California Ag Network

Tag: Ag one Foundation

  • 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.

  • Enology Building Named in Honor of Jordan College and Winery Supporter

    Donald Emil Gumz was a Valley native, who like many lifelong residents, had a love and passion for the region, including Fresno State. He came from a family of grape farmers but worked with numbers, in an accounting career that started with a local entrepreneur and developer, and ended with the Vie-Del Company, which produced brandy, wine and juice concentrates, where his love for wine and the winemaking process began. He also developed an interest in water education through his second cousin, Dr. David Zoldoske, who oversaw Fresno State’s Center for Irrigation Technology and the University’s water initiatives for 35 years.

    Gumz, who died in September 2018, left $4.66 million in his estate plans to support the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. His generosity will provide $3.7 million toward renovation of the research winery while the other $933,000 will be used to support the Center for Irrigation Technology.

    To recognize this transformational gift, the enology building at Fresno State, which includes the research winery, will be named the Donald E. Gumz Enology Building. The California State University Trustees approved on Tuesday, May 12, the naming of the building in his honor.

    “We are deeply grateful for Mr. Gumz’s generous and impactful gift, which aligns perfectly with his passion in winemaking while also broadening the University’s national reputation for research in the fields of viticulture and enology,” said Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro.

    About a decade ago, Gumz started attending yearly wine-tasting events hosted by the Ag One Foundation at the Fresno State Winery. There, he met many enology students over the years and enjoyed learning about wine. His first cousin and Zoldoske’s father, Robert, would often accompany him to the wine tastings. It was through Dr. David Zoldoske that Gumz learned about the importance of water for growing grapes.

    Gumz’s father grew grapes, and his maternal grandfather was Henry Engelman, who started farming grapes near Biola in the early 1900s. The family continues farming wine grapes today and produces local wines at Engelmann Cellars and LoMac Winery.

    Gumz had many interests, which led him to make annual gifts that would improve the student experience in Jordan College programs that included horticulture, the Center for Irrigation Technology and the Viticulture and Enology Research Center.

    “While Don never personally attended Fresno State, he knew superior educational opportunities would help build a strong community,” Zoldoske said. “His many significant gifts will leave a lasting legacy here in the San Joaquin Valley.”

    Gumz’s generosity will help the winery bridge the gap between laboratory-scale wine research and commercial winemaking, said Dr. Stephan Sommer, director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center.

    “By enhancing our abilities to make wine in small batches while still using modern technology, we enhance learning opportunities for our students and the potential for state-of-the-art research in the same space,” Sommer said. “This will build on Fresno State’s national reputation to provide students with an applied and hands-on learning experience. It will also intensify our collaboration and partnership with the grape and wine industries.”

    In addition to Fresno State, Gumz also supported a number of community organizations to help fight hunger, abuse, children’s health and the arts. Recipients include Valley Children’s Healthcare, Marjaree Mason Center, Poverello House, Fresno Art Museum, Ronald McDonald House and Hinds Hospice.

  • Ken Ramos Elected Ag One Foundation President

    Ken Ramos, Wells Fargo’s president for Central California business banking, began his one-year term on July 1 as the new president of the Ag One Foundation at Fresno State.

    Ramos, of Fresno, previously served as vice president for Ag One — a development organization for the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State — and has also served as treasurer and secretary on its board of directors.

    Originally from Easton, he graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. He joined Wells Fargo as a business banking manager in 2004 and was promoted to regional area manager in 2007 and his current position in 2010. He also serves on the board for the foundation of Valley Children’s Hospital of Central California and the Downtown Fresno Partnership.

    “It is a special pleasure to be chosen as the president for Ag One in its 40th year of serving Fresno State’s agricultural programs,” Ramos said. “It will be an exciting year with lots of events and opportunities for alumni, industry supporters and friends from across the Central Valley to continue to support and make a huge difference in our students’ lives.”

    Ramos replaced Don Parreira, co-owner of Ultra Gro Plant Food in Madera, who ended his one-year term as president on June 30.

    Bill Purewal, owner of PureFresh Sales produce marketing, was elected vice president. The Selma native graduated from Fresno State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business.

    Annie Stuhr was elected treasurer. She is a vice president, agribusiness relationship officer and unit supervisor for Central Valley Community Bank. Stuhr graduated from Fresno State in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business.

    Jim Razor joined the executive committee as secretary. He serves as a district manager of the J.G. Boswell Company and oversees the production of Pima cotton, processing tomatoes and safflower. He earned a plant science degree from Fresno State in 1990 and joined the company as an agronomist the same year.

    Other new members on the 23-person board include Tyler Blagg, Peterson and Company Agricultural Real Estate (Fresno State 2007); Ron Fanucchi, Ron Fanucchi Farming Company (Fresno State 1989); Roger Isom, California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association and Western Agricultural Processors Association (Fresno State 1988); Demetrio Papagni, Papagni Winery and Packing House (Fresno State 1982); and Lorna Roush, Schultz Ranch (Fresno State 1998).

    A complete list of board members is available at www.fresnostate.edu/jcast/agonefoundation/board-of-directors.html.

    Since 1979, the Ag One Foundation has endowed more than $19.5 million in 120 funds to benefit, promote and support the Jordan College. About 4,400 deserving students and programs have received $6.2 million in scholarships and grants. Jordan College academic programs and students will receive about $700,000 in support in the 2018-19 academic year.

    For more information on the Ag One Foundation, upcoming events or to become a member, visit www.agonefoundation.org or call 559.278.4266.