Agricultural Business Student Spotlight: Juli Figone

Senior Juli Figone has not let the pandemic slow down her path to an agricultural business degree and hands-on work in a variety of industries.

The Gilroy native is on pace to graduate this fall with a host of great experience, including current internships with the San Benito County Farm Bureau and Taylor Farms.

These opportunities have provided a great background in marketing and digital communications to balance her experience working with Bianchi Ranches.

Learn more about this first-generation, college graduate-to-be in this recent interview. 

 

Q: Talk about your current internships and your primary responsibilities.

Figone: "For the San Benito County Farm Bureau, I am mostly working remotely as a membership services intern. I create monthly print newsletters, work with membership retention and outreach, and also develop a transition plan to an e-newsletter platform. With Taylor Farms I work in-person on weekdays as a content marketing intern. I interact with the marketing team and a content service provider to review products listed online at all our retailers. This ensures that the content is branded and uniform across all retailer sites."

 

Q: Why were you drawn to these areas as well the ag business major?

Figone: "I started managing an Instagram account for Bianchi Ranches in 2018, and found a real interest in social media management. Then I started managing Instagram and Facebook accounts for the California Charolais Association and the California/Nevada Hereford Association and started focusing on the analytics behind each post and account. I like to look at the analytics behind all of the social media posts, ads, and website usages and find ways to increase engagements through trends of followers. On top of those accounts, I now am the digital marketing specialist for the Santa Clara County Cattlemen's Association. I manage their social media accounts and am working on creating a website for their organization.

Figone: "Ag Business is a versatile enough degree that can learn the financial skills that I need to be successful, while also taking courses to learn how to improve my marketing skills. My classes have also helped me have a clear understanding of business management, which carries over to a wide range of organizations." 

 

Q: What are some of your favorite Fresno State classes so far?

Figone: "In my three semesters I have had several. Agricultural Capital Markets (AGBS 131) with Dr. (Jason) Liang and Agricultural Finance (AGBS 130) with Dr. Todd Lone were both very interesting. Environmental and Natural Resource Policy (AGBS 155) with Dr. Williams was also enjoyable because he's such a fun professor."

 

Q: Have you been a part of any clubs or student organizations at Fresno State?

Figone: "I served as an JCAST Ambassador last year. Otherwise, I started attending Fresno State the semester that the pandemic hit, so I never really got a chance to join any clubs or extracurricular activities before everything shut down. I am also a member of the Young Cattlemen's Association, California/Nevada Junior Hereford Association, and California Junior Charolais Association."

 

Q: Have you had the chance to travel to any national or industry conferences?

Figone: "I was proud to receive my American FFA Degree in Indianapolis in 2018, and also attended the Taylor Farms Leadership Conference in June 2021."

 

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

Figone: "My family owned registered Black Angus and Simmental cattle, and I have spent a good deal of time working with Bianchi Ranches (Robert, Chris, and Erica Bianchi and Steven Pirnick). They're a fourth-generation family-owned and operated cattle ranch in Gilroy. They raise registered Black Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, and Charolais cattle along with a large herd of commercial cattle. They hold an annual female sale every year and aim to sell their registered heifers to juniors. I help get the sale heifers ready by halter breaking and washing them often. I travel to livestock shows across California and the nation helping juniors that have bought from us, show my own cattle, and help Bianchi Ranches and other breeders with their cattle throughout the duration of the show. (When I'm not working my internships) I also help Bianchi with branding, vaccinating, and the daily tasks of running a successful ranch."

 

Q: What are the next steps in your career path, and how have these internships helped prepare you for that direction?

Figone: "I would like to continue on the digital marketing path. At Taylor Farms, I have gained a better understanding of how to develop a branded voice and look that correctly represents a brand and how to carry it across every aspect. From the Farm Bureau, I have learned better customer service and digital design skills."