Ag Circle Summer/Fall 2015

agcircle |

cal poly, san luis obispo summer/fall 2015

inside

PROTECTING THE FRONTLINE OF AGRICULTURE Cal Poly students prepare to watch over California agriculture as pest control advisors

AG CIRCLE PHOTO CONTEST The top photos from agricultural students over the past year

THE POWER OF THE HASHTAG How social media is taking root in the agriculture industry

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Welcome to the Summer/Fall 2015 issue of Ag Circle!

In this issue, we focus on opportunities

CONTRIBUTORS

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for students at Cal Poly. Some of these opportunities include the Real Food Collaborative, the Pest Control Advisor credential program, the Center for Sustainability, research in the Animal Science Department, and a trip to Shanghai.

Our annual photo contest is also in the issue, with our winning photo on the cover. This year’s winning photo

was taken by student Diana Melero. She captured the image of her brother, Pete Melero, transplanting vegetables by Plantel Nurseries. We hope you enjoy reading this issue!

Harrison, Kenna, Katie & Jordan

Top row, left to right: Hannah Beeler, Meridith Bibbo, Kaity Carpenter, Sarah Frushour and Rylin Lindahl Bottom row, left to right: Jeanine Madson, Diane Meyer, Caitlin Paulus, Trevor Surrock and Marianna Zavala

CONTENTS 04

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agcircle Volume 33, Issue 3, Summer/Fall 2015 Published three times a year by the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication California Polytechnic State University Brock Center for Agricultural Communication 1 Grand Avenue San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Cal Poly students are providing local and organic food options on campus

PROTECTING THE FRONTLINE OF AGRICULTURE

Cal Poly students prepare to watch over California agriculture as pest control advisors

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WORLD AG EXPO

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10

History of the world’s largest agricultural exposition

ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT RESEARCH

A look at a variety of learning laboratories

POLY ROYAL RODEO

805.756.6138 brockctr@calpoly.edu Building 10, Room 234

Editor-in-Chief Jordan Dunn

Decades of champions

Faculty Advisor Megan Silcott

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CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY

16

AG CIRCLE PHOTO CONTEST

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AGRICULTURE ABROAD

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LOCAL FAUNA

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FROM EXOTIC TO EVERYDAY

Associate Editors Katie Roberti Harrison Reilly Kenna Lewis Writers Hannah Beeler, Meridith Bibbo, Kaity Carpenter, Sarah Frushour, Kenna Lewis, Rylin Lindahl, Jeanine Madson, Diane Meyer, Caitlyn Paulus, Harrison Reilly, Katie Roberti, Trevor Surrock, Marianna Zavala.

Photographers Cal Poly Animal Science Department, Hannah Beeler, Cal Poly Center for Sustainability, Mady Braught, Kaity Carpenter, Emily Dale, Lesley Deutsch, Jordan Dunn, Lee Folino, Quincy Freeman, Sarah Frushour, David Headrick, Jeanine Madson, Caitlyn Paulus, Harrison Reilly, Savannah Sperry, Alison Wolff, World Ag Expo.

Graphic Designers Jordan Dunn, Katie Roberti, Harrison Reilly Submissions to agcircle are welcome.

Permission to Reproduce All material in this issue may be reproduced with the expressed written permission of the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication.

The contents of agcircle are generated by students and do not reflect the opinions of California Polytechnic State University, its administration or faculty.

This issue of agcircle was printed by PRP Companies.

CAMPUS BUZZ

A FRESH BITE

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Celebrating the 75th Annual Poly Royal Rodeo

FFA STATE FINALS

The Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium teaches students the importance of sustainable agriculture

The top photos from agricultural students

Cal Poly students learn international relations in China

Floriculture on the Central Coast

How Frieda’s Specialty Produce is changing the way we eat

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THE ART OF COWBOY DRESSAGE

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TURQUOISE DIARIES: LADIES OF THE WEST

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THE POWER OF THE HASHTAG

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RUFFLING FEATHERS ACROSS THE STATE

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INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SOILS

LOCAL

I N T H E I N D U S T RY

A new style of dressage is gaining popularity

A feature about some of the women driving Western fashion

How social media is taking root in the agriculture industry

An update on California’s Proposition 2

2015 was declared the International Year of Soils to celebrate Earth’s most vital resource agcircle | 3

A Fresh Bite Cal Poly students are providing local and organic food on campus

STORY BY MERIDITH BIBBO PHOTOS BY SAVANNAH SPERRY 4 | Summer/Fall 2015

CAMPUS BUZZ

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rom the rolling green peaks of surrounding summits, to the grass-stained green jerseys of athletes, to the deep rooted “go-green” sentiment championed by students and faculty alike, it seems only natural Cal Poly students have the option to eat green as well.

The Real Food Collaborative Club was formed by a handful of passionate students after attending the 2010 Strengthening the Roots convergence in Santa Cruz. It began at Cal Poly as a chapter of the greater Real Food Challenge, a national initiative aiming to shift $1 billion of existing university food budgets toward the use of local, fair ecologically sound food producers. According to third-year environmental management and protection major Jesse Gibson, the club tried to go through Campus Dining to bring the “real food” to students. However, after seeing their lack of interest, he decided to take matters into the club’s hands.

