Shooter registration is $100 and spectators are welcome to stay for dinner for $30, RSVP by Nov. 22. Check-in and hot dog lunch begins at 12 p.m. and the shoot will begin at 1p.m., followed by a social hour, dinner and awards program. Many thanks to the naming sponsors, Pearson Realty and Ultra Gro Plant Food, the dinner sponsor, Prudential Agricultural Investments and the raffle sponsor, Breco Firearms, Inc. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or registration for the shooters, please visit the website. Read more.

Past honorees at the 2017 Common Threads Luncheon

Common Threads Award nominations Now Open

The Common Threads Committee is now acceptoing nominations for the 22nd Annual Common Threads Awards honoring women in agriculture. Honorees are selected from Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties for their remarkable contributions of time, talent and treasure to their communities. Nominees must show outstanding involvement in agriculture and have made a difference with their philanthropic and volunteer support. Nominations with a cover letter are sue no later than November 27. For a PDF version of the nomination form or for the monination criteria, visit the event web page. More.

Congratulations to the 2017 Jordan college Top Dog, Lynne Ashbeck

On October 13, the Jordan College celebrated 2017 Top Dog, Lynne Ashbeck at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala. Lynne received her bachelor's degree in home economics in 1976 followed by her master's degree in food science in 1977. The two-time Fresno State alumna makes it a priority to help others. She is currently serving her fifth term on the City of Clovis Council, she is the chair of the Fresno Community Health Improvement Partnership and was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Congratulations Lynne! More.

Don Cameron (left), Jim Marderosian (right)

Alumni selected for 2017 Agriculturalist and Ag Business of the Year awards

Congratulations to alumni Don Cameron ('76, Biology) and Jim Marderosian ('79, Ag Business). Don Cameron, of Terranova Ranch Inc., was nominated by past Ag One board member Hal Bolen and recognized as the 2017 Agriculturalist of the Year for his leadership and integrity in the Central Valley's agricultural community. Marderosian's company Bee Sweet Citrus was nominated by Ag One and announced as the Baker Peterson Franklin, CPA, LLP Ag Business Award recipient for its achievements and impact on the industry and the community. Both will be honored at the annual ag awards luncheon on November 1. Information on the awards and event is available through the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Read more.

In memory of John Etcheverry

Ag One lost a dear friend on Sept. 26, Mr. John Etcheverry. John graduated from Fresno State in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science. His 42-year agricultural career began on his family farm before working for Bidart Bros, Kern County Land Company, Tenneco West and Arroyo Seco Vineyards. John was a proud advocate for the community, serving as a director and chairman on numerous boards and foundations, including serving as a founding board member of Ag One. John was also a founding member of the Ag One Kern County Alumni and Friends event and hosted the first event in his back yard. We are tremendously grateful for his decades of support and service to the Jordan College. Click below for his full obituary. Read more.

Congratulations to alumna Ashley Jacobsen, 2017 Working Mother of the Year

As an assurance senior manager at Moss Adams, Ashley Jacobsen is helping to establish and grow the firm’s new office in Fresno. One of the youngest members of her office’s leadership team, she was recognized as an emerging leader for her contribution to the profession and to the community by the California Society of CPAs. She leads recruiting and the Forum W network in her office, which is the firm’s initiative to develop and advance talented women. While at Fresno State, Ashley was in the Smittcamp Family Honors College and graduated in 2003 with a degree in accounting. Ashley and her husband, Ryan, are generous supporters of Ag One and recently established an endowment to support Jordan College students. Congratulations Ashley! Read more.

Join us for the West Side Luncheon on November 8!

Ag One and Fresno Equipment Company invite you to the second annual West Side Agriculture Alumni and Friends Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8! Enjoy a BBQ lunch while visiting with fellow alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the Jordan College. Event proceeds benefit students and programs in the Jordan College! The luncheon will be held at Fresno Equipment Company in Five Points. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are $35, RSVP by Nov. 1. For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities please visit our website. We hope to see you there! Read more.

