California Ag Network

Category: Education

  • California FFA Elects 2024-2025 State FFA Officer Team

    Students from Kingsburg, Turlock Christian, Hilmar, Santa Maria, and O’Neals Minarets were elected by delegates at the 96th Annual State FFA Leadership Conference to serve as 2024-25 State FFA Officers. Candidates take part in an extensive online and in-person interview process with the State FFA Nominating Committee leading up to the election. The new team was announced during the closing session of the 96th State FFA Leadership Conference on Sunday, March 24, as follows:

    • President: Camille Zavala
    • Vice President: John Dein
    • Secretary: Gianna Gonzalez
    • Treasurer: Melissa Lua-Duarte
    • Reporter: Carlos Nunez
    • Sentinel: Joshua Wolford

    After reviewing applications, the Nominating Committee selected 59 individuals to advance to in-person interviews, which were conducted during the State FFA Conference. Candidates underwent several rounds of interviews with the State Nominating Committee before being slated and elected by the California Association, FFA delegation.

    State officers commit to a year of service to the California Association FFA. Throughout their year of service, the officers will interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, local FFA leaders, and the general public.

    The team will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the state and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA in California and lead the next generation of leaders.

    To obtain additional information about the new state officer team, contact Charles Parker, State FFA Advisor and program manager for agricultural education for the California Department of Education, at cparker@cde.ca.gov.

    About California FFA: California FFA serves more than 103,000 students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.

  • Helene Dillard to Retire as UC Davis College of Ag & Environmental Sciences Dean

    Dean Helene Dillard is retiring in 2024 as leader of the University of California, Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, or CA&ES, after 10 years of service. A national search for a new dean will begin in December, and Dillard will retire once her successor is in place.

    During her tenure as dean, Dillard established several key initiatives, engaged many internal and external partners, and led the college’s efforts to improve the lives of Californians and people around the world. Her legacy and commitment to the college, its mission and campus is expansive and transformative. Throughout her tenure, she has championed and embodied the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration to address the most pressing issues facing agriculture, the environment, and human and social needs.

    Comfortable around students, industry players and stakeholders, and government and international leaders, Dillard is an adept listener who has a knack for finding common ground and bridging the gap between disparate communities and setting a path forward to success.

    “Dean Dillard is an Aggie through and through, and she exemplifies all that is best about our campus,” said Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor. “She is a two-time alumna, a brilliant researcher, an internationally recognized leader in her field, and as kind and compassionate a person as you could ever hope to meet. She is nearly synonymous with the campus, and it is hard to imagine UC Davis without her. Dean Dillard will be dearly and deeply missed.”

    Her departure from the college is bittersweet — while she has deeply treasured her role as dean, she is looking forward to spending more time with family and enjoying the outdoor spaces she helped steward.

    “It has been an incredible honor to lead such an amazing college — I am so proud of the faculty, staff and students who remain dedicated to our mission, working to serve California, the nation and the world. Every day they show up committed and engaged, and I feel privileged to have played such a pivotal role in advancing and growing the college and UC Davis these past 10 years,” says Dillard.

    A broad portfolio

    As leader of the agricultural school ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the world, she has served as the chief academic and administrative officer of the college, which includes 14 departments, 29 centers and institutes, more than 7,600 undergraduate students, approximately 320 faculty and 585 staff. She also manages programmatic responsibilities for the college’s Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension.

    She supported leadership and staff through several renovation and infrastructure projects, such as six new greenhouses, including a 14,400-square-foot greenhouse to safeguard an important grapevine collection from red blotch disease and other pathogens; new irrigation and water management initiatives; major upgrades to the Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture; the installation of a new indoor vertical farm to develop innovative solutions for food security and improved water use; and a new and innovative goat dairy and creamery.

    During the pandemic, Dillard navigated a reduction in federal funding and unavoidable budget cuts while still managing to overhaul teaching spaces to facilitate better online learning and remote work environments. She also oversaw the implementation of safety measures to support staff and faculty who attended to the immediate needs of several thousand animals and acres of research fields and orchards.