“I thought it would be more effective if we, the students, made the food we were demanding on campus, with ingredients from Cal Poly,” Gibson said. So he sought out other students interested in starting a student-led food cooperative on campus, and the Real Food Cooperative was born. Will Medford, Eli Grinberg and Cami Freeman joined with Gibson as co-founders, and the team became determined to bring a different option — food that is local, organic, fairly traded, ecologically sound — to campus.

From building their own stand with a hammer and nails to sourcing their fresh produce from local farmers, the students of the Real Food Cooperative (not to be confused with its parent club, the Real Food Collaborative) grew their program from the ground up, finding not only local ingredients, but also local volunteers. With a food science and nutrition class standardizing recipes for scale-up, a graphic

communication senior project class working on logos and fliers, and construction management students helping to hammer together a booth, the Real Food Cooperative is a Learn

by Doing project from beginning to end. The team set out to educate the campus community about eating locally and seasonally, and in doing so they gained experience in running a small business.

So far, the team has been successful. With its booth on Dexter Lawn selling out every week, the Real Food Cooperative has served food to 1,000 students and faculty members at Cal Poly, according to their analytics. But as Gibson shared, the team determines success not in terms of dollars and cents, but in terms of sustainability and how many ingredients they are able to source directly from San Luis Obispo County. They already source all of

their meats from Cal Poly and some produce from Cal Poly’s Organic Farm.

Yet when lunchtime hits, many say the origin of the food pales in comparison to the ultimate determinant of their food purchases: flavor. With a team of passionate foodies and the help of Chef Chris Sayegh, the cooperative held menu tastings and developed recipes students actually chose.

“The food is fresh, and the recipes are creative,” said Julia Fleming, food science sophomore, who is quite pleased to see some healthy food options on campus. “My two favorite dishes are the Poly Pesto Quinoa and the California Bowlrito, made with potatoes, corn, bell pepper, spinach, onions, chipotle sauce and guacamole.”

Other popular choices include sweet potato mac-n-cheese, my big-fat Greek wrap with falafel or lamb, Bangkok soba noodle bowl, and strawberry muffins.

With delicious recipes, driven volunteers, and a powerful mission, a small weekly booth is not enough for these culinary crusaders.

Next year, Gibson and the team hopes to start fundraising for a food truck so they can open at multiple locations, such as Thursday night Farmers Market, and make their logistics more efficient. Other plans include partnering with local farms by having them grow ingredients specifically for the cooperative and guaranteeing the farmers produce will be purchased. In this way, the cooperative hope to support San Luis Obispo agriculture.

Real students, real vision, and real food, at a campus as forward-thinking as Cal Poly. A movement like this is bound to see real success. agcircle | 5

STORY BY KATIE ROBERTI PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DAVID HEADRICK & MADY BRAUGHT

Protecting the Frontline of Agriculture Cal Poly students prepare to watch over California agriculture as pest control advisers

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very year, California agriculture feeds millions of people around the world. Becoming the nation’s top agricultural state and producing more than 400 different agricultural commodities, didn’t result from just one good idea. California’s agricultural production rose to the top and has remained successful thanks to a multitude of well thought-out decisions.

Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) working to protect and improve crops across the state are certainly contributing to the state’s success, and Cal Poly’s Horticulture & Crop 6 | Summer/Fall 2015

Science Department plays a huge role in educating those advisers.

PCAs are licensed professional consultants for agriculture and horticulture producers that are unique to California.

Across the nation, a similar program exists as Certified Crop Advisers, or CCA. PCAs are vital to California’s thriving agriculture industry. A PCA license can be obtained through three different certification paths. First, candidates must become eligible to take the required exam.

Cal Poly offers courses to prepare for the

exam, which consists of laws, regulations and basic principles, including integrated pest management. In addition to passing this exam, individuals must pass at least one of seven pest control categories with a grade of 70 percent or higher. The categories are insects, mites and other invertebrates; plant pathogens; nematodes; vertebrate pests; weed control; defoliation; and plant growth regulators.

Professor David Headrick teaches in the Horticulture & Crop Science Department and helps students prepare for the exam.

CAMPUS BUZZ

“Cal Poly is one of the only universities in California where you can get a full range of classes that are necessary to take the exam and become an effective PCA,” Headrick said. Classes such as entomology, weed ecology and plant pathology help students prepare.

“At Cal Poly we educate students in agriculture and about the different kinds of pests there are; we tell them how to identify the pest and teach them different management approaches, so when they graduate, they can take the state exam and pass in those categories,” Headrick said.

Once someone has passed a category, they are licensed to write recommendations for that category. The three most common categories are also required classes at Cal Poly: insects and mites, weeds and diseases. The majority of the other categories are also taught at Cal Poly.

“We use a diagnostic, problem-solving and concept-based approach in our classes,” Headrick said. “Students come away with a solid, thorough understanding of the agriculture system.”

Cal Poly’s agricultural and environmental plant sciences’ (AEPS) curriculum is strategically developed to prepare students

to take the classes necessary to pass the exam and the majority of the pest control categories for the license. AEPS majors are not the only students benefiting from this unique opportunity. Many agricultural systems management, agribusiness and agricultural science students are also taking the classes to help them earn PCA licenses after graduation.

“Students from Cal Poly are getting PCA-ready,” Headrick said. “Once they have graduated, they are PCA-ready. That means they have all of their classes, all the requirements -- they are ready to go, and they are using that as a negotiating tool with employers.”

