The Harvest

The 2022 issue of the College of Agriculture Harvest Magazine. This issue features numerous student, faculty and staff successes as well as provides an insight to what our students are learning and participating in as they prepare to enter their professional careers in the agriculture industry.

In This Issue

• Food for Thought
• Guess Who Created This Harvest Issue
• Excellence in Agriculture
• Meet the Senator: Mia Arisman
• Fulbright Program Scholar
• Richard Rosecrance's Sabbatical Experience – Nepal
• Center for Regenerative Agriculture
• Bell Family Presidential Scholarship and More
• Alumni and Donors

From the Dean's Desk: Food for Thought

This August, I celebrated my first year as dean of the College of Agriculture, and what an amazing year this was! It is hard to believe time went so fast. Many have asked me what my most exciting activity has been so far. Without hesitation, I say it is the people I have met or interacted with. From faculty, staff, and students on campus to alumni, supporters, and stakeholders I have visited around the state, this has been the most rewarding experience!

I feel very proud of our team—in just one year, we have accomplished many important tasks including the development of a new strategic plan. The centerpiece of the plan is our students. Our overarching goal is to prepare students with knowledge and life skill capacity, so they become global leaders in agriculture. We also want to expand and build new partnerships with the community, stakeholders, and government to develop opportunities and training for our students. We are eager to work with our diverse agricultural commodities and industry to team up for the training of the next workforce.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly impacted our lives in various ways and continues to challenge us, but we are very happy that this fall semester is the least restrictive in three years. Nevertheless, our college, as the rest of our campus, continues to follow policies in place and is committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff to help them stay healthy and be successful.

As you will read in this new Harvest issue, there are many great stories we are proud of, including the launching of “Agtivate!” a new initiative that supports and provides resources to incoming students. Our Student Success and Retention office continues to thrive. We have expanded our efforts in recruitment and in the retention of our students focusing on in-person and virtual sessions that students have access to daily.

In this issue we feature various in-person events we hosted and participated in since the beginning of 2022, including a 10-day agricultural exploration in Puerto Rico and the return of the “California Agriculture Tour” class. Our Ag Ambassadors made strides at the World Ag Expo in Tulare and the Ag Day in the Capitol in Sacramento.

Furthermore, two Plant and Soil Science Department faculty members spent their sabbaticals abroad and shared their experiences in this issue.

More wonderful news we received in 2022 was the generous support that our college received from the State of California’s 2022–23 budget to enhance student experiential learning and training at our Farm. Working collaboratively with three other CSU campuses, Chico State was awarded $18.75 million to enhance student experiential learning and training at its University Farm.

Roughly half of the funding will be used to build a state-of-the-art Learning and Training Center. The proposed 10,000-square-foot facility will serve as a connecting point for the University’s diverse academic, research, and community agricultural programs. It will expand the number of farm classrooms, create on-site event and conference rooms, and establish a dedicated space for student clubs and competitions. The Center will also serve as a hub and resource center for researchers, farm practitioners, agricultural economists, and business innovators to collaboratively address the challenges faced in the North State.

We also plan to renovate the Meats Lab, make improvements to each unit, and upgrade our irrigation system. Expanding and modernizing our Farm’s facilities will allow us to respond to the evolving bio-economies and the growing need to collaborate with STEM disciplines to expand and enhance agricultural education and cross-disciplinary experiential learning opportunities for our college.

This has certainly been a wonderful year, and it could have not happened without the efforts of every member of our team and the generous support of our alumni and stakeholders. To all, my deepest gratitude!

I look forward to next year to continue our growth in the college. May you have a blessed 2023 filled with health, prosperity, and peace.

Guess Who Created This Harvest Issue?

With Sarah Deforest’s departure from our college, you may have been wondering who was in charge of magazine production this year. I am happy to share with you that this issue was created entirely by one of our students, Michelle Borges.