    A focus on student success

    Dillard has remained incredibly dedicated to student success throughout her tenure. In partnership with the associate dean of undergraduate academic programs, she improved academic advising services and increased the ratio of students to advisors within the college and embedded a mental health counselor in the program. She elevated experiential learning both in and outside the classroom and expanded dean’s circle funding to provide financial support for field trips, service learning and external research at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

    Dillard’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is extensive. She led the campus pilot to incorporate diversity statements into faculty hirings; created and co-leads the college-level DEI committee; and supported the launch of Aggie Jumpstart, a program that promotes inclusive academic excellence and student success among first-generation, low-income and underserved students. She remains a tireless advocate for listening and amplifying the voices of all faculty, staff and students.

    Over the past decade, the college has received more than $442 million in private philanthropic support. This includes the largest gift ever from an individual donor to UC Davis, $50 million, which paved the way for the establishment of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation to help shape the future of sustainable food production.

    A career of accolades and history of research

    A scientist and educator, Dillard is recognized widely for her contributions in plant pathology research, inclusive teaching and fostering diversity. She is a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society where she received the Excellence in Extension Award and was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2021. Dillard also received the Walter A. Robinson Community Champion award from the African Continuum at UC Davis in recognition of her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at UC Davis and received the New York Farmers Medal and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Cornell College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

    Prior to her appointment at UC Davis, Dillard was a professor of plant pathology, a Cooperative Extension specialist and associate dean of two colleges at Cornell University. Her research focused on the biology, ecology and management of fungal pathogens that cause diseases in vegetables. Her research interests included sustainable disease management strategies, integrated pest management, epidemiology, and host, pathogen and environmental actions.

    Working with industry, communities

    As a former CE specialist, she understands the deep value of listening to and working directly with communities and industry in the field. She was instrumental in securing the working title of Professor of Cooperative Extension, and she supported the creation of the Making Connections program, which provides opportunities for faculty and industry to foster a greater understanding of how research and applied work intersect and benefit each other.

    “Dean Dillard’s experience as a professor and researcher with an extension assignment made her uniquely qualified to serve as dean of this country’s top College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She came to the position with a deep understanding of the importance of the public service mission of land grant universities and building relationships with stakeholders for real-time feedback to enhance the value of research to solve the most critical issues of our times,” said California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. “Since then, she has embraced a vision for research and education that leaves her organization in a better position to generate the talent and tools that California needs. As a colleague, as a friend, and as a leader, Helene has been engaged, thoughtful and committed, even through the most challenging of circumstances. She has distinguished herself and honored California’s agricultural community with her service.” – By Caren Weintraub, UC Davis

  • Friends of the Fair Sponsoring $25,000 in College Ag Scholarships

    It pays to major in agriculture. The Friends of the Dixon May Fair is sponsoring nine college scholarships, valued at a total of $25,000, in its annual Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program that is open to Solano County high school graduates majoring in an agricultural field.

    In the past, the ag scholarship applicants had to “be attending a college or university within California.”  As of 2024, the rules have expanded to  “a college or university within the United States,” announced Carrie Hamel of Dixon, scholarship chair.

    The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

    In the four-year university or college category, scholarships available are:

    –The $5000 Donnie Huffman Presidential Memorial Scholarship

    –The $4000 JoAn Giannoni Scholarship

    –The $3500 Ester Armstrong Scholarship

    –The $3000 Joe Gates Memorial Scholarship

    –Three scholarships at $3000 each

    In the two-year, or community college category scholarships available are:

    –The 1500 Jack Hopkins Memorial Scholarship

    –$1000 scholarship

    Since 2000, the Friends have awarded a total of $248,750 in college scholarships, Hamel said.

    The scholarship program was named the Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program in honor of the founding president Donnie Huffman (Feb. 29, 1940-2023), and his wife, Tootie, the founding treasurer. Donnie died June 17, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.  His wife Tootie, continues as a Friends of the Fair volunteer.

    Donnie also founded the Friends of the Solano County Fair (1993 amd served as its president until 2006. He and Tootie began a college scholarship program for both fairs. Since 2000, the Friends of the Dixon May Fair has awarded a total of $248,750 to Solano County residents majoring in agriculture. In tribute to their work, the program was renamed the Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program in 2022. A $5,000 scholarship to the top applicant bears his name.

    In 2023, four applicants shared a total of $15,500.