Shelby Zumwalt, an agricultural science major with a crop and soil science concentration and a crop science minor, sees the value in taking the steps to receive the license. So far, Zumwalt has enjoyed the courses she has taken in preparation for the exam, such as the Integrated Pest Management class.

“It’s really easy to get your license when you’re taking specially developed classes that prepare you for the exam,” Zumwalt said. “The classes give you real-life experience.”

In addition to the preparation, Zumwalt said she appreciates getting some insight into what she may be doing in the future.

“The classes help me understand what I would potentially be doing. They get students excited about what they will actually be experiencing in the industry.”

Agriculture is a complicated and diverse industry and because of this, PCAs will continue to be important in California agriculture. With so many issues to contend with, PCAs are important in helping growers look after their crops and make appropriate recommendations.

“Growers have a lot on their plate with water and labor issues,” Headrick said.

“The last thing they want is to worry about regulations and what’s going on with their pests. PCAs give growers that comfort.”

Taking crops from farm to table is an evolving process. Many factors have changed since the first PCAs started writing recommendations, and many issues may continue to change as years go by.

But the need for these educated advisers on the front lines, making appropriate recommendations, will always exist to keep agriculture as California’s most vital industry. agcircle | 7

History of the world’s largest agricultural exposition

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he World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif. has been connecting buyers and sellers of agricultural products and equipment for the last 48 years. Its humble early attendance of 28,000 people has multiplied into 100,000 as individuals realized the benefits of the show.

“The World Ag Expo is a good way to let attendees come together and see multiple brands of equipment to help them make informed purchasing decisions,” said Jerry Sinift, CEO of International Agri-Center. “Attendees can do online research today, but that will never be quite the same as seeing the equipment and speaking to an experienced exhibitor.”

In the 1960s, a group of men went to a tree show in Colusa, Calif. It was there they decided to start a row crop show: Tulare’s Field and Row Crop Equipment Show, which started at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The show grew quickly, prompting a name change to reflect that growth. It become the California Farm Equipment Show.

In the next few years, foreign manufacturers started to exhibit at the show, yielding yet another name change: the California Farm Equipment Show and International Exposition. The increase in international visitors helped the U.S. Department of Commerce see a new opportunity. “The Department of Commerce designated and publicized the show throughout the world as an official affiliate of the Foreign Buyer Program,” Sinift said.

The expanding show experienced some growing pains. The fairgrounds soon became too small, so farmland was bought from the Faria family to house the show. The show di-

rectors created the nonprofit International Agri-Center Inc. to run the World Ag Expo along with other events.

In 1982, the show was held at the new location, the first facility constructed in the Western U.S. to house an agricultural trade show.

In 2001, the current name of the event, World Ag Expo, was adopted.

The International Agri-Center has continued to make improvements to the grounds, such as adding the Farm Credit Dairy Center and Building C.

“Ag tours are the best way for us to show the bounty of the valley.”

JERRY SINIFT

International Agri-center CEO

With only about 20 people employed by the International Agri-Center, it has become a community tradition to volunteer at World Ag Expo. Some 1,200 volunteers work on a variety of committees, including facilities, ticket takers and international translators.

Continuing a tradition that began the first year, one volunteer is chosen annually to be the event chairman or chairwoman, thus becoming the “face” of the World Ag Expo and working closely with the media.

STORY BY RYLIN LINDAHL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY WORLD AG EXPO

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Attendees come from across the U.S. and from more than 70 countries. California, as the world’s leader in agriculture, uses the World Ag Expo as an opportunity to showcase the state’s agriculture industry.

“Ag Tours are the best way for us to show the bounty of the valley,” Sinift said. “From vineyards to orchards to small-town communities with big hearts and bigger food production, visitors can get a taste of what agriculture means in California. The nation depends on us, and we’re proud to grow and produce food safely and efficiently!”

Recently World Ag Expo began highlighting outstanding, innovative products in an exclusive area called the Top 10 New Products. These new products typically generate more traffic to their booths, resulting in increased sales.

Current conditions tend to influence what the exhibitors and the attendees focus on.

California’s drought brought an increased interest in the newest advancements in irrigation technology.

World Ag Expo is looking to the future of agriculture by reaching out to potential leaders. For the first time, local high school students were given tours at the 2015 show.

The Hilvers’ Career and Education Center, located on the grounds, provides resources to high school and college students. Several universities and AgCareers.com have booths to encourage students to pursue careers in agriculture.

The World Ag Expo continues to grow and improve. “We want to be the biggest, yes, but we also want to be the best,” Sinift said.

CAMPUS BUZZ

Animal Science Department Research

STORY BY DIANE MEYER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

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al Poly’s animal science program provides leading research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students. These hands-on projects prepare students for careers in laboratory research and develop their leadership and management skills.

Coursework Undergraduate students in ASCI 407: Assisted Reproduction Technologies of Gametes and Embryos Laboratory have the opportunity to conduct independent research projects that develop their knowledge of embryology and assisted reproduction.

“We are fortunate at Cal Poly to be one of the only undergraduate programs in the nation that offers hands-on embryology labs,” said Kez Emeny-Smith, senior animal science student. “This is a very special program that is well known throughout the field of embryology. Having this exposure and practice has put me at an advantage as an emerging professional.”

Emeny-Smith and her lab partner, Taylor Reynolds, completed an independent research project investigating the effect of vitamin K and coenzyme Q on mouse embryo development in an in vitro setting. They were responsible for forming an experimental plan, administering treatments, retrieving gametes, performing in vitro fertilization, analyzing embryo development, and presenting their findings.

