Ag One Foundation
October 2018 E-News
Join us for the West Side Luncheon on November 9!
Ag One and Fresno Equipment Company invite you to the third annual West Side Alumni and Friends Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 9! 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 11:3_0 a.m. and tickets are $35, RSVP by Nov. 2. For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities please visit our website. We hope to see you there!
Common Threads Nominations Now Open
The Common Threads Committee is now accepting nominations for the 23rd 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 with their philanthropic and volunteer support. Please submit the nomination packet with a cover letter by November 27. For an electronic version of the nomination form or for the nomination criteria, visit the event web page. Please save the date and join us for the Common Threads luncheon on March 27, 2019.
Take aim for the 5th Annual Ag One Trap Shoot on Nov. 29!
You’re sure to have a blast at this year’s Trap Shoot 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 shotgun or a YETI cooler in the raffle drawing! Shooter registration is $100, RSVP by Nov. 22. Check-in and hot dog lunch begins at 12 p.m. and the shoot will begin at 1 p.m., followed by a social hour, dinner and awards program (all included in your registration along with a shooter prize). Many thanks to the naming sponsors, Pearson Realty and Ultra Gro Plant Food, along with the dinner sponsor, Prudential Agricultural Investments. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or registration for shooters, please visit the website.
Thank you for supporting the Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon
Nearly 200 alumni and friends gathered for the Showcase of Opportunities at this year’s Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at South Valley Farms in Bakersfield on October 10. 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. Fresno State Ag Ambassadors engaged with prospective students and South Valley Farms hosted a processing demonstration in the orchard. Proceeds from this event benefit the Carl and Barbara Fanucchi Scholarship Endowment which supports Jordan College students from Kern County.
Nishinaka receives Outstanding Horticulture Education Award
Fresno State Plant Science faculty member, Ron Nishinaka, has received the Outstanding Horticulture Education Award from the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). Ron was recognized for serving the industry in many capacities over his long career. For many years he led the horticulture department at Reedley College, training hundreds of students in the basics of the nursery industry. He was uniquely qualified to train the students as he also owned Dinuba Garden Center. Ron served his community at Tree Fresno, coordinating workshops, tree plantings and becoming the go-to-person at the organization. Ron has been teaching at Fresno State in the plant science department for several years and continues to introduce the industry to young people interested in teaching, propagating and more. Join us in congratulating Ron!
Bulldoggers Rodeo Team thanks supporters
The Fresno State Bulldoggers Rodeo Team and the Jordan College express their sincere appreciation for the outpour of support for this one-of-a-kind program. Over the past three years, the strength and size of the rodeo team has grown tremendously and their supporters help them continue to thrive. On September 29, the team welcomed 150 community members and supporters to enjoy a rodeo demonstration, meet-and-greet and tailgate celebration prior to the Fresno State football game. They are looking forward to continued success in their competitions and appreciate the encouragement from alumni and friends. Recently, a generous family foundation with local ties made a $250,000 gift to establish an endowment for the Fresno State Bulldoggers Rodeo Team and committed to match an additional $500,000 if that amount is raised by May 2019. If you are interested in supporting the team, please contact Alcidia Freitas Gomes or Shannon Fast in the Ag One office. For more information, visit the support web page.
Dr. Micheal Thomas named California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Honorary Fellow
The Jordan College’s interim Associate Dean, Dr. Michael Thomas, was recognized on October 11 at the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Class 49 inaugural event as an Honorary Fellow. The Honorary Fellow Award is presented to a special individual who has demonstrated consistent commitment and uncommon excellence in the furtherance of education and leadership in California agriculture. Award recipients have also been dedicated supporters of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Prior to being appointed as interim associate dean this fall, Dr. Thomas served as the college liaison for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. Join us in congratulating Dr. Thomas!
Karen Ross, CDFA Secretary (center), pictured with students and faculty from the Ag Business Dept. at the 2017 Conference
Register today for the Agribusiness Management Conference on Nov. 8
Join the Institute for Food and Agriculture for the 37th Annual Agribusiness Management Conference on Thursday, November 8. The topics of discussion will include 2018 Farm Bill and USMCA: Issues and Perspectives. The conference will be held at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference Center in Fresno. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and the event concludes with the luncheon and keynote speaker from 12:15-1:15 p.m. Registration is $100 thru November 2 then increases to $125.
Left: Gary Serrato ('78), Right: Nishan Majarian of Agrian, Inc. ('93)
Congratulations to the 2018 Agriculturalist of the Year and the Ag Business Award Winners
The Fresno Chamber of Commerce and Baker Peterson Franklin announced the winners of the 2018 Agriculturalist of the Year and the Ag Business of the Year at Fresno State on October 9. The 2018 Agriculturalist of the Year was awarded to an individual who exemplifies leadership and integrity in the Central Valley’s agricultural business community: Gary Serrato (’78). Serrato is the general manager of the Fresno Irrigation District where he has been since 1986 and previously held the positions of watermaster and assistant manager of operations. The 2018 Ag Business Award was awarded to an organization which exemplifies a leading for-profit ag organization whose achievements and impact have significantly contributed to the ag industry and the Central Valley: Agrian, Inc. of Clovis. Agrian is an agriculture software company founded in 2004, and their free software provides compliance, agronomy, precision farming, sustainability and analytic tools. Agrian is the first ag software company to operate cloud-based software creating a paradigm shift in the industry and significantly increasing documentation efficiencies, and has built the largest crop protection label database in the world with 11,000 manufacturer-reviewed labels. For more information, visit the Fresno Chamber website.
