Local Ag News

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For the second time in three years, the National FFA Organization has selected a California State University, Fresno student to be its top student leader.

Levy Randolph, freshman agriculture business student from Hemet, was elected the 2009-10 national FFA president during the organization’s convention last month in Indianapolis. Randolph will serve a one-year term as the principal student representative of more than 500,000 FFA members.

Levy follows two other Fresno State students in the presidency. Beau Williamson, elected national FFA president in 2006, attended Fresno State from 2004 to 2009 before transferring to Purdue. Jackie Mundt, senior agricultural communications student, was elected in 2004 before she enrolled at Fresno State, which she decided to do while visiting campus during her presidency. Mundt will graduate in December.

During the next year, Randolph is expected to travel more than 100,000 miles; meet with top leaders in business, government and education; visit approximately 40 states; and participate in a tour of Japan. His responsibilities will include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies of the organization and promoting agricultural understanding.

“FFA gives you more than an education,” said Randolph. “It gives you the tools you need to succeed in life, including confidence, communication, ethics and hands-on learning experience that is second to none.”

Agriculture related crimes have been a problem in many communities in the Central Valley. Accounts of metal, bin, chemical and equipment thefts have been reported to the Fresno county Sheriff's Department. The damage has hurt many farmers and has caused millions of dollars in property and equipment loss.

In February alone, 77 arrests were made by the Sheriff's Department. Since the inception of Valley Crime Stoppers in 1993, $1.37 million owrth of property losses were recovered. Although the Sheriff's Department is working their best to put an end to theses offenses, they need your help.

In effort to stop these agricultural-related crimes, the Valley Crime Stoppers have made available 4x4-foot signs promoting the reporting of any crimes that are seen. Rewards are available for up to $1,000, and all tips made are anonymous.

If you witness an agricultural crime, please call (559) 498-STOP. For more setails or if you would like to pick up a sign, contact FCFB at (559) 237-0263.

California State University, Fresno’s Ag One Foundation and College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAST) announced today a record-setting cash donation to the university to be used for agricultural research and facilities on campus.

The $29.4 million cash gift is on behalf of the Jordan family: Hanabul “Bud” Jordan; his wife Dee; and his brother Lowell. The Jordan family is from the East Bay, where Bud owned and operated a construction business headquartered in Hayward and where Lowell lived on the family ranch in Dublin, tending to the family’s cattle. Bud Jordan died April 29, 2002, at the age of 83 and Lowell Jordan passed away in July 2005 at the age of 81. Dee Jordan still lives in Hayward. It is the largest cash gift ever received by the university or in the California State University system.

The gift is the result of the sale of the Jordans’ Dublin ranch and is to be used by the CAST for facilities and research. Fresno State President John D. Welty will consult with the campus Academic Senate Executive Committee and then ask the California State University Board of Trustees to name the college the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at the trustees’ meeting May 12-13, 2009.

The Jordan family has been long-time supporters of CAST and Ag One, through a connection made with Bob Glim, professor emeritus of agricultural economics and a past adviser to the Ag One board. The Jordans established the Ag One – Lowell A. Jordan and Jordan Family Endowment, which supports six to seven deserving students each year with scholarships of $1,000.

University President Dr. John Welty said the latest Jordan gift will play a major role in further strengthening the agricultural programs at the university. “It’s a rare and wonderful opportunity to make a profound impact on the college. We know we have outstanding, world-class agriculture programs. This gift will definitely establish Fresno State as the university of choice for top agriculture students,” said Welty.

“It has been an honor to perpetuate the Jordan name through their support of scholarships over the years,” said Ag One Executive Director and CAST Development Director Alcidia Freitas-Gomes, who also serves on the FCFB Board of Directors. “The extraordinary generosity of this gift will transform the educational experience for our students and faculty and for industry we serve through research.”

CAST Dean Dr. Charles Boyer added, “We are blessed and honored to receive this generous gift from the Jordan family. This is a landmark moment for the college -- one that will change our college forever and have a positive impact on generations of students.”

In the coming months, Boyer and Gomes will work with faculty and university administration to determine precisely how the funds will be used in the college. A naming ceremony for the college will be held May 14.

Every year, Fresno County Farm Bureau contributes to young showmen who sell their animals through the Big Fresno Fair Junior Livestock Auctions.

Once again, FCFB will provide “top-off bids” to support those showmen who are children or grandchildren of FCFB members. Whether you show poultry, goats, sheep, swine or cattle, send FCFB a letter requesting assistance, describing your project and the name of your family’s Farm Bureau membership. The auction will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Letters should be addressed to: Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W Hedges Ave, Fresno, CA 93728. Please have all letters sent by Oct. 2. Good luck at the fair!

Signs of fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and apricots mean that summer is not far behind. The tasty fruit also heralds the arrival of the Fresno County Fruit Trail, which will have its official opening on Wednesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. at Simonian Farms, Clovis and Jensen avenues, Fresno. [More]

The 21st Annual Fresno County Blossom Trail is officially open! The self-guided tour through eastern Fresno County that showcases the spring time blooms of deciduous tree fruit, nuts and citrus crops held its official Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6 Cecelia Packing Corp. in Orange Cove. [More]

With Fresno County‘s diverse agriculture, some type of crop is harvested every month,...