Before taking the class, students are required to take ASCI 406: Applied Embryology and Assisted Reproduction, in which they learn about the field of embryology. They gain an understanding of oocyte development, fertilization, culturing, cryopreservation and micromanipulation of gametes and embryos, and can put the knowledge into practice.

“This research project was one of the main factors that shaped my ambitions to become an embryologist,” Emeny-Smith said.

“I enjoyed being given a project to work on throughout the quarter to develop my skills in a lab-based setting.”

Senior Projects Independent research is one way that ani-

mal science undergraduates can fulfill their senior project requirements. Cara House, senior animal science student, is studying the effects of harp music on mice. House played harp music to a group of mice for a few hours each day for the first two weeks of their lives. After weaning them, House is now testing their exploratory behaviors — which are indicators of happiness — at different age increments and comparing those behaviors to mice that were not exposed to harp music.

“This project is to see if music can imprint a positive effect and if it is long-lasting,” House said. “Music is kind of controversial in animal care, so if this study shows positive results, perhaps it can be carried on in not only a laboratory setting, but in other animal care settings.”

Prior to this study, House was not aware of the amount of work that went into planning a research project.

“The preliminary efforts that are put into research are much more intensive than I had first assumed,” House said. “There’s the literature research, compiling it all to get approval, and preparing multiple documents — steps you have to go through that I hadn’t conceived before doing this project. The actual animal care is the fun part.”

Despite the long hours and hard work, House is still passionate about pursing research later in her career.

“I’m glad that I had the opportunity to take advantage of the resources that were available to me,” House said. “I really enjoy research, so I think I will pursue research as a career. This experience has really opened my eyes to what I’m truly getting myself into.”

Graduate Projects Graduate research in the Animal Science Department is established in a way that provides students with leadership skills and experience in industry-level research. Bree Benson, firstyear graduate student, and Emily Schwartz, a second-year graduate student, are both conducting nutrition research projects under the supervision of animal science Professor Mark Edwards.

“We’re deeply involved with the entire process,” Benson said. “We both do all the

prep work, manage the undergrad students who are helping us with the project, and we’re in charge of schedules and running the analyses.”

“I really enjoy getting to work with the horses and learning how to manage a project of this size,” Schwartz said. “I’ve never had to manage seven horses and 25 students before, so learning to balance lab work with other aspects of management is really useful.”

Schwartz is researching the digestibility of two different pelleted diets in horses, and is using the horse as a model animal for other hindgut fermenters, such as zebras and rhinos.

“The end goal of my research is to have it applied to captive animals to help provide better care and a deeper understanding of how these diets are digested in ruminant animals versus hindgut fermenter animals,” Schwartz said.

Benson is researching how fiber particle length affects digestion in leopard tortoises.

Most herbivorous reptiles do not chew their food, so whatever they ingest is swallowed whole. She is studying a concept called physically affected fiber, which is fiber that acts as a filler in the gastrointestinal tract and is not digested.

“We’re trying to find a particle size that isn’t digested, but will still aid in digestion of other fiber particles,” Benson said. “Physically affected fiber is very important in maintaining gastrointestinal health. Hopefully my research will lead to additional research that will help improve how and what leopard tortoises are fed for better health and longevity in captivity.”

With such a wide variety of animals and laboratory equipment, Cal Poly’s Animal Science Department truly prepares all levels of students for industry level research careers.

“Students have a lot of opportunities due to the fact that Cal Poly has so many animal facilities,” House said. “Whatever you want to do, you can do. You just have to come up with a new and innovative experiment that no one has done before and you can almost guarantee — as long as it’s humane — that we’ll have the opportunities for you to do that here.” agcircle | 9

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CAMPUS BUZZ

Celebrating the 75th annual

POLY ROYAL RODEO

T

he national anthem played, the cameras flashed, and the crowd went wild.

This year’s Poly Royal Rodeo did not disappoint, drawing one of the largest crowds in history and walking away with the title of West Coast Region’s Rodeo of the Year. With a history almost as old as the sport of rodeo itself, Cal Poly is home to one of the most prestigious college rodeo programs in the nation and celebrated its 75th anniversary this past April.

Seventy five years ago, Cotton Rosser, one of the oldest and most well-known names in all of rodeo, along with some of his college friends, started the legacy that is Poly Royal.

Since then, the rodeo has been a staple of Cal Poly’s heritage and history for decades. Rodeo coach and Cal Poly alumnus Ben Londo, described it as “just a couple guys that loved rodeo and wanted to challenge each other at the collegiate level.” It has been a widely attended event ever since. With a history that alumni, supporters, and current students alike are proud of, the 75th Annual Poly Royal Rodeo showcased just that.

The rodeo started with a bang on Thursday, April 18, with the roughstock performance and alumni roping. Friday morning began with the slack preliminary round and the first performance at 6 p.m. Saturday yielded another slack performance in the morning, then the final performance at 5 p.m. following the tractor pull. The Cal Poly men’s team walked away with a victory, and Cal Poly’s Taylor Gregg won the All-Around saddle and buckle. Poly Royal hosted the West Coast Region, which included Cal Poly, Fresno State, Lassen College, Cuesta College, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, West Hills College, and Feather River College.

