Dairy Student Assistant Spotlight: Michael Neves

Recent Fresno State agricultural business graduate Michael Neves positioned himself for an exciting first job after an impressive mix of hands-on experience tied to the Jordan College and its dairy science program. 

The Hilmar native also received the Ag One Foundation's Robert J. Selkirk Memorial Scholarship and was active in a host of campus student organizations in his two years on campus after he transferred from Modesto Junior College.

Read more about his campus experiences, and his new position with AHV and its innovative dairy products, in the interview below.

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and choose to pursue an ag business degree?

Neves: "I knew that Fresno State was very well known for its ag program. I picked ag business with a minor in dairy science because I knew I wanted to be involved in the dairy industry and wanted to be able to know how the financials and global market worked."

 

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

Neves: "My sister, Elizabete Neves, transferred to Fresno State this fall, and is also majoring in ag business with a minor in dairy science."

 

Q: What were some of your favorite classes and who had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State? 

Neves: "AGBS 160 was great because I was able to create a product and learn all the stages it takes to market it to the consumers. Ken Melvold an alumni who is a big supporter of the dairy program had the most influence on my education while at Fresno State. He taught me everything from evaluating cows, picking bulls, helping with classification, selecting cows for show, and helping me organize the Red Wave Sale this past year."

 

Q: When did you start working on the campus farm, and how did it prepare you for your career path?

Neves: 'I started working at the dairy summer of 2018. While at the dairy I was the herdsmen, and I focused a lot on the genetics: registration, classification, mating cows, embryo program, and the show cow program that led the Holstein herd to being ranked third in the USA among colleges and universities." 

 

Q: What clubs and organizations were you involved with at Fresno State?

Neves: "I was involved with the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Portuguese Club (and created its logo) and the Dairy Club (were I served as president and treasurer). I was also the chairman of the Show Crew, FFA Dairy Field Day and Red Wave Sale. I also gained a lot of great experience traveling to Utah and Georgia for the Dairy Challenge."

 

Q: Talk about your job with AHV North America.

Neves: "I'm a farm advisor, and I work with AHV to introduce their product to the U.S. market and help dairymen find solutions to their problems. The company uses quorum sensing to improve animal health by working with bacteria and beneficial and native microbes. The products in turn improve the efficiency, social welfare and environmental management of dairy farms."