Ag One Foundation
September 2018 E-News
Ag Boosters BBQ great success in support of students
Thank you to the sponsors, donors and nearly 1,000 attendees who supported the 41st annual Ag Boosters BBQ on September 9 benefitting Ag One and CWA! Guests enjoyed an exciting evening including a social hour sponsored by Fermin Campos Farms featuring Fresno State farm products and cheese and cracker tasting provided by valley industry partners. The Dog House, sponsored by Wells Fargo, was quite a hit offering a chance to win a Benelli shotgun or a pink pistol! The CWA Country Store, sponsored by Ultra Gro Plant Food, encompassed a beautiful display of homegrown farm products, handmade goodies and an array of silent auction items. Fresno State wine and other beverages were available at the bar sponsored by Rabobank and a delicious barbecue dinner, sponsored by Zenith Agribusiness, was prepared by Cal’s Catering. Special thanks to Alpha Gamma Rho, Block & Bridle and other Jordan College students who volunteered their time to make this event a success. Mark your calendars for the 42nd Annual BBQ on September 8, 2019! View photos →
Photo courtesy of Bee Sweet Citrus
Join us in honoring the Jordan College Top Dog, Jim Marderosian, on October 26
The Jordan College is delighted to honor this year’s Top Dog award recipient, Jim Marderosian. Jim graduated from Fresno State in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Ag Business. He is currently the president and owner of Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc. which he founded in 1987. Located in the heart of the Central Valley, the family-owned and operated company is focused on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction. In February 2017, the Jordan College unveiled a state-of-the-art citrus packing line donated by Bee Sweet Citrus, which provides industrial technology, food science and plant science students with hands-on instruction for mechanical systems and industrial maintenance as they apply to food processing and safety. Join us in congratulating Jim, and mark your calendars for the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala on October 26. Event info →
You’re invited to the Bulldoggers Rodeo Team Tailgate, Meet-and-Greet Sept. 29
The Bulldoggers Rodeo Team has a group of supporters who are working to enhance the program and learning opportunities for these students, and they want to meet you! Join them for a tailgate and an opportunity to meet the team before the football game on September 29. Rodeo has a long history at Fresno State; it is the University's oldest club sport, with a rodeo held every year since 1949. Today, the team is comprised of 44 student athletes who excel in problem solving and animal care. 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 attending the event on Sept. 29 or in supporting the team, please visit their support web page →
Luso American Development Foundation visits campus
Our forward thinking friends at the Luso American Development Foundation (FLAD) partnered with Portuguese ag science innovation promoter INOVISA to help boost the agtech sector in Portugal. The five most promising startups were selected to visit California agriculture to showcase their technology. The companies represented were FarmCloud (Miguel Matos), Apis Technology (Miguel Bento, Joel Oliveira), Trigger Systems (Francisco Manso), Agri Marketplace (Filipe Nuncio, Tiago Pessoa) and WineGrid (Rogerio Nogueira). Dr. Castro and Dean Witte helped kick off their California roadshow at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center. These agtech entrepreneurs met with a number of alumni and friends plus presented to students in the Jordan College. For more information, click the link below. Learn more about the Jordan College →
Kern County Alumni and Friends - join us on October 10!
Join us for the 39th annual Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at South Valley Farms in Wasco on Wednesday, Oct. 10! This event is an opportunity to see all that Kern County has to offer the community, students and agricultural industry. Enjoy lunch while visiting with Fresno State, Bakersfield College and local high school students, then stay for a facility demonstration. The social begins at 11 a.m. followed by lunch and program at noon and the demo at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, RSVP by Oct. 3. Visit our website to learn about sponsorships or to purchase a ticket. →
Save the dates for November Ag One events
November 9 - Ag One, Farm Credit 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 11:30 a.m. and tickets are
$35, RSVP by Nov. 2. For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities
please visit our website.
