Fresno State Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

Congrats to recent pre-veterinary #FresnoStateGrad Amelia DiPaola who earned honorable mention All-America hammer throw honors at the NCAA Track outdoor championships this week. The pre-veterinary student from Fremont finished 21st with a throw of 200-2/61.01m - two places better than her pre-event seeding. A week before, she had earned her first NCAA final invite with a 12th-place finish in the NCAA West Regional 1st Round (198-1/60.39m). Now she looks ahead to starting a veterinary degree this fall as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, and putting all of her experience from California State University, Fresno to good use.  Watch a recent TV story by CBS47 and KSEE24 from its 'Eye on Ag' series by Anthony Bailey that touches on both of these topics at: https://lnkd.in/gCVfnC8r More information on her Fresno State Athletics career is at:  https://lnkd.in/gwejST4i Special thanks to Eric Evans for sharing his amazing, NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships photos, too!

Recent #FresnoStateGrad Shelby Robinette has shined for the Fresno State Athletics equestrian team as an All-Big 12 Selection in reining and on its all-academic teams. The Sterling, Colorado native was also drawn to California State University, Fresno by its nationally-regarded agricultural business department, and now looks ahead to a summer internship at Bank of Colorado as a credit analyst intern. Learn what's ahead as she starts a master's degree in sports administration soon (and more about her background) in this recent interview at: https://lnkd.in/gHKU6Wue

Industrial Technology faculty Dr. Michael V. Ornelas, Ed.D. and Dr. Kaomine Vang were featured in a recent KVPR | Valley Public Radio story about how students are taking classes tied to new agricultural production technology to adapt to shifts in the needs of the ag labor workforce. The department’s focus on preparing students for the future is similarly calibrated with labs and classes tied to campus processing equipment sponsored by Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc. and the Western Agricultural Processors Association (for tree nuts). Ornelas teaches our industrial materials class (IT 114) about the chemical and physical properties of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. He also teaches courses at Reedley College and worked with our campus Center for Irrigation Technology. Vang teaches an irrigation systems delivery class at Fresno State, and has also taught at Clovis Community College and West Hills Community College District. He previously worked as a program manager for our Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno, Weir Floway, Inc. and Famous Software. He also currently serves as a director of Reedley College's AgTEC Innovation Center. Both of their master’s and doctoral degrees came from California State University, Fresno, and the full story is at: at: https://lnkd.in/gW8Z6Qi8

LAST CALL: this Wednesday (6/5) is the last day to sign up for our California State University, Fresno summer wine club shipment that also features a Zinfandel add-on option by accomplished alum G. Derek Sanchez (Corkwood Cellars) at: https://lnkd.in/d-AQrwAZ This new shipment of favorites features the 2020 Alicante Bouschet (Papagni), 2021 California Chardonnay (Lodi), 2022 Barbera Reserve (Fresno State) and 2023 Dean’s List Fiano (Saviez) crafted by our viticulture and enology students. Sanchez's ‘vertical’ special features his 2020 and 2021 Corkwood Cellars Zinfandel vintages. Grapes were sourced from the Steele vineyard that was established in 1916 near the top of Sutter Hill in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Woodland. The Central Valley native’s professional journey started at a young age as he learned to make wine from his aunt with the same equipment that his great grandfather used. After his Fresno State degree, he received a master’s viticulture and enology degree in France, and was able to study with the Vinifera EuroMasters program at Montpellier SupAgro, University of Bordeaux and Polytechnic University of Madrid. Learn more about his background and the winery at https://lnkd.in/dYUnuukq Our Fresno State wine shipments occur every four months & feature a 20 percent discount on normal prices (and alumni wines are also discounted). Membership is free and also provides special access to new wines, limited editions and special events and deals. Additional questions about red or white wine-only shipments, etc. can be answered by ljern@csu.fresno.edu or by calling 559.278.6070 weekdays between 9am-3pm. Our award-winning wines are crafted by our students at the nation's largest (and first) collegiate winery from high quality grapes harvested from our 120-acre campus vineyard and other acclaimed locations throughout the Central Valley & Central & Northern Coast.

Our Institute for Food and Agriculture at California State University, Fresno congratulates the 28 recent winners of $5.87 million in combined grants from the Pacific Coast Coalition - DBII (Dairy Business Innovation Initiative). The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service-funded program selected small and mid-sized dairy product producers from California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and New Mexico that submitted proposals for new technology, equipment and products to boost local economies and strengthen regional food systems. Locally, Rosa Brothers Milk Company in Hanford received almost $1 million for purchasing ice cream equipment to meet demands, produce novelty items, healthier alternatives and expand into the pet food market with Greek-style frozen yogurt pet treats. Grants of $500,000 were given to: - Pacific Cheese Co. (Reno, NV) for an upgraded cheese cuber that will almost triple production in a growing market - Petit Pot (Emeryville, CA) for launching a more affordable paper cup 2-pack without compromising on quality - CheeseBits (Riverbank, CA) for reducing COGS through automation, adding jobs and expanding into new markets. Other California-based recipients included ACHADINHA CHEESE, LLC (Petaluma); Alec's Ice Cream (Petaluma); Central Coast Creamery (Paso Robles); California Cheese Trail (Petaluma): Hilmar Cheese Company (Hilmar); Nicasio Valley Cheese Company (Nicasio); Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company (Point Reyes); SCHOCH FAMILY FARMSTEAD, INC. (Salinas); Stepladder Ranch & Creamery (Cambria); Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese Company, LLC (Escalon); Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery (Valley Ford) and Vintage cheese company (Traver). Other Western state recipients included: Oregon - Lady-Lane Farm (Mulino); Rising Sun Dairy (Turner); Ruby Jewel Ice Cream Sandwiches (Portland); The Salty Goat (Gold Hill); Tin Willows Sheep Dairy & Ranch (Lexington) Washington - ANDERSEN DAIRY, INC. (Battle Ground); Columbia Community Creamery (Chewelah); Fantello Farmstead Creamery (Enumclaw); Steensma Creamery (Lynden); TUNAWERTH LLC (Tenino); Venison Valley Farm & Creamery (Vashon) Nevada - Pacific Cheese (Reno) New Mexico - Camino de Paz (Santa Cruz) More information about the program, which shares training, resources and support programs through the California Dairy Innovation Center, industry members and other Western universities is at: https://www.dairypcc.net (as well as a schedule of summer workshops).