Pictured L-R: Brian Asaro, Jason Fuller, Rick Leonard, Marko Zaninovich at the 2016 Kern County Luncheon at Sunview Vineyards

Mark your calendars for the Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon on November 15

Join us for the 38th annual Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at Sun Pacific Farming in Bakersfield on Wednesday, Nov. 15! This event is an 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 representatives, 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. 8. For information about sponsorships or to purchase a ticket, visit our website. Read more.

 

Gibson Farm Market Fall Festival to showcase student-made products, October 21

The Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market will host its Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, and will showcase a variety of food and wine products made by Fresno State students and staff. The free, family-friendly, public event will feature a campus-grown pumpkin patch and free samples from its dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables, nut, horticulture and food processing units. Read more.

 

Bayer CropScience internship program provides hands-on experience for Jordan College students

A new partnership is putting Fresno State students at the forefront of new crop protection research. Bayer CropScience's Western Headquarters, located in Fresno, features a 120-acre research facility  with 25-35 crops for study and investigation. Through an internship program, Fresno State students assist with research and work directly with scientists. Check out the video featured on "Your Central Valley". Read more.

 

Faculty present research projects at Jordan Agricultual Research Center

On Oct. 6, faculty who are working in the Jordan Agricultural Research Center on research projects presented their work to fellow faculty and staff. Jordan College Dean Sandra Witte, along with Dean Chris Meyer from the College of Science and Mathematics welcomed the audience to learn, engage in dialog and inspire collaboration with fellow researchers. Sixteen professors from the two colleges as well as from the Lyles College of Engineering gave lightning presentations on their agricultural-based research. Some of the groundbreaking work by the Jordan College includes discovering new salt-tolerant plant varieties, investigating low-quality water on crop production, the importance of unmanned systems, both aerial and ground, sensor technology, GPS and GIS data collection, and the development of new diagnostic tests to identify common pests, just to name several. Overall, the forum was a fascinating representation of the cutting-edge agricultural research taking place in the heart of the central valley, right here at Fresno State! Read more.

 

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 fall season! Read more.

 

Fresno State Scholarship Application now open

The scholarship application period for Fresno State is September 1, 2017 to March 2, 2018. This application period is for the 2018/2019 academic year. The Jordan College will award nearly $1 million in scholarships and program support. For more information, visit the website for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Read more.

 

Planting seeds of success...

• Fresno State winemaker says smoke is an enemy to wine grapes. Read more.
• The Ag Fest football game on Sept. 30 celebrated the Jordan College and featured the first-ever corn eating contest. Congratulations to Jacob Gallagher, a Viticulture and Enology junior, who ate 23 ears of corn in 10 minutes! Read more.
• The Fresno State swine show team brought home more than a dozen ribbons after competing in the collegiate swine show at the Big Fresno Fair. Read more.
• The Innovation in Ag Irrigation and Technology Demonstration and Showcase at Fresno State will be held on Nov. 3 and includes a demonstration of new irrigation and water management technologies being used on the University Agricultural Laboratory. Read more.
• The 36th Annual Agribusiness Management Conference will be held on Nov. 9 at the DoubleTree in Fresno. This year’s theme is “California Agriculture: The View in 2025”. Read more.
• The Central Valley Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum will be held on Nov. 15, the largest event for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Central Valley.Read more.

 

Important Dates

11.2.17 Time to feed the D.O.G.

October 21, 2017: Gibson Farm Market Fall Festival

November 2, 2017: Time to feed the D.O.G.

November 8, 2017: West Side Alumni and Friends Luncheon, Fresno Equipment Company, Five Points

November 9, 2017: Ag Business Management Conference

November 15, 2017: Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon, Sun Pacific Farming, Bakersfield

November 18, 2017: Fresno State Viticulture Club 65th Annual Fall Harvest BBQ, Wolf Lakes

November 30, 2017: Ag One Trap Shoot, Kingsburg Gun Club

 

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!