Student Spotlight: Miguel J. Rodriguez

 

Animal sceince senior Miguel D. Rodriguez got great hands-on experience this past summer working with its poultry operations for Belcampo & its farm near Gazelle close to the California-Oregon border.

He also added key experience with other livestock areas for the company known for its sustainable, organic & grass-fed practices & products.

Learn more about this third-generation rancher and farmer from Dos Palos & his potential career options after he graduates this fall in this recent interview.

Q: What company and did you work at and what were your responsibilities?

Rodriguez: "I got to work for Belcampo Farms near Gazelle (not far from the Oregon-California border) in the poultry and egg department. A lot of it was providing safety for all the animals and at the farm as well as feeding, placing of babies, preparing for harvest, transportation of birds to butchery, and the collecting, washing, packing, and counting of eggs."

Q: What skills did you gain from the internship that they can apply to your career?

Rodriguez: "I’ve learned how to properly raise various types of poultry animals. I also gained skills in data entry and how to manage a small group of people and egg production levels. It was interesting to be able to see how an organic, free-range animal production facility ran because it is a lot different from what I have been used to see and being around."

Q: Give a quick description of the department and area you worked at?

Rodriguez: "The poultry department I was a part of consisted of five employees and one manager. There were approximately 3,000 layer chickens, 2,500 meat chickens, 2,000 turkeys, 300 geese, and ducks. There were 12-layer houses and trailers in four different pastures and 2 pastures for meat birds along with 2 broilers houses. The ducks and geese each had their own pastures along with one house. Then there was the egg barn and egg carton storage building."

 

Q: How did you find out about the internship?

Rodriguez: "I heard about this internship through Imelda Dudley, from our (Jordan College) career services and advising center, when she sent it out in an email."

Q: Were there any particular experiences that really pushed you & what did you learn from them?

Rodriguez: "I think one thing that was kinda challenging was trying to remember all and each of the different chicken-laying houses and also getting used to the egg-washing machine. I didn’t want to be the one to hold everyone down, so on my free time and days off I would take the time to memorize and practice using the machine until I was familiar with everything."

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State?

Rodriguez: "Fresno State made me feel like home. My two older siblings and older cousin also came here so it just felt right to also become a Bulldog. I liked how accessible the campus farm was to students and how they are utilized in the classes I took, which drew me here even more."

 

Q: Why does the animal nutrition field interest you as a potential graduate degree?

Rodriguez: "I have always found animal nutrition interesting, and it's something I like to be in charge of at our family ranch, so I would like to pursue it more if possible."

Q: What ag-related clubs are you involved with on campus?

Rodriguez: "I was a part of the block and bridle club for about 2 semesters."

Q: What is your background in agriculture before you started at Fresno State?

Rodriguez: "I've lived my whole life on my family’s 12-acre horse ranch - R3G - which stands for Rancho Tres Generaciones and is in Dos Palos. We also have grown alfalfa, corn, and cotton and raised cows, goats, and chickens. I also spent most summers as a teen working with my dad at an almond company. We are third-generation horse ranchers, with my parents, siblings and I running the ranch today. I was also actively involved in both 4-H and FFA. I was a chapter officer and competed in Opening/Closing, Creed, Job Interview, and showing livestock."

Q: What are your most memorable moments on that family farm?

Rodriguez: "Being able to spend so much time with my family and being able to modernize things to how we want them."

 

Q: After graduation, what's your potential next career step?

Rodriguez: "After graduation, I plan to take time to and decide whether I want to pursue my career by going to graduate school for either animal nutrition or some type of production. I also either would like to work for the USDA or some other company as an inspector or become a farm manager."

 

Q: Why are you drawn towards being an USDA or company inspector?

Rodriguez: "I think what sparked my interest was that we had to audit one of the farm facilities on campus in a class, and I found it very interesting. Once I did more research it seems like something I would like to do."