She is currently a senior in the Agriculture Communication and Leadership program and pursuing minors in agribusiness and journalism. Michelle is also a public information intern in our college.

When I approached Michelle to discuss leading the production of Harvest, she didn’t hesitate for a second. We briefly brainstormed on the topics and people we wanted to include this year, and then off she went!

For those of you who don’t know Michelle, I would love to share with you my impressions of this remarkable student. I met Michelle in August of 2021 during our “U-Pick” peach harvest event. Her enthusiasm and passion for agriculture was undeniable. She is one of those “superstar students” who sets a high bar for themselves.

Michelle has represented our college and campus in various roles, including as student senator, AS Commissioner of Sustainability, and founding member of the Ag Ambassadors. Michelle clearly exemplifies the leadership qualities that Chico State agriculture students are known for, and every piece of this Harvest issue reflects her dedication and hard work.

I hope you can all join me in congratulating Michelle! She will be graduating next spring 2023. We will certainly miss her, but I have no doubts that she will make great contributions wherever she goes. We are delighted that Michelle is a member of our college and a proud Wildcat!

Thank you, Michelle, for your hard work, dedication, and passion!!

Excellence in Agriculture

The Excellence in Agriculture Awards Reception shines a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of College of Agriculture students, faculty, and staff, and recognizes donors. This event took place in the Bell Memorial Union on the Chico State campus on May 16, 2022. The event served to heighten the visibility of existing awards such as the Graduates of Distinction, Star Students, and Club of the Year, as well as to honor exceptional faculty and staff.

Outstanding Student Leader

Each year, the College of Agriculture selects one student to receive the Outstanding Student Leader Award. The 2022 recipient is Tyler Jenkins. Tyler was the College of Agriculture’s 2021–2022 Student Senator and worked at the Organic Vegetable Project at the University Farm. He will be continuing his education by attending graduate school at Sacramento State in educational leadership and policy studies.

Star Students

Each year, Chico State’s College of Agriculture recognizes one exemplary student within each discipline as a Star Student.

• Kurt Sheppard: Agricultural Business (Hometown: Biggs, California)
• Daniel Casas: Agricultural Education (Hometown: Oakdale, California)
• Delaney Sarantopulos: Animal Science (Hometown: Elk Grove, California)
• Consuelo Baez Vega: Plant and Soil Science (Hometown: Thermal, California)

Club of the Year

The 2022 Club of the Year is the Crops and Horticulture Club, which was recognized for its leadership, service, and outreach with a $500 award from Superior Ag.

Faculty and Staff of the Year

The Faculty and Staff of the Year Awards are nominated and selected by students. They include donor-funded monetary awards for continued professional development.

• Faculty of the Year: Agricultural Education Professor Alyssa Schager, recognized for her trademark enthusiasm, encouragement, and dedication to student success.
• Staff of the Year: Darby Hener, Organic Dairy Unit manager, honored for supporting and guiding students with industry tours and hands-on learning opportunities.

Commencement Awards

• Honors in General Education: Alysha Singh
• Honors in the Major of Plant and Soil Science: Angel De Trinidad

Graduates of Distinction

The following seniors graduated with exceptional academic achievement and earned medallions to wear at Commencement:

Cum Laude

• Paige Baker: Agricultural Business
• Jordyn Kesting: Agricultural Business
• Aidan Tara Mcnerney: Animal Science
• Callie Norton: Agricultural Education
• Sophia Trask: Animal Science

Magna Cum Laude

• Consuelo Baez Vega: Plant and Soil Science
• Haley Duenas: Animal Science
• Rebecca Fleming: Agricultural Business
• James Young: Agricultural Business

Summa Cum Laude

• Belinda Espinoza: Agricultural Education
• Taylor Gallaty: Agricultural Business
• Tyler Jenkins: Agricultural Education

