Agricultural Business Student Spotlight: Keahilele Mattson 

(May 7, 2024) -- Not only is Fresno State senior Keahilele Mattson getting ready for her last exams in the classroom, she's also closing one of the most impressive softball careers in recent memory for Fresno State Athletics.

The four-year. left field starter was recently named to the Mountain West 25th anniversary all-conference team, and ranks top six in program history in slugging (.571) and home runs (29). The former NFCA All-Region Second-Team honoree led the squad to a Mountain West title and NCAA Softball Tournament trip in 2021 when she won the Conference Player of the Year award as a freshman.

She also won All-MW first-team honors in 2021 and 2023, and has 206 career hits and 121 RBIs among her 202 starts.

After the Academic All-MW selection graduates, she hopes to return to her grandparents' farming operation in Kealakekua, Hawaii and carry on its tradition. The fourth-generation operation raises coffee primarily, and other crops like avocados, macadamia nuts and bananas.

The Fresno State Agricultural Business Dept student also lent her expertise to a research project with our Institute for Food and Agriculture evaluating ways to reduce exposure to salmonella and other bacteria in onion processing methods. She is also receiving a minor from the Plant Science Department and has enjoyed taking classes from other Jordan College departments, too.

Bulldog fans can watch her this weekend at the Mountain West Conference softball tournament with the first game vs. Boise State this Thursday, May 9 in Boise at 11:30am (and a link to watch is at https://gobulldogs.com/sports/softball/schedule).

Read more about her impressive background in this recent interview.

 

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

"I chose to attend Fresno State because I wanted to pursue a career in agriculture while also fulfilling my dreams to play D1 college softball.

Q: When do you intend to graduate?

"I will be graduating this spring of 2024."

Q: What do you consider your hometown and /or where are you a native of?

"I am from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, however, I consider my hometown to be Kealakekua, Hawaii. That is where my grandparents reside and continue to grow coffee."

 

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

“Definitely Dr. Asci’s AGBS 105 quantitative methods class, Dr. Levi’s AGBS 128 agricultural leadership class, Dr. Lone’s AGBS 160 agricultural marketing analysis class, Professor Bower’s ASCI 1 introduction to animal science class, Professor Estrada’s PLANT 20 introduction to crop science class,  and Dr. Shrestha’s PLANT 160 weed science class.”

“Each of these professors opened my mind up to new things, and I truly enjoyed learning under them and building relationships with them. They always were willing to encourage and help me throughout my courses and constantly worked with me during softball season as well. I truly appreciate each and every one of them for their patience, dedication, and passion to teach me and help shape the way I think about the many things that will apply to me throughout my life.”

 

Q: Talk about any campus farm units you have worked at and skills you have learned that you can apply to your life and career.

“While taking the ASCI 60 dairy management class, I was able to work on the dairy farm a bit as well as halter break a jersey cow. This was my first experience working with larger animals and I enjoyed this more than I realized. I participated in showing dairy cows for the FFA day in March/April of last year and it was an experience I found to be very enjoyable. It's definitely a class that made me appreciate the work behind getting milk to shelves and has made me want to get a dairy cow of my own eventually some day.”

 

Q: Have you been involved with research on campus, and how will it benefit your career path?

“In November of 2022, I had the chance to work as a paid intern on an onion research project alongside Dr. Pheasant (campus Institute for Food and Agriculture director) and a graduate student from Colorado State in which they were testing for salmonella and other bacterias that can be present within the processing machinery of onions. During this experience, I got to assist with cleaning, setup and breakdown of materials, preparation for lab work, swabbing of bacteria, streaking petri dishes and more. I also worked with microbiology tools and equipment such as a micropipette, centrifuge, autoclave, incubator, and vortex mixer. This experience was fun, and I enjoyed working in a lab setting that was set around food safety. It was cool to see the results of everything as well and gives me confidence to apply for jobs within this type of research in the future whether it’s a USDA job or other opportunity.”

 

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

“My agricultural experience consists of working on my grandparents’ coffee farm in Hawaii. I would be a fourth-generation farmer on a plot of 8.5 acres total of land. The main crop would be coffee, and other crops we have grown consist of avocados, macadamia nuts, and bananas. Daily work includes farm labor, management and scheduling, soil testing, herbicide mixing and appliance, input restocks and countage, restoration, critical decision making and more. I help with management of employees, such as issuing work schedules, communication, meetings, and work stubs.  I am also tasked with conducting business surveys, packaging and taste testing, as well as beginning to integrate social media/website marketing for the business.”

“My passion for agriculture is due to the hard working nature of both my grandparents. In the summers when I would go home to Hawaii when I was younger starting around 5 years old. I would always wake up to the smell of my grandpa roasting coffee in the morning and the sound of the drum spinning as it roasted. They would get up early, and I would go with them to the farmers market where they would sell their coffee and fruits to tourists and the alike in town. I would help to attract customers and count money, sitting and watching as my grandma smiled and waved at each potential customer walking by. The business was small but it was a thriving business that kept them both busy and fulfilled. A life that is fulfilling due to your own hard work and passionate dedication is a life I find worth having. I truly can say that I would not have been in this career without my grandparents, they inspire and encourage me to cultivate the land and do things right. Farm life is the only life for me.”

 

Q: What organizations at Fresno State have you been a part of?

Fresno State Softball Team (2020-present), Student Athlete Advisory Committee (2021-present), Athletic Corporation Board of Directors Student Representative for Female Athletes (2022-2023)

 

Q: What’s your potential next career step?

“My next career step after college is to take over my grandparents’ coffee farm back home in Hawaii. I would like to be a small business owner and continue to cultivate the land I love and grew up on.”