Ag students earn statewide honors

Twenty students from Fresno State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology took the top prize in the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Annual Collegiate Discussion Meet.

The event last week in Anaheim, evaluated California college students enrolled in agriculture programs on their ability to express ideas and cooperate with others while discussing such hot topics as:

How can American agriculture increase opportunities for new uses of traditional agricultural products?
Due to the partisan nature of politics, how do we influence policy that affects agriculture?
What are the effects of Animal ID on U.S. agriculture?
How do current land prices and profitability affect production agriculture?

Fresno State had two finalists: first runner-up was Jackie Mundt and second runner-up Joel Saldana Jr.

Mundt was the student coordinator of the Fresno State group, whose advisers are Dr. Steve Rocca, assistant professor of animal sciences and agricultural education, and Molly Fagundes, assistant director of development for the Craig School of Business.

Fresno State contestants are Kristin Avinelis, Melody McCabe, Chris McKenna,; Mundt, Cole Rojewski, Saldana and Corey Uyeda of Fresno County; Tyler Blagg, Nevada County; Melissa Brinlee and John Migliazzo, Merced County; Dustin Bush, San Benito County; Jessica Gomez, Yolo County; Brian Guess, Orange County; Jessica Lawrence, Tulare County; Natalie Oliva, San Bernadino County; Amanda Pombo, San Joaquin; Justin Sandlin, Madera County; Krystle Ward, El Dorado County; Jake Wenger, Stanislaus County; and Brianna Wilkenson, Contra Costa County.