Outstanding Graduates

Agricultural Business

• James Young
• Jordyn Kesting
• Samantha Jackson

Agricultural Education

• Brianne Shannon
• Callie Norton
• Dillion Guillen

Animal Science

• Emely Arevalo
• Marissa Budesilich
• Mary Holbert

Plant and Soil Science

• Angel De Trinidad
• Consuelo Baez Vega
• Hope Coulter

Meet the Student Senator: Mia Arisman

Mia Arisman was first introduced to agriculture while growing up in the small, rural area of Acampo. It was there that she discovered a deep love of learning and a curiosity about the world around her. She attended Galt High School, where she tried everything from public speaking to judging team competitions in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. This passion led her to become the California FFA State Secretary, where she traveled the state attending various high schools and conferences.

Arisman is now attending Chico State as a Bell Family Presidential Scholar and is majoring in agricultural education. She is also in the Honors Program, and she has hit the ground running by joining the Ag Ambassadors, the Educational Opportunity Program, and serving as the College of Agriculture senator this year.

“When I toured Chico State, it felt like the tight-knit community that I was used to back in my hometown. I discovered how genuine and caring the students and faculty were. It felt like a second home,” Arisman said.

Choosing to major in agricultural education was an easy choice for Arisman, as it was her high school agricultural teachers—Carl Wright, Cheryl and Doug Reece, Dane White, Derick Silva, Eileen Desmond, Holly Hockett, Isaac Valencia, Jessalee Goerhing, and Katie Titus-Wipfli—who helped foster her love of learning and her strong work ethic.

“Agriculture education is the perfect combination of my passions,” said Arisman. “Being a first-generation college student, the thought of college was always daunting to me, but education can be super transformative for many students, just like myself.”

One of her biggest role models within the College of Agriculture is Assistant Professor Alyssa Schager—she always enjoys taking her classes, attending her office hours, and working on various activities with her.

“Dr. Schager wants every single one of her students to be seen and heard, which has provided me the confidence to succeed at Chico State. She is an amazing mentor to me,” Arisman said.

Arisman is definitely making her mark this year while serving the College of Agriculture, and she is inspiring herself and others to remain curious, to keep smiling, and to never be afraid to ask questions.

In her role as College of Agriculture senator, Arisman will be focusing on three specific goals: connecting, creating, and strengthening communities. She wants to connect the college with as many opportunities as Chico State has to offer, and she would like to create new ideas through various events and activities, especially coming out of the pandemic. She is also driven to strengthen the community inside and outside the college through the interactions of students with different majors.

One of Arisman’s favorite memories from her time at Chico State is providing University Farm tours to prospective students. She loves seeing the joy in their eyes as they imagine themselves attending Chico State, and she enjoys being able to create connections with the students.

In her free time, Arisman enjoys being in nature, whether that be kayaking, hiking, or hammocking. She also enjoys reading and doing arts and crafts. After earning her undergraduate degree, she would like to pursue a master's degree in agricultural education and focus on high school or higher education. Arisman would also love to study abroad, and then continue to travel for the rest of her life to learn more about other cultures and gain new experiences in other countries.

Fulbright Program Scholar: Lee Altier

Traveling far from Chico, California, plant and soil science professor Lee Altier flew to Izmir, Turkey, in fall 2021 as a Fulbright program scholar through the U.S. Department of State and Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He taught at Ege University, a public research university, as a visiting professor focusing in sustainable and organic agricultural production. Altier also examined local farmers and land to research the agricultural challenges of water scarcity, soil quality, and food security.

The Fulbright program partners with more than 160 countries worldwide led through the United States government. This program provides international education and experiences to students, teachers, and professionals to study and teach their desired topics. In addition, this has provided more than 400,000 individuals to engage in new educational experiences and cultural immersion.

Altier chose to go to Turkey through his enjoyment of traveling there on previous trips as well as the climate being very similar to Chico. The university had specific interest in sustainability which is one of his top passions. During his five-month educational experience, he taught a “Planning for Regenerative Agriculture” course that focuses on strategizing agriculture production during a time of rapid climate change.