This year’s rodeo showcased many specialty acts, including the renowned rodeo clown, JJ Harrison, who will be returning for next year’s rodeo. He said “it was the best rodeo [he’s] ever been a part of.” He, along with Musty the Mustang and announcer, Doc Boene, provided some quality entertainment for all in attendance. Coach Londo and countless Cal Poly alumni said the show was the best they had seen in 30 years.

With a team of more than 40 contestants, the

Cal Poly Rodeo Program has grown substan- nities to open doors for students going into tially in numbers as well as recognition from the rodeo industry. the university. The team has won more nationWho knew a tiny group of college friends al championships than any other college rodeo who shared a passion for rodeo many years program in the nation. This past year rodeo ago, could create a program that has stood the member, Taylor Santos-Karney added another test of time and remains a positive part of the national title, making Cal Poly Rodeo’s nation- community today? The Cal Poly Rodeo Team al champion total 45. is riding on tradition and roping a vision. The With a rigorous practice schedule starting vision is to develop an even better rodeo proat 6 a.m. every morning, it is no wonder the gram and to make the tradition of Poly Royal members of the team are successful. Londo is Rodeo one that will be remembered for many proud of his student-athletes who are able to more years to come. balance both school and rodeo involvement.

“It’s amazing how much talent we continue to get through this program being as academically demanding as the college is,” Londo said.

He adds with a laugh, “I think school is a lot harder now than it was when I went here. It’s a lot tougher now and they keep up.” These student-athletes have also boosted community involvement by participating in the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market, informing the public about the sport of rodeo, and giving roping demonstrations.

STORY/PHOTOS BY JEANINE MADSON Members of the team have also put on assemblies at local elementary schools.

Hoping to further engage Cal Poly students, Coach Londo hopes to incorporate more instructional activity related to the sport of rodeo. Londo instructs the Theory and Practice of Rodeo class (AG 243) and is able to reach out to students on the basic principles of rodeo and its history. Students are given instruction on how to rope, ride steers, and even learn the techniques of bull-riding. “It’s a great start to get a feel for the sport, get your feet wet, and have some fun,” Londo stated. He plans to add further curriculum in the coming years that touches on rodeo production, creating even more opportuagcircle | 11

California FFA State Finals

at Cal Poly

STORY BY EMILY DALE PHOTOS BY BROCK CENTER

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ach year on the first weekend in May, more than 1,800 Future Farmers of America (FFA) members swarm San Luis Obispo, eager to competed at the California FFA State Finals hosted at Cal Poly. FFA members from across the state compete for their respective titles and the chance to represent California at the national competition in Louisville, Ky. Danielle Mueller, a member of the Red Bluff FFA, was thrilled to compete. Mueller and her team compete in the Livestock Judging contest, in which competitors judge a series of classes of livestock — including cattle, pigs and lambs — and rank the animals from highest to lowest quality. Students then give a set of reasons validating why they placed the animals the way they did.

Mueller’s interest in livestock judging stems 12 | Summer/Fall 2015

from her passion of beef cattle, her strongest area in the contest. She believes the most challenging part of the contest is presenting the reasons and keeping them organized in her head. As Mueller and her team approach each competition, their goal is simple: beat their team’s highest score — a difficult goal when competing in California’s prestigious state finals. “Cal Poly has a level of competitiveness that other contests don’t have, which pushes the competitors to do their best,” Mueller said.

FFA members like Mueller compete in state finals and develop a passion for their respective contest. Many of the competitors become Cal Poly students and carry the passion with them as they assist with running the state finals competition.

Former agricultural mechanics competitor and third year Cal Poly student Alex Marsh

was eager to help. As a 2012 competitor, Marsh won the Agricultural Mechanics contest, which consists of such categories as tool identification, arc welding, plumbing, problem solving, electrical, surveying, woodworking, cold metal and oxy fuel welding.

For Marsh, becoming a bioresource & agricultural engineering (BRAE) major was a natural progression of his interests and the skills he learned in the Agricultural Mechanics contest. “The skills I learned are the same skills I talked about in a job interview last week,” Marsh said. He is continuing a BRAE Department tradition by helping run the Agricultural Mechanics contest.

He is now looking into careers in equipment manufacturing and said the skills he learned as an FFA member have continuously come in handy.

CAMPUS BUZZ

Marsh is part of the hundreds of Cal Poly students contributing to the success of state finals each year. However, behind the scenes, Cal Poly professors play a massive part in organizing the contests.

Professor Robert Flores, a member of the Agricultural Education & Communication (AGED) Department faculty for 32 years, competed as a FFA member in Dairy Cattle Judging in 1972.

Flores began helping with the tabulations of state finals as a Cal Poly student. He continued the tradition when he became the advisor for tabulations in 1984.

Along with many members of the AGED Department, Flores plays an instrumental role in the success of state finals. Running tabulations for the many contests is a huge task requiring training, organization and efficiency. Over the past 31 years, Flores has donated an immense amount of time to give the FFA competitors accurate, timely results.

In the past, the tabulations committee had hundreds of students working and scoring the contests by hand, with the added responsibility of getting accurate results by 5 p.m. Now the scoring is done completely electronically and is far more accurate. The results can now be tabulated with

approximately five percent of the students previously needed. “Cal Poly has a long history of accuracy,” Flores said. That must be why the state finals have been held at Cal Poly for more than 80 years.

While running tabulations, it must be ensured all rules are followed, results are calculated correctly, and that there are no ties, a huge responsibility for Flores and his team.