    Sam Esperson, a 2022 graduate of Rio Vista High School and a student at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, won the newly created Donnie Huffman Scholarship of $5000.

    Bridget de Flores, a 2023 graduate of Rio Vista High School, a student at Cal Poly, received the $4000 JoAn Gianoni Scholarship. Giannoni, a longtime resident of Dixon, is a founding member of the Friends, and served as the inaugural secretary and scholarship chair.

    Natalie Victorine, a 2021 graduate of Dixon High School and a student at Cal Poly, won the $3500 Ester Armstrong Scholarship. The award memorializes fair industry veteran Ester Armstrong of Rockville, a former director of the California Division of Fairs and Expositions who served as interim CEO of the Dixon May Fair from 2006 to 2009. She died in May 2009 of cancer.

    Molly Feins, a 2021 graduate of Vacaville High School and a student at Cal Poly, won the newly established $3000 Joe Gates Memorial Scholarship. Gates, a Rio Vista resident and longtime auctioneer of the Dixon May Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction, died of COVID, died in February 2021.

    Capsule information:

    Sam Esperson
    Esperson, then a 2023 high school graduate, wrote that he planned to obtain a bachelor of science degree in agricultural systems management from Cal Poly. “With a college education in agricultural systems management, I can use a variety of levels of agricultural engineering, business credit and financing, agricultural personnel management and overall agricultural systems management theory to expand my opportunities in the agricultural industry,” he wrote in his essay. He is a member of numerous clubs, including the Agricultural Engineers Society.

    Bridget de Flores

    De Flores, ranking in the top 10 of her Rio Vista High School graduating class, wrote that she hoped to double major in ag business or animal science at Cal Poly. She captained the varsity cheer team and was active in 4-H. “When I was little, I used to say that when I got bigger I wanted to own a ranch, so that I could own all the animals I wanted to. Now that I have grown, I have seen how I can make that into reality.” She aims for a career as a farm/ranch manager or a farmer/rancher.

    Natalie Victorine

    Victorine, majoring in agricultural communication at Cal Poly, seeks a career as a social media manager/digital media production for an agricultural business. “My inspiration to pursue a degree in agricultural communication was fueled by my involvement in youth agricultural leadership organizations such as 4-H and FFA, combined with my strong roots in agriculture growing up in a cattle ranching family,” she wrote.

    Molly Feins

    Molly Feins, who seeks a career “in the animal and agricultural field,” is majoring in animal science at Cal Poly. Her initial plans included pursuing a career in animal genetics, but she indicated she may change that to agricultural leadership. “This has been a year for reflection and growth mindset,” she wrote in her essay.

    The Friends, an all-volunteer, service-oriented organization, is the fundraising arm of the Dixon May Fair. Headed by president Gilbert “Gil” Molina of Vacaville, the organization raises funds through the sale of beverages at the four-day fair, and donate the proceeds for building and grounds improvements, college scholarships, and exhibitor awards.

    Applicants are scored on personal, civic and academic experience; academic standing; personal commitment and established goals; leadership potential; civic accomplishments; chosen field in the areas of agriculture, said Hamel.  Most applicants have experience in 4-H, FFA or Grange, criteria desired but not mandated.

    Continuing scholarship winners may apply up to four times, Hamel said. All scholarship checks can be used only for tuition, fees, books, materials and supplies, housing, and meals purchased on campus.

    Agricultural-related fields include majors and options such as, but not limited to, agricultural and resource economics, agricultural business, agronomy and range science, agricultural science, agricultural systems management, animal science, avian sciences, bio-resource and agricultural engineering, plant protection science, dairy science, entomology, earth sciences, environmental horticultural science, environmental design, environmental management and protection, landscape architecture, food science, environmental toxicology, forestry and natural resources, fruit science, soils and biogeochemistry, agricultural education and communication, home economics, environmental resource sciences, agribusiness, pomology, animal science, vegetable crops, nematology, earth and soil sciences, plant pathology, food science and nutrition, wildlife and fisheries biology, horticulture and crop science, pest management, natural resources management, child, family and consumer science, viticulture and enology, atmospheric science, and hydrologic science.

    The scholarship committee, chaired by Hamel, also includes Tootie Huffman, Kathy Keatley Garvey and Linda Molina, all of Vacaville, and Marty Scrivens and Alisa Ramirez, both of Dixon.