“Izmir has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers just like Chico,” Altier said. “Izmir and the Central Valley are facing the same agricultural issues so I was excited to compare and contrast the similarities and differences.”

One of his favorite parts of this experience was the diversity of backgrounds each student had. He had students from all over three different continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Altier is excited to bring these experiences back home to Chico State to the Organic Vegetable Project and to also share new thoughts, ideas, and opportunities with his classes fall semester.

Sabbatical Experience in Nepal: Richard Rosecrance

Enriching his cultural and educational experiences, Richard Rosecrance traveled to Nepal in South Asia during his sabbatical trip in spring 2022. During his time there, he expanded his knowledge of agriculture, climate change, and economics.

Through previous travel in the 1980s when Rosecrance was in the Peace Corps, he decided to return to Nepal to compare the similarities and differences of the time he went years ago. He was amazed with how technologically advanced the towns and villages have become.

“The last 30 years have rapidly changed—more than the last 3,000 years. I was shocked that roads were developed, hotels were built, and a local farmers market provided fresh fruits and vegetables. Everyone has Wi-Fi and a cell phone now,” Rosecrance said.

With all of this technological and economic advancement, he also noticed the loss of some traditions and an increase in pollution. There is more “hustle,” he said, to rush to the next thing. This area is moving away from the barter society of trading goods or services with no money involved.

During this sabbatical time, Rosecrance also wrote two academic papers that will be going through the publishing process through the end of the year. The first paper discussed the research of determining water use in different types of olive trees. The second paper was about canopy management in an olive oil production manual.

When comparing agriculture in California and Nepal, Rosecrance noticed some of the same struggles, like labor, climate change, and irrigation. With labor, the workforce in agriculture is made up of an older generation because younger adults are moving away to cities for employment. Climate change is affecting the weather and erosion of the soil. Irrigation was never a priority in Nepal but with hotter weather, it is a necessity to keep the crops alive.

Rosecrance saw all of these issues when he was visiting a tea plantation in Darjeeling that was facing all three challenges. This consisted of about 5,000 acres of tea where everything was picked by hand by older labor workers. The soil was eroding, and irrigation systems were being installed.

“Even in rural India, climate change and agricultural issues are present just like in California. It was interesting to be able to see those similarities across the globe,” Rosecrance said. “The world is changing right in front of our eyes.”

At the Bengal Tea Association, Rosecrance had the opportunity to present his research about how to manage canopies and crop production. This presentation focused on pest control and irrigation.

India is facing some major challenges with temperatures heating up and supporting a large population. Rosecrance saw the dedication people had toward trying to emphasize the importance of agriculture to keep the industry thriving.

Rosecrance plans to incorporate all of these experiences in his current and future classes at Chico State. He enjoys sharing his story with his students and encourages studying abroad and visiting other countries to learn more about the agricultural industry.

Exciting Work from The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems

The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) has been working to position itself as a research center and educational demonstration and training site, focused on programs that support farmers and ranchers in their transition to practices that improve soil health, carbon sequestration, and water use efficiency.

Last year, we received a highly sought-after grant from the USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) program to create a Climate-Smart Technical Service Training Program with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts and other project partners.

We also have been proceeding with several long-term research projects and one in particular has exciting preliminary results that we would like to share.

Climate-Smart Technical Service Training Program

The program was conceived as a comprehensive training program for agricultural professionals including Technical Service Providers (TSPs) in regenerative or climate-smart agriculture management. The goal is large-scale adoption through successful mobilization of a trained workforce available for conservation planning in areas such as grazing management, soil health management, pollinator habitat development, and carbon farm planning. As these conservation management plans come to fruition, producers can submit for “incentive” funding through the California Department of Food and Agriculture Healthy Soils Program or the Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentive Programs.