Our food science and nutrition faculty Dr. Jamie Levitt was featured in a recent CBS47 and KSEE24 News story on the increasing nationwide popularity of the Fresno chile pepper. Developed locally in the early 1950s, the pepper has a more complex taste than jalapenos and can be preferred by chefs because of its smokier, fruiter flavor.  The healthy vegetable has a wide assortment of uses in dishes, sauces, dishes, salsas, relishes, ceviches, marinades and more. Able to be grown year round, especially in hotter, dryer climates, the pepper turns from green to red as it matures, which also increases the heat. The medium-sized, medium-heat pepper rates between 2,500-8,000 on the Scoville heat scale and was also recently featured on the "Hot Ones" YouTube series on the 'First We Feast' channel. Watch/read the full local news story news at: https://lnkd.in/gFHikCd3 Learn more about Dr. Levitt, who teaches a range of California State University, Fresno State classes tied to culinary science, food systems management and research methods, at: https://lnkd.in/g6KnDHMD

Watch a video featuring Jordan College Dean's Medalist M. Orlando Tapia and how his father's influence as a pest control adviser has helped shape his own path to helping Central Valley growers through his Corteva Agriscience biostimulant research at: https://lnkd.in/giTGk2bZ More information about the #FresnoStateGrad and 4.0 plant science graduate student from Huron is at: https://lnkd.in/ghQYXQdm A list of all our California State University, Fresno Jordan College graduates and commencement event video is at: https://lnkd.in/gh_Utrct

Sweet corn is back starting THIS FRIDAY (5/24) at the Gibson Market starting at 8am for the 43rd straight year at California State University, Fresno! Get the Valley’s favorite summer food for 75 cents per ear, fresh from the fields. Pre-bagged corn will be available outside (10 ears for $10) while supplies last. Campus mascot Victor E. Bulldog IV will welcome visitors from 6:30-8:30 a.m. with Fresno State Alumni Association staff (who will also hand out free #fresnostatealumni promotional items). The market will now be open seven days a week through the end of August (Mon-Friday 8am-6pm; Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-3pm), and follow their social media for updates on corn and other produce availability. Read more about other fresh and delicious produce, dairy, meat, wine and baked items made by our Fresno State students and staff and available at the farm market at: https://lnkd.in/gvPa3P4Q

After receiving her diploma last week, #FresnoStateGrad Amelia DiPaola Robinson has another big event this week when she competes in the NCAA Track and Field Championships early this Thursday, May 23 in the West Region Opening Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas at 6:30am Pacific Time. The Fremont native ranks 18th in the hammer throw in the West Region, and will aim for a top-12 finish to advance to the NCAA event final in Eugene, Oregon in June 5-8. Earlier this month, she finished third in the hammer in the Mountain West Championships - one of three, top-four conference finishes in the event career-wise, to go with eight more conference meet scoring honors in the shot put and indoor weight throw. The returning honorable mention All-American’s personal best hammer throw mark of 206-4 (62.89 meters) from late April also ranks her fifth in school history, and she also stands top 10 in school history in the shot put (49-3.5 / 15.02m). The academic all-conference selection has also served the California State University, Fresno athletic department as its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee service chair, and held a similar role with the same conference student committee. This fall, the Magna Cum Laude pre-veterinary degree recipient looks forward to veterinary school at the University of Minnesota, and thanks our Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education faculty for all their guidance and support. Look for more meet information and a link to live hammer throw results on Thursday morning (which starts at 6:30am Pacific Time) at: https://lnkd.in/ggn89aXs More information on her athletic career and an interview about her degree is at: https://lnkd.in/gw46yyaT

Special thanks to our Ag One staff for hosting a reception for the new #FresnoStateGrad class, and all their families and supporters before commencement this past weekend to cap an amazing 2023-24 academic year! See a full list of our Jordan College graduates, event video, and many more pictures at: https://lnkd.in/gh_Utrct Learn more about non-profit Ag One Foundation ( 559.278.4266 / agone@csufresno.edu / https://bit.ly/FS-ag-one ) and its events throughout the Central Valley that connect our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students in support of the agriculture programs at California State University, Fresno.