Professor Mark Zohns has also graciously been part of state finals at Cal Poly since he first be-

gan teaching in 1987. He became advisor to the Agricultural Mechanics contest in 1988. Zohns has gained an immense amount of respect for the competitors and their coaches for the countless hours of preparation they put into the contest.

Zohns also works countless hours to ensure the Agricultural Mechanics contest is “state finals worthy.” Gathering materials, finding judges, and organizing the department’s resources take a substantial amount

of time.

The expectations for state finals are high. Cal Poly continues to promote career success among high school students in FFA. Over the course of nearly 80 years, the participation of the Cal Poly faculty and dedicated students and the accurate results are the reasons the university is the final destination for thousands of FFA competitors.

“Cal Poly is simply the best,” Zohns said.

agcircle | 13

Center for Sustainability I n early May, Cal Poly’s Center for Sustainability hosted its first Resilient Food Systems Conference. The two-day conference featured leaders from California’s food and agriculture sectors discussing the challenges facing California’s agriculture industry and the importance of community and local food systems. The conference was one of the Center for Sustainability’s most successful events to date, partially due to keynote speaker Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

For Center Director Hunter Francis, both the conference and the appearance of powerhouse speakers are a testament to the hard work put into the Center for Sustainability by faculty and students since its creation more than a decade ago.

The Center started as a simple vision by Francis. He came to Cal Poly to pursue his

master’s degree in agriculture with a specialization in soil science and quickly became involved in environmental sciences. The idea of a center formed through his graduate work in soil science and his interest in sustainability. In fall 2000, the Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium (SARC) was founded.

SARC began as a program, with Francis developing curricula and organizing conferences and events focused on sustainable agriculture. Then in 2008, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) brought together faculty and staff to help identify top priorities for the college for the next decade. Sustainability became one of the eight vital aspects of the vision. Widespread support for the creation of a center dedicated to preparing leaders in sustainability through education, research and outreach helped guide its development.

STORY BY MARIANNA ZAVALA PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY

14 | Summer/Fall 2015

Through this collaboration, the Center of Sustainability was officially recognized as an auxiliary unit of CAFES in February of 2010.

Looking back, Francis appreciates how the center developed, but admits it did not come without challenges.

“For me, starting at the ground level with the creation of SARC as my master’s project and moving into a director’s position, one of the biggest learning curves has been understanding and becoming sufficient at fundraising and grant writing,” Francis said. “The agricultural industry is extremely diverse, and understanding the challenges and issues the industry has around sustainability can be very complex.”

The Center for Sustainability expanded to include a vast array of opportunities involving sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Through the Center, Cal Poly students and members of the San Luis Obispo commu-

CAMPUS BUZZ

nity have access to everything from Slocavore Workshops (extended education events allowing individuals to experience

different agricultural processes and products) to a sustainable agriculture guest lecture series.

The Center has also played a crucial role in the development and support of Cal Poly’s sustainable agriculture minor. Another notable aspect of the Center is its Sustainable Steward Intern Program.

In its fourth year of operation, the program of eight student interns work eight to ten hours a week on sustainability-based projects. They help develop the projects with the overarching goal of familiarizing themselves with innovative strategies for achieving sustainability in the agri-food sector. Some recent

intern projects include developing a holistic rangeland management course, creating and distributing a San Luis Obispo Food Shed Guide, and re-emerging the Empower Poly Coalition, a student-run organization that acts as a hub for all sustainability-based clubs on campus.

For Kate Madrid-Grossmith, senior environmental sciences major and the Center for Sustainability’s intern coordinator, the growth of the intern program has been nothing short of incredible. A former intern herself, Grossmith’s project focused on compost at Cal Poly.

“Through my work with the Center, I was provided the op-

portunity to experience what sustainability is in many of its different capacities, all with a very hands-on approach. As a compost intern, I was responsible for understanding my own material and presenting it at events and seminars. I was also put in charge of hundreds of volunteers at times,” Grossmith said.

“Everything relates back to the environment and sustainability; with this program and the Center for Sustainability, you can find your own solutions and make your own mistakes. You will have guidance, and the opportunity to learn and grow is vast.”

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agcircle PHOTO CONTEST

16 | Summer/Fall 2015

Photo By Diana Melero

PHOTO CONTEST

Alden Caldwell

Jeanine Madson

Mady Braught

agcircle | 17

Mieko Temple

Mackenzie Gomes Mel Carter

18 | Summer/Fall 2015

PHOTO CONTEST

Mackenzie Gomes

Mady Braught

Mieko Temple

agcircle | 19

STORY/PHOTOS BY HANNAH BEELER

Agriculture Abroad Cal Poly students learn international relations in China

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f all the opportunities Cal Poly offers students, one of the most fascinating is the weeklong trip to Shanghai, China.

This past spring break, 41 students enrolled in BUS 304: Establishing International Supply Chains, journeyed 15 hours by plane to learn about business practices, immerse themselves in a new culture, and try a few local delicacies.

“When do we get to go back?” asked Ross Pfeifer, a second year business student. “China wasn’t at all what I expected, but I enjoyed learning so much about their culture that I would definitely go back.”

The class consists of five meetings throughout winter quarter, tours of companies in the California produce industry, and the spring break trip to Shanghai. During class meetings, students learn about each component

20 | Summer/Fall 2015

of a typical supply chain. They get a glimpse of the detailed process starting at the farm and ending at people’s dining tables throughout the U.S. and across the Pacific.

