Rooted in Fresno State Agriculture

(May 4, 2020, Kristina Ramos, Ag Education / Communications / Publishing Class)

While the world may feel like it has come to a halt, Dr. Susan Pheasant, refuses to let that be the case as the director of the Institute for Food and Agriculture, one of the three Jordan College research centers.

“We haven’t really slowed down just because we’re working from home. I’m still going full speed,” said Pheasant.

IFA has three main purposes according to her.

Number one is facilitating applied research done by faculty and students. The second is outreach and dissemination of research findings, as well as working with related experts. Lastly, it provides post-award support for the faculty that is relative to their budgets and their purchasing.

Aside from that, IFA is also responsible for hosting many different types of events and activities
all year round. These responsibilities range from as local food surveys with the Fresno school
district to national outreach with their three-day involvement in the World Ag Expo.

The institute also hosts a diverse set of workshops hosted ranging from oil milling, livestock animal artificial insemination and poultry science. The staff also hosts tour groups multiple times a year that teach basic food safety to restaurants.

One event in particular that had her smiling was the development of Food, Family, Farm Month.

This event took place last year for the first time when all three centers realized they  had a total of 26 events coming up within the a five-week window in October and November.

Together they co-marketed and agreed that placing a title on their jam-packed month was the perfect opportunity to help create awareness of agriculture on campus, such as the campus farm right across the street as well as the Gibson Farm Market.

“Whether we're putting together academic programs or doing fundraising, our focus is on the farm. Our focus is on the farm as it is a tool for students to learn and faculty to do research,” said Pheasant.

Through Food, Family, Farm Month the campus community can see and understand that we can not put an economic value on the farm.

Pheasant comes from a family that has always been involved in the apple and tree fruit industry. In her eyes this jokingly meant “a lot of child labor for all three siblings.” But in reality, she expressed that she is extremely grateful for the work ethic and the opportunity to work in agriculture.

Whenever she decides to take a break from diligently working in the IFA, she has used her extra time at home to “be in the dirt”, and start a garden. Pheasant refers to herself as “the daughter of a cameo grower” which is a variety of apple.

In just two short and hectic years, she has lit a spark within many students and faculty. Her passion for continual growth within agriculture has been infectious to many others on campus. It is safe to say that Dr. Pheasant is planting her roots not only in her garden but in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology as well.