    More information on the scholarship application rules is available on the Friends of the Fair Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheDixonMayFair. Applications must be on the Friends of the Fair form and include a personal essay of not more than two pages; accumulative and current transcripts; and two letters of support, with one from a professional educator. The packet (one set of originals and a copy of each document) is to be mailed to the Friends of the Fair, P.O. Box 242, Dixon, Calif.

  • Helene Dillard to Retire as Dean of the UC Davis College of Ag and Environmental Sciences

    Dean Helene Dillard is retiring in 2024 as leader of the University of California, Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, or CA&ES, after 10 years of service. A national search for a new dean will begin in December, and Dillard will retire once her successor is in place.

    During her tenure as dean, Dillard established several key initiatives, engaged many internal and external partners, and led the college’s efforts to improve the lives of Californians and people around the world. Her legacy and commitment to the college, its mission and campus is expansive and transformative. Throughout her tenure, she has championed and embodied the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration to address the most pressing issues facing agriculture, the environment, and human and social needs.

    Comfortable around students, industry players and stakeholders, and government and international leaders, Dillard is an adept listener who has a knack for finding common ground and bridging the gap between disparate communities and setting a path forward to success.

    “Dean Dillard is an Aggie through and through, and she exemplifies all that is best about our campus,” said Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor. “She is a two-time alumna, a brilliant researcher, an internationally recognized leader in her field, and as kind and compassionate a person as you could ever hope to meet. She is nearly synonymous with the campus, and it is hard to imagine UC Davis without her. Dean Dillard will be dearly and deeply missed.”

    Her departure from the college is bittersweet — while she has deeply treasured her role as dean, she is looking forward to spending more time with family and enjoying the outdoor spaces she helped steward.

    “It has been an incredible honor to lead such an amazing college — I am so proud of the faculty, staff and students who remain dedicated to our mission, working to serve California, the nation and the world. Every day they show up committed and engaged, and I feel privileged to have played such a pivotal role in advancing and growing the college and UC Davis these past 10 years,” says Dillard.

    A broad portfolio

    As leader of the agricultural school ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the world, she has served as the chief academic and administrative officer of the college, which includes 14 departments, 29 centers and institutes, more than 7,600 undergraduate students, approximately 320 faculty and 585 staff. She also manages programmatic responsibilities for the college’s Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension.

    She supported leadership and staff through several renovation and infrastructure projects, such as six new greenhouses, including a 14,400-square-foot greenhouse to safeguard an important grapevine collection from red blotch disease and other pathogens; new irrigation and water management initiatives; major upgrades to the Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture; the installation of a new indoor vertical farm to develop innovative solutions for food security and improved water use; and a new and innovative goat dairy and creamery.

    During the pandemic, Dillard navigated a reduction in federal funding and unavoidable budget cuts while still managing to overhaul teaching spaces to facilitate better online learning and remote work environments. She also oversaw the implementation of safety measures to support staff and faculty who attended to the immediate needs of several thousand animals and acres of research fields and orchards.

    A focus on student success

    Dillard has remained incredibly dedicated to student success throughout her tenure. In partnership with the associate dean of undergraduate academic programs, she improved academic advising services and increased the ratio of students to advisors within the college and embedded a mental health counselor in the program. She elevated experiential learning both in and outside the classroom and expanded dean’s circle funding to provide financial support for field trips, service learning and external research at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

    Dillard’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is extensive. She led the campus pilot to incorporate diversity statements into faculty hirings; created and co-leads the college-level DEI committee; and supported the launch of Aggie Jumpstart, a program that promotes inclusive academic excellence and student success among first-generation, low-income and underserved students. She remains a tireless advocate for listening and amplifying the voices of all faculty, staff and students.

    Over the past decade, the college has received more than $442 million in private philanthropic support. This includes the largest gift ever from an individual donor to UC Davis, $50 million, which paved the way for the establishment of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation to help shape the future of sustainable food production.