November 29 - You’re sure to have a blast at this year’s Trap Shoot at the Kingsburg Gun Club! Save the date 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 great prizes in the
raffle drawing! Shooter registration is $100 per person, sponsorship opportunities
are available. Visit the Ag One website for more information. Upcoming Events →
Fresno State ranks 3rd in U.S. News for graduation rate performance
The U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best College rankings again placed Fresno State among the top three best public universities in graduation-rate performance nationwide. Fresno State scored third highest among public national universities for the second consecutive year and was No. 5 overall this year. The graduation-rate performance category uses the University’s actual performance as compared to predicted performance based on student demographics, including spending per student, admissions selectivity and the proportion of undergraduates receiving Pell grants. Also, Fresno State was again ranked No. 2 in the category “Least Percent of Grads with Debt” among public national universities and No. 7 among all national universities, improving from the No. 8 spot last year. Read more about Fresno State's Ranking →
Welcome a new member of the Ag One family - Kai Lee
Congratulations to Ag One board member, Mai Zoua Vang, who welcomed baby number two last month – Kai Muajkoob Lee made his appearance on August 21. Mom and baby are doing well; join us in congratulating the Lee Family!
Bayer partnership continues support for the Jordan College
On Sept. 13, the Jordan College welcomed industry partner, Bayer CropScience to engage in the annual partners meeting at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center. Representatives from Bayer include scientists and managers from their research farm located in Fresno, leaders from their food chain and sustainability division, regional sales team leaders and representatives from their new seed division. The conversation revolved around a developing model of engagement and collaboration that opens new doors and opportunities for our students and faculty. Internships, hands-on research and farm experiences, high-impact practices for students, faculty training and financial support are some of the ways in which the Jordan College and Bayer CropScience are taking us from good to great! The Bayer team also attended the annual Plant Science Welcome Back BBQ and career fair on Sept. 20 and will be participating in the university career fair on Oct. 3. Later that evening, Bayer will be hosting a networking and social event for students interested in connecting one-on-one with Bayer CropScience to learn more about career opportunities with a global leader. For more information, contact the Jordan College Internship and Professional Experiences Coordinator Imelda Dudley at isdudley@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Photo courtesy of campus photographer, Cary Edmonson
Mark your calendars for Day of Giving November 1!
The second annual Day of Giving is quickly approaching on November 1, 2018, and the Jordan College needs your help! 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! 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...
- Fresno State student, Ignacio Mendoza, is one of 25 students nationwide to receive
a Future Organic Farmer Grant to support his education in organic agriculture.
Read more about Ignacio Mendoza → - Fresno State researchers created an online pistachio harvest predictor to assist San
Joaquin Valley growers in predicting yields for one of the area’s most popular crops.
Read more about the San Joaquin Valley growers → - The Gibson Farm Market at Fresno State is hosting the 2018 Fall Festival on Saturday
October 20. Enjoy food samples, wine tasting and a kid zone with face painting, crafts
and prizes!
Read more on the 2018 Fall Festival → - The Fresno State Institute for Food and Agriculture hosted a special workshop this
month on Listeria monocytogenes intervention, thanks to a special partnership with
the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), United Fresh Produce Association, Western
Growers and California Fresh Fruit Association.
More info Fresno State Institute for Food and Agriculture → - The Center for Irrigation staff, faculty and students harvested and gathered data
from their research plot comparing corn and sorghum yields, and forage quality with
different irrigation methods.
Read more about Center for Irrigation → - The Fresno State Dairy had a successful classification day with All West Select Sires
on September 10.
Read more about Fresno State Dairy → - The Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education department is hosting the Welcome Back BBQ on Tuesday, October 2 with an opportunity for students to interact with industry representatives. If you are interested in representing your company at this event, please contact the Jordan College Internship and Professional Experiences Coordinator Imelda Dudley at isdudley@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Important Dates 
September 29, 2018 Rodeo Team Tailgate/Meet-and-Greet
October 10, 2018 Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon
October 20, 2018 Gibson Farm Market Fall Festival
October 26, 2018 Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala
November 1, 2018 Day of Giving
November 9, 2018 West Side Alumni and Friends Luncheon
November 29, 2018 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! Join or renew your existing membership today!