Before leaving for Shanghai, students had the chance to visit Mission Avocado in Oxnard, Calif., and Apio Inc. in Guadalupe, Calif., where they learned more about the processing aspects of the produce industry.

With farms in California, Mexico and South America, Mission Avocado is a leading industry brand providing quality avocados around the world.

Apio Inc. is a leader in the fresh-cut vegetable industry. Apio processes a variety of fresh-cut vegetables, including carrots, cherry tomatoes and sweet kale.

“Most of the students in BUS 304 have no experience in agriculture,” said instructor Tom Frawley. “I be-

lieve that it changes their view of what agriculture really is, which is a dynamic, all-inclusive industry with endless opportunities. These opportunities do not end just for those in the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences. Our tours showed the students that agriculture needs engineers and experts in packaging technology, information technology and computer science.”

In China, students experienced the usual culture shock and jet lag, but they were busy with industry tours, briefings at the U.S. Consulate, and of course, touring the beautiful city of Shanghai. On the first day, students walked along the Bund, a large waterfront area in the city, to see the famous Shanghai skyline. After seeing modern-day Shanghai, the students visited a traditional garden dating back to 1577 and walked the windy

CAMPUS BUZZ

paths of a bazaar (marketplace) bustling with life and culture.

The next day, students met with several employees of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, including Linston Terry, former Deputy General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While in that position, Terry helped foster the connection between U.S. producers and the Chinese market. He told students about the Chinese people’s desire for American-made products, including dairy, wine and others.

“It was insightful to see the passion that Linston has for improving the quality of food that China receives,” said Maddie Stanley, third year agribusiness student. “I really enjoyed listening to their ideas about how there is room for U.S. products in China, and I’m glad to see that consumption of U.S. products is increasing.”

California consumers expect to go to

the grocery store and find a wide array of produce; however, in China, where a large portion of the produce is imported, fresh produce is seen as a luxury.

“It shows just how far our food can travel.”

ROSS PFEIFER

Second-Year Business Student

While abroad,the students went to a local wholesale market and saw an array of fruits from all over the world, including some from the Central Coast.

“The trip was really about getting to see the supply chain process in action,” said

business student Pfeifer. “We started out with going to companies in California; then once in China, we actually got to see avocados with the Mission Avocado label. It shows just how far our food can travel.”

Along with the trips to the consulate and market, the students also toured technology and finance companies, such as Benchmark Electronics, KPMG, Preferred Freezer Services, and Trimble Navigation. The information learned at these companies gave students an overall understanding of the Chinese economy.

“We see how blessed we are to live, study and work at Cal Poly after experiencing a study abroad program,” instructor Frawley said. “This is one of the greatest benefits to studying abroad: recognizing the power of diversity and developing a greater awareness of the world outside of San Luis Obispo.” agcircle | 21

Local Fauna

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alifornia is known for its beautiful beaches and acres upon acres of bountiful farmland. The Golden State supplies an expansive array of agricultural products — including flowers — to consumers all over the world. With California’s ideal growing conditions, nursery plants rank fourth on the state’s list of top-valued commodities, generating $3.54 billion in 2012, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Many companies on the Central Coast are taking advantage of the coastal climate to produce a variety of different flowers. Ocean View Flowers and Eufloria Flowers are both large-scale, fresh-cut flower producers on the Central Coast; however, each have very different growing techniques.

Ocean View Flowers, one of the largest flower growers in the state, has 500 acres of land and three different growing facilities.

“We grow and harvest at our home location in Lompoc for most of the year, said Mitch Sapp,

22 | Summer/Fall 2015

STORY BY TREVOR SURROCK PHOTOS BY JORDAN DUNN

director of sales at Ocean View Flowers. “We move to the low desert in Southern California during the winter months and the high desert in Central California during the spring.”

Ocean View Flowers grows and ships fresh-cut field flowers to wholesalers and mass-market accounts throughout the U.S. “We sell to grocery outlets such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Safeway, and many others,” Sapp said.

Year round, Ocean View Flowers produces the highest quality, sustainably grown flowers in a timely manner.

Sapp said working in the floral industry is very rewarding. One of the most interesting parts of

his work is “knowing what we produce makes people happy.”

Eufloria Flowers in Nipomo, Calif., is known as a premier grower of varietal roses. Its customer base includes wholesale, retail and direct sales to special event designers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company has been in production for seven generations and is one of the few remaining American-grown rose producers.

A pioneer in hydroponic farming, Eufloria Flowers is focused on quality and innovation. The company successfully grows more than 120 varieties of roses in eight acres of advanced hydroponic greenhouses. Hydroponics is a technique used to grow plants

without soil, using a mixture of nutrients and water. Eufloria perfected its hydroponic growing method and installed technology to measure and deliver the exact amount of nutrients and water to the plants.

Eufloria Flowers has a reputation for offering customers a wide-ranging varietal mix. “One of the most interesting parts of working in this industry has been introducing new varieties of roses by visiting Europe and Germany,” said Chad Nelson, sales manager.

The company specializes in hybrid tea roses, garden roses, garden spray roses, standard spray roses and Stephanotis.

The rose has long been considered a symbol of love and beauty, so it naturally follows that the wedding industry is the main market driver for the variety of roses Eufloria Flowers grows.

“We only see seasonal shift in color demand and wedding season demand,” Nelson said.