    A career of accolades and history of research

    A scientist and educator, Dillard is recognized widely for her contributions in plant pathology research, inclusive teaching and fostering diversity. She is a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society where she received the Excellence in Extension Award and was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2021. Dillard also received the Walter A. Robinson Community Champion award from the African Continuum at UC Davis in recognition of her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at UC Davis and received the New York Farmers Medal and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Cornell College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

    Prior to her appointment at UC Davis, Dillard was a professor of plant pathology, a Cooperative Extension specialist and associate dean of two colleges at Cornell University. Her research focused on the biology, ecology and management of fungal pathogens that cause diseases in vegetables. Her research interests included sustainable disease management strategies, integrated pest management, epidemiology, and host, pathogen and environmental actions.

    Working with industry, communities

    As a former CE specialist, she understands the deep value of listening to and working directly with communities and industry in the field. She was instrumental in securing the working title of Professor of Cooperative Extension, and she supported the creation of the Making Connections program, which provides opportunities for faculty and industry to foster a greater understanding of how research and applied work intersect and benefit each other.

    “Dean Dillard’s experience as a professor and researcher with an extension assignment made her uniquely qualified to serve as dean of this country’s top College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She came to the position with a deep understanding of the importance of the public service mission of land grant universities and building relationships with stakeholders for real-time feedback to enhance the value of research to solve the most critical issues of our times,” said California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. “Since then, she has embraced a vision for research and education that leaves her organization in a better position to generate the talent and tools that California needs. As a colleague, as a friend, and as a leader, Helene has been engaged, thoughtful and committed, even through the most challenging of circumstances. She has distinguished herself and honored California’s agricultural community with her service.” – By Caren Weintraub, UC Davis

  • Nominate California Teachers for Top Agricultural Educator Award

    Agriculture educators play a vital role within their communities by investing countless hours to prepare and empower students for successful careers in the industry. To honor their contributions and support them with additional resources, the California FFA Foundation, in partnership with Nationwide and the California Farm Bureau, are accepting nominations for California’s leading agricultural teachers for a chance to be named as the 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year.

    Nationwide and its state partners recently recognized 64 exceptional agricultural teachers as 2022-2023 Golden Owl Award® finalists and then honored nine grand prize winners as their state’s Ag Educator of the Year. Every finalist received $500 in funding to help advance their programs and the grand prize winners received an additional $3,000 to boost their efforts and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.

    Nominate any California agriculture educator for the 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award from September 1 through January 16.

    “The Golden Owl Award seeks to thank agricultural teachers for the extraordinary care they bring to their work as they go above and beyond in educating America’s youth and future leaders,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “We encourage students, parents, fellow teachers and others to nominate their agricultural teachers to acknowledge their hard work.”

    Following the nomination period closing on January 16, a selection committee will evaluate nominations and select six finalists in California, who will be recognized in front of their peers and students and awarded with a personalized plaque and $500. One finalist will then be chosen as the grand prize winner, earning the 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year title for California and receiving the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and an additional $3,000 to help fund future educational efforts.

    “Ag teachers are the heartbeat of FFA programs, nurturing the seeds of knowledge, cultivating leadership, and sowing the future of agriculture with passion and dedication,” explains Katie Otto, Executive Director of Development for the California FFA Foundation. “We are proud to support an awards program that recognizes the immeasurable value of agricultural teachers in shaping students, schools, and communities.”

    Nationwide supports the future of the ag community through meaningful sponsorships of national and local organizations. In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to each participating state’s FFA, including the California FFA, to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers and advisors alike.

    To nominate a teacher or learn more about the Golden Owl Award, visit GoldenOwlAward.com.

    Photo Caption: Jason Ferreira, agricultural teacher at Hanford High School, was named California’s 2022-2023 “Ag Educator of the Year.” Ferreira was formally recognized as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner earlier this year during the California FFA State Leadership Conference. Nominations are now open for the 2023-24 award program.

  • Ag Boosters Barbecue Supports Students and Programs

    Celebrating 46 years, the Ag Boosters Barbecue has become a tradition for supporters and friends of the Ag One Foundation and the California Women for Agriculture , raising more than $1 million for student scholarships and programs that support California agriculture.

    The annual fundraising event will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, at George’s Ranch (8805 CA-41, Fresno), formerly known as Panoche Creek River Ranch.

    The barbecue dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the San Joaquin River as the backdrop. Guests can enjoy farm products grown and produced by Fresno State students, including award-winning wine, grapes, raisins, extra virgin olive oil, sausage and more. In addition, there will be a country store filled with handmade arts, crafts and baked goods.

