Campus Farm Student Spotlight: Jordyn Stockton 

Fresno State senior Jordyn Stockton has made an impact on our campus farm as a swine unit student manager, and she looks to leave an equal legacy in the future as an agricultural education teacher.

That hands-on experience has helped her already land internships with Seaboard Foods (Guymon, OK) and Sierra Nevada Farms (Visalia).

Learn more about the Porterville native and ag education club and swine show team member in this recent interview.

 

Q: Why were you drawn towards Fresno State and a degree in agricultural education?

Stockton: "I had been to Fresno State for multiple FFA Field Days and realized the passion the school had in their agriculture department in a variety of areas from plants to animals. I wanted to attend a school where I would be getting hands-on experience in the field I planned to work in, and that is exactly what the Jordan College offers. I also have a passion for working with the younger generations so ag education was an obvious choice."

 

Q: Do you have any other family members that are Fresno State graduates?

Stockton: "My sister, Sierra Stockton, graduated from Fresno State in Fall 2018 and majored in biochemistry. I also have aunts who graduated from Fresno State."

 

Q: What were some of your favorite Fresno State classes and why?

Stockton: "My favorite classes are any of the hands-on agriculture lab classes. Floral design, ag mechanics, and the animal science classes. These classes give you an opportunity to put what you are learning to use and allow you to learn the area even more in-depth and get practice in it. Wanting to become an agriculture teacher, these labs are very important because it gives me an opportunity to learn hands-on in each individual area that I could end up teaching in the future."

 

Q: Talk about working on the campus farm, and how it has prepared you for your career path?

Stockton: "I started as an intern at the swine unit in Spring 2018 and was then hired in the Summer 2018. In Spring 2019 I became the swine unit junior manager under Hugo Rodriguez, and in the Fall 2019 when Hugo left to start his new career with Sierra Nevada Farms, I moved up to senior manager. It has taught me about all the different areas in managing a farm, raising pigs, and aspects such as animal health. I've developed a broad foundation in every area where I am able to use that knowledge to pass on to my future students."

 

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

Stockton: "I had a modest background in agriculture beforehand. I joined FFA my sophomore year in high school, and I raised rabbits and pigs. I was also a Monache FFA chapter officer, and was a part of the citrus judging and livestock judging teams. I also worked for my grandma's landscape maintenance business throughout high school. I later received my American Degree at the FFA National Convention in Fall 2019."

 

Q: What's your next career step, and how do you plan to use your degree eventually?

Stockton: "I plan to graduate in Fall 2021 and start the ag teacher credential program in Spring 2022. I hope eventually to be able to teach in the Central Valley."

 

Q: What was your most memorable experience at Fresno State?

Stockton: "Being a student manager at the swine unit. It has taught me so much and opened so many different doors for me."

 

Q: Which faculty members had the biggest influence on you and why?

Stockton: "'Doc', Dr. Scott Williamson, has taught me so much about pigs, the swine industry, and many other life lessons. I cannot thank him enough. He has allowed me to further my knowledge in the swine industry, and he has helped me develop new skills through managing the farm. He has also helped prepare me to be a teacher by allowing me to help run the introductory and advanced swine lab classes."