The program consists of five elements, including a Professional Course Series through Chico State’s Professional & Continuing Education on Regenerative/Climate Smart Agriculture Management Systems. Classes include:

• Regenerative Agriculture Systems: Theory and Practice
• Soil Health Systems: Impacts of Management on Soil Health
• Science & Practice of Ecological Forest and Range Management
• Holistic Farm/Ranch Planning & Design

The program is designed to pair producers with technical service providers in the same educational program to receive training together on a systems-based approach to agriculture and conservation farm and ranch planning.

The first cohort of four classes was completed online this past year and was well attended. However, producers in the program found themselves completely consumed by active engagement on their farm and ranching operations. So, while several farmers and ranchers did attend classes and are still very involved in the planning, the project has evolved to focus more on providing training to the TSPs and advisors. These new TSPs will have ongoing support through the Learning Collaborative in the form of a network of their peers, supported by the growers they serve.

The demand for trained TSPs has grown tremendously due to climate-induced weather incidents such as drought and other pressures. Currently, there are not enough providers to fill the need, so this is the appropriate target for the program. Service providers do still need to identify an agricultural operation to work with for their conservation plans, and those producers and others are still welcome and encouraged to participate to the extent they are able. Classes in the second cohort started in fall 2022 and will continue through the spring of 2023.

Improving Soil Carbon Capture and Water Use Efficiency in the Palo Verde Valley

CRARS is currently engaged in a five-year study with the Metropolitan (MET) Water District in the Palo Verde Valley. MET transports, stores, and distributes water to a large portion of southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. The study is designed to increase their knowledge of regenerative agriculture and to identify carbon sequestration opportunities by comparing regenerative land management methods to current practices.

Alfalfa farmers in this region use tillage and conventional fallowing practices that leave the land bare between growing seasons. Their process involves multiple tractor passes, which add costs, increase emissions, and cause damage to soil structure. Wind and water erosion are a problem for these growers. In addition, the long-term drought has also forced MET to review all its production practices in light of water conservation efforts. Their preliminary assessments suggest the district is not saving as much water as it once thought with the current fallowing program.

Working together with a team from MET, Dale Tyson and Lyndon Ichita of HayDay Farms, we set up a study to contrast the current fallow program to a regenerative management system using year-round living roots (cover crop) to condition the soil prior to the planting of alfalfa. The research is based on a randomized block design with three replications of two contrasting treatments. The first is a conventional fallow system with full tillage and no water application. The second is a regenerative fallow system including multiple species of winter and summer cover crops seeded with a no-till drill at 60# per acre, with minimal irrigation to maintain a living root system all year round.

The regenerative fallow seeding began in October and November 2020. Once it was large enough, this fall cover crop was terminated with a roller crimper and a summer cover crop was planted in May and June 2021.

The preliminary results show differences in soil temperatures between the treatments and a significant shift in soil microbial communities, including about a six-fold increase in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the cover cropped fields as compared to bare fallow. These changes in the soil microbial communities are necessary to begin the soil carbon accrual process. As soil carbon accumulates, the water infiltration and water holding capacity of the soil improve. These are encouraging results for the first year of a five-year project.

The USDA has demonstrated that for every 1% increase in soil organic matter (which is primarily carbon), water-holding capacity increases by 25,000 gallons per acre.

Dale Tyson, the co-founder of HayDay Farms where this study is taking place, is excited about the results. He says the quality (tilth) of the soil is noticeably improved. It also eliminated about five to six tillage passages over the course of the study so far. Only a no-till drill has been used in the regenerative fields. Tyson recognizes that these fallowed fields, while left out of production, consume large quantities of water to “rehydrate” when brought back into production, and may take a couple of years to bring them back to normal productivity. He believes improvements to the existing fallowing program could improve his farm’s bottom line while enhancing water use efficiency at the same time.

Bell Family Presidential Scholarship and More

Since 2014, the Bell Family Presidential Scholarship has provided four-year scholarships to select incoming first-year students. The College of Agriculture is excited to announce that this scholarship will now be extended to transfer students as well. The generous founder and donor of this scholarship, Dan Giustina, has extended the opportunity to include transfer students starting in fall 2023.