    Silent and live auctions under the stars offer guests the opportunity to bid on vacation getaways and specialty items unique to the Ag Boosters Barbecue. In addition, the winner will be drawn for the Ag One “Fantasy Vacation” raffle, featuring a choice of destinations including Eastern Europe, national parks in Wyoming and South Dakota, the Mississippi River, Portugal and Alaska.

    Event proceeds benefit students and programs in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State as well as the educational efforts of California Women for Agriculture.

    Since 1979, Ag One has provided about 5,200 students with over $9.4 million in scholarships as well as program support. In the 2023-24 academic year, more than $920,000 will be awarded to deserving students and programs. Funds also support the California Women for Agriculture mission to tell the story of California agriculture through education and legislative programs. California Women for Agriculture provides nearly $100,000 in student scholarships annually.

    Tickets are available online for $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10. Ticket prices increase to $85 per person or $800 for a table of 10 beginning Thursday, Aug. 31. Visit www.agonefoundation.org for more information or call 559.278.4266.

  • UC Davis Nematologists Excel at International Meeting

    Doctoral students in the laboratory of nematologist Shahid Siddique, associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, excelled at the 62nd annual meeting of the Society of Nematologists (SON), held July 9-14 in Columbus, Ohio.

    It was the lab mates’ first-ever conference, and they brought home first- and second-place awards, in addition to a second-place tie in the Cobb Bowl competition which memorializes Nathan Cobb (1859-1932), the father of nematology.

    Alison Coomer Blundell, who will be a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Plant Pathology this fall, won first place in the three-minute student competition with her presentation on “Trade Offs Between Resistance Breaking and Fitness Cost in Root-Knot Nematodes.” She received a $250 award and a plaque.

    Alison Coomer Blundell, first place winner in the three-minute student competition with her presentation on “Trade Offs Between Resistance Breaking and Fitness Cost in Root-Knot Nematodes.”

    Ching-Jung Lin, who will be a fourth-year doctoral student this fall, won second place in the 12-minute category with her presentation on “Elucidating the Role of MigPSY Peptides in Interactions Between Plants and Root-Knot Nematodes.” She received a $250 prize.

    The six-member Siddique lab team, “Meloidogyne Gang Gang,” which included Blundell, Lin, third-year doctoral student Pallavi Shakya, and second-year doctoral student Veronica Casey, tied for second place in the Cobb Bowl, a jeopardy-like competition that can include both students and postdoctoral fellows on the teams.

    “I am very humbled by the award and recognition but am very proud of seeing all my lab mates accomplish their presentations and get good feedback and recognition as well,” said Blundell, who seeks a PhD in plant pathology. She holds two undergraduate degrees–a bachelor’s degree in biology and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry–from Concordia University, Seward, Neb.

    “I was first introduced to nematodes in my undergraduate studies where I maintained C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) cultures, but was introduced to plant parasitic nematodes when Dr. Siddique reached out to me about becoming a member in his lab,” Blundell said. “This was my first time at SON, and for all my lab mates. SON has allowed me to meet people I have heard about or have talked to on Zoom, email, or twitter and also make new connections with many U.S. states and universities.”

    Lin enrolled in the UC Davis Plant Pathology doctoral program, with a designated emphasis in biotechnology, in 2020. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 2015 from the National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, and her master’s degree in plant biology in 2018 from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She recently received a two-year, $32,000 Ministry of Education Taiwan Government Scholarship to Study Abroad (GSSA).

    Lin, a first-generation international student, credits co-principal investigator Professor Gitta Coaker of Plant Pathology and the Coaker Lab with mentoring her, offering presentation suggestions. “It was very much appreciated,” she said.

    Six teams competed in the Cobb Bowl. The study material is based on six decks of nematode trading cards created by Jon Eisenback, professor in  Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He also hosted the game as “SmartAlex EisenTrebeck.” He asked questions in the form of an answer, such as”

    • Question: “The Guava root-knot nematode.”
      Answer: “Meloidogyne enterolobii“
    • Question: “First report of root-knot nematodes.”
      Answer:”Who is Miles Joseph Berkeley?”