Experience the Azores with Fresno State
Join Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro and Mrs. Mary Castro for an unforgettable 10-day journey through the Azores! The Jordan College and Ag One have made arrangements for the educational portion of a travel-learn program offered to alumni and friends. University of the Azores lectures and highlights include “Ocean Sciences in the Azores” by Dr. Helder Silva in Horta, Faial; “Natural Hazards and Risk Management in the Atlantic” by a professor of the Institute of Volcanology and Risk Assessment plus a guided visit to the center for Natural Risk Monitoring in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel; and “The Evolution of Agriculture in the Azores” by Dr. Emiliana Silva in Angra do Heroismo, Terceira. For more information, call Alcidia Freitas Gomes with Ag One, visit the Ag One website or contact travel agent Lorraine Kazarian with Altour Fresno.
Andrew Cummings (left) with Fresno State Farm Manager David Sieperda (right)
Fresno State farm receives new hay rake
Thanks to longtime supporters, the Fresno State farm is now equipped with a new hay rake from Nikkel Iron Works. Nikkel Iron Works is part of the T.G. Schmeiser Family of products, owned and operated by Andrew Cummings. For more than 20 years, Andrew and his mother Shirley Cummings have graciously supported students through a scholarship award which covers full tuition and fees for students majoring in the Jordan College. This scholarship is named after Shirley's husband, Penn Cummings. Join us in thanking the Cummings for their continued support! Check out a video of the hay rake in action.
Scholarship established in memory of Gary Dinsdale
A group of dairy industry professionals and friends, many of whom are Fresno State alumni, are working to establish a scholarship to honor the memory of Gary Dinsdale. Gary was born in 1942 and passed away on August 14, 2008. In the 1960’s, he attended Fresno State College as a Dairy Husbandry major. He was a valuable member of Fresno State’s successful dairy cattle judging teams and was a charter member of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho agriculture fraternity. After graduation, Gary developed the Dairy Management Services Company, which he operated for over 40 years. This company became an extremely successful dairy consulting business in California and other western states. Over the years, Gary expanded his consulting business to foreign countries. He also was involved in dairy cattle sales management in many of the western states. For more information or to support the scholarship fund, please visit the giving page.
- Read more →
Gnarley Charley (right) and Jody Jo (center) of Kiss Country Radio at Day of Giving
2017
Join us for Day of Giving, November 1!
The second annual Day of Giving is quickly approaching on November 1, 2018. Many thanks to RCO Ag Credit who has committed to matching donations that day up to $5,000. Day of Giving is a 24-hour online giving campaign that rallies students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to come together to give back and celebrate Fresno State. Since Day of Giving is a web-based event, we’re looking for your help to spread the word on that day and encourage colleagues to join us in support of the Jordan College! You can also tune in to Kiss Country radio that day to catch interviews with Jordan College faculty and staff. Mark your calendars for Day of Giving, and don’t forget to feed the D.O.G. on November 1! Please contact Ag One for more information.
Planting seeds of success...
- The Jordan College is delighted to honor Jim Marderosian at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala on October 26. Check out this sneak peek video of Jim's story: Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala Video →
- The Fresno State Plant Science Club has established a student farm so they can grow
produce for the student cupboard and support their fellow classmates who are in need.
Plant Science Club Video → - Congratulations to Dr. Avery Culbertson and alumna Abby Carlson who won the Distinguished
Manuscript award at the
Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education Research Conference. → - Guests from ESPNU Football TV visited the Fresno State farm before the football game
on September 29 and shared their experience at the rodeo arena, dairy and winery.
View ESPNU Football TV Video → - Dairy Science senior Makayla Toste competed in the 98th annual National Intercollegiate
Dairy Cattle Judging contest at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. This was the
first appearance by Fresno State in Dairy Judging since 1995.
Read More World Dairy Expo → - Join the California Water Institute for two upcoming events: Central Valley Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum(CVIEF) November 1; Innovations in Ag Irrigation Technology Demonstration and Showcase (AgTechDay) November 16.
- Sign up today for the “Harvesting The Leaders of Tomorrow” Career Fair scheduled for January 30, 2019. For more information, contact Imelda Dudley at isdudley@mail.fresnostate.edu
- Alumni are invited back to campus for Homecoming Week festivities through October
27
Read More Homecoming Week →
Important Dates 
October 26, 2018 Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala
October 27, 2018 Fresno State Alumni Tailgate and Homecoming Football Game vs. Hawaii
November 1, 2018 Day of Giving
November 9, 2018 West Side Alumni and Friends Luncheon
November 24, 2018 Meyers Livestock Judging Team Tailgate
November 29, 2018 Trap Shoot
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! JOIN NOW