Starting next academic year, we will have available four scholarships for incoming first-year students and four additional “Tier II” Bell Family Presidential Scholarships to students who transfer from community colleges. These scholarships will provide funding for two years to students who declare an undergraduate major in the College of Agriculture, are California residents, and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.

This opportunity will provide more financial support for students in the College of Agriculture to gain their undergraduate education. This year’s class of 2026 Bell Scholars include Lauren Mallery, Shelby Criner, Cole Ingersoll, Bailey Ham, and Sophia Benitez.

Lauren Mallery

A local to the area, Lauren is an animal science major from Paradise, California, focusing in pre-vet in hopes to attend veterinary school after her undergraduate degree. She has been involved in 4-H and FFA, where she found her passion for raising livestock.

“I am beyond thankful to be chosen as a Bell Scholar. This has provided me the opportunity and support to be able to accomplish my goals in my education,” Lauren said.

Shelby Criner

From Alturas, California, Shelby is an animal science major with a deep passion for the agriculture industry. In high school, she was heavily involved in FFA with a large focus on her education. She wants to be an advocate for the agriculture industry and be an active student at Chico State. She wants to become involved in the College of Agriculture to gain the most out of her college experience.

“Having the Bell Scholarship is a huge honor to me. I am very passionate about agriculture, and having the opportunity to continue my connection with the industry while expanding my knowledge through my schooling at Chico State is something I am very grateful for,” Shelby said.

Cole Ingersoll

Cole is an agricultural education major from Turlock, California. He was an active member of a Boy Scouts group, where he learned valuable skills like communication, leadership, and teamwork. This experience gave him the skills he has today to be an excellent student in the College of Agriculture. His career goal is to be a high school agricultural floral teacher.

“Being chosen as a Bell Scholar will help me advance in my education without the worry about financial need. I am so thankful for this opportunity,” Cole said.

Bailey Ham

Bailey is an agricultural education major where community service is an integral part of her life. She is always looking for opportunities to give back to her community and the agricultural industry. In her hometown of Grass Valley, California, she operates a dairy goat business. She is hoping to go to graduate school in agricultural education to become a high school agriculture teacher.

“It means the world for me to be chosen as a Bell Scholar. I come from a large family with a single income, so college was going to be challenging if I did not receive any scholarships. This opportunity made it possible for me to attend a four-year university out of high school to pursue my passion in agriculture,” Bailey said.

Sophia Benitez

Sophia’s passion for science led her to pursue the major of agricultural education with a focus in animal science. This allows her to combine the passion of science and education to be able to educate future generations. She is from Visalia, California, with an interest in animal genetics and breeding. She hopes to pursue a PhD one day to teach at the collegiate level.

“My biggest dream has always been to go to college to further my education. Being given the opportunity to be a Bell Scholar means I will be able to reach my true potential as a student. I have the ability to grow as a responsible leader, student, agriculturalist, and young adult. I am honored to represent Chico State’s College of Agriculture and will continue to strive for success and stay active within our program,” Sophia said.

Scholarship Requirements

Academic requirements are high for the scholarship. California high school seniors who plan to major in agriculture must have a 3.5 GPA and 1200 SAT or 27 ACT scores in order to apply. They must also demonstrate a dedication to agriculture and a propensity for leadership. For those who meet the mark, the Bell Family Presidential Scholarship reduces their financial burdens, gives them an elevated profile in the College of Agriculture, and opens doors of opportunity throughout their college careers. To continue eligibility, each scholar must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 each semester.

High school seniors who may qualify for the scholarship are encouraged to apply by contacting the College of Agriculture’s student success office at agoutreach@csuchico.edu. Applications will be available in December 2022.