    “The most difficult question, said team member Veronica Casey was: “The color of the first edition of the Journal of Nematology.”

    “The answer was simply, ‘What is orange?’ but many teams thought it was green,” Casey related. “Another difficult question was ‘The full species name of the Beech Leaf disease nematode.’ The answer: “What is Litylenchus crenatae mccannii?”

    The University of Idaho team won the Cobb Bowl. The UC Davis team, which also included a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Illinois and a graduate student from Montana State University, tied for second place with two other teams: AlohaNema, comprised primarily of students from the University of Hawaii, and Nemafolks, comprised of students from a number of  universities, including Michigan State, Oregon State and Texas Tech. The other two teams represented the University of Florida and The Ohio State University.

    Also at the SON meeting, Siddique participated in a session titled “Nematology Faces of the Future.” In his five-minute self-introduction, he displayed a map showing how far he has traveled. A native of Multan, Pakistan, he received two degrees in Multan: his bachelor of science degree from the Government College Bosan Road in 2001 and his master’s degree in botany from the Bahauddin Zakariya University in 2004. Then it was off to Vienna, Austria to receive his doctorate in 2009 in agriculture and biotechnology from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. After serving as a research group leader for several years at the University of Bonn, Germany, he joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty in 2019 as an assistant professor and advanced to associate professor this year.

  • Lake County Winegrape Commission Announces Second Year of Pruning School

    The Lake County Winegrape Commission announced the continuation of Lake County Pruning School, which launched in December 2022 and sold out, benefiting more than 100 attendees. Presented in both English and Spanish, the immersive Lake County Pruning School is the first of its kind for a regional organization and was created in collaboration with Simonit & Sirch, the renowned grapevine pruning school with more than 30 years of research and experience, and a client list that includes some of the world’s preeminent vineyards.

    In early June, the Commission presented Momentum 2023, its annual grower seminar at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport, California and highlighted the first year of Lake County Pruning School. The event offered a detailed overview of the program and its benefits for attendees. The Pruning School segment started with Simonit & Sirch Master Pruners Jacopo Miolo and Jett Johansson providing an overview of the program, which comprises a theoretical introductory online lesson and three days of practical hands-on lessons in the vineyard — two days during the winter for vine pruning and one day during the spring for shoot thinning. The program provides in-depth fundamental principles applicable to all grapevine training systems, such as controlled branching, vascular flow, cuts and crown buds, and protective spare wood.

    Benefits of the program were discussed during a grower panel moderated by Jonathan Walters, Chair of the Lake County Winegrape Commission and General Manager of Brassfield Estate. The panel provided insights from five speakers, including Bruce Merrilees, Owner of Castilleja Farms LLC; Tony Medina, Ranch Foreman at Cache Creek Vineyards; Chris King, Vineyard Manager of Catspaw Vineyard; as well as Miolo and Johansson of Simonit & Sirch. The panel was followed by a practical demonstration held by Jennifer Thomson from FELCO, who showcased the company’s brand new cordless electric pruning shears.

    “We are thrilled with the success of the first edition and look forward to enhancing next year’s classes with Simonit & Sirch” says Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “The delivery of classes in both English and Spanish allows us to meet the educational needs of all vineyard workers and we’ll continue with this approach for the next edition.”

    Lake County Pruning School is designed for vineyard owners, vineyard supervisors and crew leaders, and experienced vineyard workers. Each class enables one-on-one learning and an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with others in the cohort.

    Footage of the Momentum event can be found on the LCWC website.

    2023-2024 Lake County Pruning School registration is coming soon. Spots can be reserved by emailing Lake County Winegrape Commission at events@lakecountywinegrape.org

  • Mentors Announced for 2023 College Aggies Online Program

    Cattle ranchers and social media influencers Natalie Kovarik and Brandi Buzzard are two of the mentors set to advise participants in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program, which begins on September 11. Registration is now open for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students studying in the U.S., as well as collegiate clubs and classes. Last year, nearly $20,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to participants. Sign up for this year’s competition here: https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/college-aggies-online/.

    CAO connects college students from across the country who are passionate about sharing positive, factual information about agriculture. Participants receive nine interactive and educational weeks of content to help them become confident and effective communicators for agriculture with guidance from farmers and industry mentors. During their scheduled week of the program, Kovarik and Buzzard will share valuable insights and helpful tips when it comes to engaging about agriculture.

