Agricultural Business Student Spotlight: Jolene Simas

Fresno State senior Jolene Simas has used a wide array of opportunities through the agricultural business department to chart an exciting marketing career path.

The fifth-generation family dairy member from Hanford has added new industry insight through a campus winery research project and an internship with Family Tree Farms. She has also gained agricultural advocacy and education skills working in the community as a former Kings County dairy princess.

Learn more about her mix of other professional experience tied to the agricultural business club, industry marketing contests and campus ag ambassador events in this recent interview.

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and how did you choose your major/degree path?

Simas: “I chose to attend Fresno State for a few reasons. Its ag business program is ranked highly in the state and because of the location - I liked the idea of being surrounded by agriculture. Here in the Valley, we’re very lucky to be able to have access to a lot of resources and learning opportunities in the industry, which is what I was looking for when it came to my college experience. I chose to major in agricultural business because I grew up as the daughter of a farmer and dairyman. I was compelled to learn more about the business side of agriculture and make my career in it.”

 

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

Simas: “Yes. My older brother, Richard Simas, also attended Fresno State. He was also a student in the Jordan College and majored in plant science. I also have a cousin, Kelsie Raulino, that was an agricultural business major as well.”

 

Q: Which classes & faculty members had the biggest influence on you at Fresno State and why?

Simas: “I have taken a lot from my marketing classes taught by Dr. Lone and Dr. Konduru that I can use towards a marketing career. Another A faculty member that has had a big influence on me would be Dr. (Serhat) Asci. I have worked with him as a professor, Ag Business Club advisor, and advisor for multiple marketing competitions that I have competed in.” 

Simas: "Dr. Asci was my advisor for my service learning class project, where I worked with the campus winery. It included different components, including meeting with my group members and Dr. Asci to discuss the creation of a potential budget and volunteering with the wine bottling process. I was given an overview of how the bottles are sanitized, filled, sealed, labeled, and finally packaged into boxes. Taking part in the bottling process allowed me to better understand the inputs that are involved. With all this information, the final step was constructing a mock winery budget through cost allocation. I worked with Tom personally on this portion and focused mainly on the costs of production, harvesting, and bottling of the wine. It was a very interesting and educational experience. I learned more than I thought I would about the cost of wine production, and it was great to learn first-hand from Tom Montgomery and Dr. Asci. As a result of this project I was also granted the Pherson Assistantship."

 

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

Simas: “I grew up on my family’s dairy where my siblings and I all contributed to the family business. In addition to the dairy, which we have now since sold, my father is also a long-time farmer of alfalfa. In terms of my own personal experience in agriculture, I made my own mark when I was older. Through FFA I showed pigs and dairy replacement heifers and participated on the dairy judging team. Outside of FFA, I served as a Kings County Dairy Princess for two years and still enjoy being a part of the its women's and princess committee.”

 

Q: Are you a part of any other clubs and student organizations at Fresno State?

Simas: “I have been a part of both the Jordan College Ag Ambassadors and the Agricultural Business Club for two years. In Ag Ambassadors I’ve participated in the CAL Conference, multiple school presentations, and am currently on the State Ag Ambassador Conference committee serving as the chair of farm tours. In the Agricultural Business Club, I have previously served as the club treasurer and am now its vice president. With the club I have participated in countless meetings featuring guest speakers from the industry and an industry tour to the Friant Dam to learn more about California’s current water situation. Through the Ag Business club, I have participated in multiple marketing competitions such as the FDRS competition and the NGA Case Study competition."

 

Q: Have you received any scholarships related to campus, the Jordan College and/or Ag One? 

Simas: “Yes, I have been fortunate enough to receive several scholarships. In Spring 2021 I was chosen to be the recipient of the Leon Peters Leadership Award. I also received the Pherson Assistantship for some work/research I completed with the Fresno State winery.”

Q: Have you traveled to any conferences and made any presentations/attended lectures/etc.?

Simas: “Yes, this semester I was able to participate in the student case study contest at this year’s National Grocers Association conference in Las Vegas. Our team was given a case study prompt and asked to develop and present a marketing strategy to a panel of judges that are professionals in the grocery industry. This was my second time competing in this competition, and my first time competing in-person.”

 

Q: Have you had any internships or part-time jobs while at Fresno State, and if so, how did they help you develop professionally?

Simas: “During my time here at Fresno State I’ve been fortunate to have been able to have a sales and marketing internship with Family Tree Farms in Reedley. In this internship I was able to learn about the stone fruit market and work with the sales staff to have a productive selling season.” 

Simas: “I was also able to work with Lyons Magnus here in Fresno. I worked as part of their marketing team as an intern. In this role I grew more in the industry and worked with my team to meet needs for upcoming tradeshows and logged necessary data for our customers.”

Simas: “In both roles I learned more about the sellers’ side of the market and enhanced my communication and collaborative skills working with such a great team.”

 

Q: What's your potential next career step, and what job/profession/company/etc. or how do you plan to use your degree eventually?

Simas: “After I graduate in May, I already have a job lined up to return to work with Family Tree Farms in Reedley. I will use my degree and everything I have learned to work in their sales and marketing department. I’m looking forward to the next step in my professional career and working with this team once again.”