Donors

Donors impact students' lives every day in the College of Agriculture. From scholarships that open doors of opportunity to new equipment and facility upgrades that increase access to hands-on education to funding cutting-edge applied agricultural research, private giving makes the difference between a good College of Agriculture at Chico State and an extraordinary one.

Thank you to the following donors who made contributions to the College of Agriculture between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

Learn more about ways to Make a Donation to the College of Agriculture.

Alumni: Where Are They Now?

1960s

• Jerry Maltby (Agriculture, ’67)
  Owner, Broken Box Ranch—Williams

1980s

• Gerald Mahoney (Agricultural Business, ’86)
  Owner, Blosser Urban Garden/TKP Farms—Santa Maria

1990s

• Heather Thomas (Agricultural Science, ’90)
  Owner, Thomas Hay & Livestock—Sutter
• Jennifer (Coin) Leonard (Animal Science, ’96)
  General Manager, Almendra Winery & Distillery—Durham
• Woody Melton (Animal Science, ’99)
  Territory Manager, Merck Animal Health—Bakersfield
• Harley Ramirez (Agricultural Science, ’99)
  Sales Manager, AGCO—Redding

2000s

• Melissa (Wolf) Macfarlane (Animal Science, ’00)
  Director of Genetic Deployment, Driscoll’s—Cottonwood
• Bryan Taylor (Agricultural Science, ’00)
  Forester, Trinity River Lumber Co.—Weaverville
• Becky (Lima) Freeman (Agricultural Education, ’02)
  Agriculture Teacher, Tokay High School—Lodi
• Dan Wright (Agricultural Science and Education, ’06)
  State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS—Amherst, Massachusetts

2010s

• Emanuel Magaña (Agricultural Business, ’11)
  Supervisor, Magaña Labor—Santa Paula
• Samantha (Aragon) Pearle (Animal Science, ’11)
  Business Manager, Adisseo—Ione
• Matt Benzel (Crops, Horticulture, and Land Resource Management, ’14)
  Regional Operations Manager, Simplot
• Timothy Dwyer (Crops, Horticulture, and Land Resource Management, ’14)
  Pest Control Advisor, Scientific Methods—Chico
• Joe Chimente (Agricultural Business, ’15)
  Project Manager, Distinctive Metals; Owner, C&L Enterprises—Angels Camp
• Tony Landini (Agricultural Business, ’15)
  Welder-Fabricator at Iron Tree Solutions and Owner at TL Custom Farming—Willows
• Juliet (Conant) Lawton (Animal Science, ’15)
  Equine Specialist, Purina Animal Health—Nicolaus
• Maille McCallister (Agricultural Science and Education, ’15)
  Agriculture Mechanics Teacher, Elsie Allen High School—Santa Rosa
• Daniela Oliva (Agricultural Science and Education, ’15)
  Agriculture Teacher, Livermore High School—Livermore
• Joel Lundberg (Agricultural Science and Education, ’16)
  Pest Control Advisor—Chico
• Logan Chapman (Agricultural Business, ’17)
  Farm Manager, California Olive Ranch—Chico
• Natalie Cunha (Agricultural Science and Education, ’17)
  Development Assistant, California Rangeland Trust—Sacramento
• John Olson (Agricultural Science and Education, ’17)
  Agriculture Teacher, Golden Valley High School—Merced
• Jessie (Peterson) Chaves (Agricultural Education, ’18)
  Agriculture Teacher, Tokay High School—Lodi

2020s

• Adriana (Gudino) Hansard (Agricultural Education, ’21)
  Agriculture Teacher, Shafer High School—Shafer
• Wilson Hansard (Crops, Horticulture, and Land Resource Management, ’20)
  Farm Manager, Wilson Ag—Shafer
• Heather Kuykendall (Agricultural Business, ’21)
  Farm Loan Officer, USDA Farm Service Agency—Escalon
• George Williams (Agricultural Business, ’21)
  Transportation Planner, G3 Enterprises—Lodi