    “College Aggies Online equips college students with the tools needed to effectively bridge the gap between farm and table,” said Emily Ellis, manager, communications and content, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “In only nine weeks in 2022, more than 8.5 million people were reached through the program with the students’ social media content and on-campus events. This is thanks, in part, to the opportunities for students to network with and learn from mentors like Kovarik and Buzzard, two fan-favorites who are returning this year.”

    Kovarik is a proud rancher’s daughter, wife, mother, and rancher herself. She works alongside her husband, Luke, and her three sons, where they own and operate Kovarik Cattle Co, a cow calf business with a growing registered herd. Growing up, Natalie was raised on her family’s registered Hereford operation in southwest Montana. She began sharing her ranching story online four years ago to foster a community that trusts and believes in agriculture as much as she does. Today, she is the co-host of the popular podcast Discover Ag as well as the co-founder of Elevate Ag, an online course and community providing farmers and ranchers with the tools needed to successfully advocate for agriculture online.

    Buzzard is editor of the Red Angus Magazine and blogger and speaker under the title Buzzard’s Beat. She and her husband operate a small ranch in southeast Kansas where she spends a majority of her time rodeoing, ranching, and engaging with her rural community. Buzzard started the blog, “Buzzard’s Beat,” in 2009 and focuses on opening the door to American agriculture, how our food is raised, and the people who raise it. She is an active speaker and has been featured on many platforms including CBS News, Fox News, MSNBC News, and many more.

    In addition to sharing tips for communicating about agriculture, Kovarik and Buzzard will also provide feedback on submitted social media posts and challenges and help in selecting weekly scholarship winners. The top participants at the conclusion of the program will be invited to attend the Alliance’s 2024 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Missouri, for national recognition.

    Students interested in networking with industry professionals and learning from successful agriculture influencers while strengthening their communication skills are invited to sign up today at https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/college-aggies-online/.

    About the Alliance:

    The Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

  • Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course to Welcome Cattle Producers Worldwide

    The 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, the largest event of its kind in the nation, dates are set for Aug. 7-9 and registration is open. More than 1,900 cattle producers are expected to come to the Texas A&M University campus.

    The event is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M. From the Texas Aggie Prime Rib Dinner to the Cattleman’s College, the nationally and internationally recognized three-day annual event offers producers valuable knowledge about beef cattle production.

    “This year’s Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course will once again be covering basic beef cattle production information as well as new advanced technologies that are on the horizon,” said Jason Cleere, Ph.D., conference coordinator and AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station.

    Both in-person and online attendance is being offered. The cost is $260 for in-person attendance and $160 for online if registered by July 21. A $40 late registration fee will be charged after that date. To register, go to https://tx.ag/BCSC23Reg or call 979-845-6931 for more information.

    Recovering after the drought

    The program is expected to offer management expertise for everyone, from the novice livestock operator to the seasoned professional, on coping with and surviving the drought and market fluctuations, Cleere said.

    “We just went through a very severe drought, and the western side of Texas is still struggling,” Cleere said. “We are seeing very solid calf prices now, and ranchers want to begin rebuilding their cow herd as they come out of the drought but are faced with high replacement female prices.”

    He said some of the questions ranchers must ask themselves are:

    • What can I afford to pay for a cow?
    • What does the market look like 3-5 years from now?
    • Will we rebuild the cow herd as fast as we did after the 2011 drought?
    • With higher feed, fertilizer and hay prices, can I afford to stock as high as I have in the past?

    More features of three-day event

    The annual Ranch Horse Program will be Aug. 6 in the Hildebrand Equine Complex. Registration is included within the full Beef Cattle Short Course registration, or individuals can attend just this event for $60.

    The Cattleman’s College will feature more than 20 concurrent sessions, with topics including animal health, nutrition, reproduction, breeding, genetics, selection, research, marketing and handling. The management sessions will cover business, forage, range and purebred cattle. Speakers will also address landowner issues and fence building.

    At least nine pesticide continuing education units and 14 veterinarian continuing education credits are available to attendees.

    Additionally, over 150 agriculture-related businesses and trade show exhibitors are expected to attend the course. Booth registration is still available.