Whether for a wedding or Valentine’s Day, making people smile with roses is Nelson’s favorite part of the job.

Today more than 270,000 different species of flowers exist.

The beautiful colors, fragrances, shapes and sizes make it easy to see why people love flowers and why they are used for so many purposes and occasions. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties grow a large amount of flowers, which play an important role in contributing to the people’s happiness around the world.

LOCAL

From Exotic to Everyday How Frieda’s Specialty Produce is changing the way we eat produce STORY BY KAITY CARPENTER BROCK CENTER FILE PHOTO

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veryone has their favorite fruit or vegetable, but chances are, they haven’t even thought about how those favorite foods reach store shelves. More than likely, Frieda’s Specialty Produce has played a role in your favorite fruits and vegetables finding their way to your plate.

Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, started the company in 1962 at the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. She was the first female business owner in the market at the time, and she earned a reputation for being open to unusual fruits and vegetables. Since its opening, the company has introduced more than 200 specialty items to the U.S. produce market, from kiwifruit and jicama to black garlic and starfruit.

Karen Caplan, daughter of Frieda Caplan, said,“the company was the first specialty produce company in the U.S.” Continuing to set milestones, in April 2015, the company celebrated its 53rd anniversary.

More than fifty years ago, Frieda’s set out to provide unique produce options to American shoppers. The goals of the company remain the same today. According to Caplan, these goals are “to change the way America eats fruits and vegetables, to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by offering consumers a variety of interesting fruits and vegetables.”

As stated in “Fear No Fruit,” a documentary about the company, Frieda’s carries an average of 600 different items. During the San Luis Obispo screening of the documentary, Frieda Caplan and her family were asked if they ever feared of running

out of new fruit and vegetables to introduce to the market. Their response summed up their mission: there are over 20,000 undiscovered, edible crops throughout the world.

The chances they will have nothing left to market are slim to none, so their expertise in new and unusual food crops are going to be needed for quite a while.

Since the start of the company, Frieda’s daughters, Jackie Caplan Wiggins and Karen Caplan, and Frieda’s granddaughter, Alex Jackson, have joined the business. This makes the company completely owned by three generations of women family members.

“The company was the first specialty produce company in the U.S.” KAREN CAPLAN

CEO & President of Frieda’s Inc.

While Frieda’s has found great success, there have been items that didn’t perform so well. However, Frieda Caplan said she won’t give up on those yet and their time will come. It could be markets simply aren’t ready for certain products like unique varieties of avocado.

The company has many things to be

proud of, but they are extremely proud of their relationship with clients. Caplan said, “We’ve been told by clients that we have outstanding customer service and we act as if we are consultants to our clients, helping them select the best product mix and go-to market strategies for them.” Frieda’s strives for excellence and wants to provide clients with the best possible experience.

Frieda’s contributions to fresh produce packaging is unprecedented in the produce market. Packaging has changed and evolved but one thing has remained consistent: Frieda’s packaging boasts a 100 percent consumer satisfaction guarantee. Frieda’s is proud of its products and stands by what the company puts on the market.

In addition to fresh ideas, Frieda’s takes care to educate future produce leaders. They sponsor an intern each year from EARTH University in Costa Rica. The internship program with EARTH began six years ago.

“Third year EARTH students are required to have an internship in a carefully selected company somewhere outside their home country. The students go out and do real work, applying what they have learned in school and learning what it’s like to be in what I call ‘the real world,” Caplan said.

When Frieda’s Specialty Produce first began, it was difficult to be a woman in the business world. Just like in today’s business world, Frieda Caplan is making it look easy.

Her family is creating a legacy in the produce industry.

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The Art of Cowboy Dressage A new style of dressage is gaining popularity

STORY BY SARAH FRUSHOUR PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LESLEY DEUTSCH, LEE FOLINO & ALISON WOLFF

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ithin the equine industry, there are opportunities for all types of competitors – human and their equine companions as well. In the past few years, Cowboy Dressage World introduced a new type of competition for the Western-inclined horse and rider that uses the tagline “When dressage suits your needs, but a Stetson suits your lifestyle.”

This tagline epitomizes the mission of Cowboy Dressage: putting an emphasis on the training of horses, with a more casual competition approach.

Eitan Beth-Halachmy and his wife, Debbie Beth-Halachmy, are the founders of this new discipline.

“The cowboy dressage horse is not a dressage horse,” Eitan said. “He is first and foremost a Western horse in conformation, movement and temperament that is enhanced by the foundation of dressage, not ruled by it.”

Like classical dressage, competitors earn a score by performing a test of maneuvers. In addition, as the level of the tests increase, so does the level of difficulty. Cowboy dressage, however, puts less of a focus on how the horse

24 | Summer/Fall 2015

INDUSTRY

moves and looks more at the partnership between horse and rider.

“Cowboy dressage challenge tests are designed using maneuvers and poles to maximize the Western horse’s strength, balance, softness and responsiveness so that it may perform at its highest athletic potential,” Eitan said.

This discipline is more about a way of life than a rulebook. The goal is partnership, and that is not achieved through reading the rules but rather from experiences riders share with their equine partners. Sheila Varian, owner of Varian Arabians of Arroyo Grande, Calif., and a cowboy dressage exhibitor and supporter, sees the opportunities of this new riding style.

“It is an exciting new step for people who enjoy riding the Western horse to apply dressage principles and design to a light and softer Western rein. To say cowboy dressage had

“To say cowboy dressage had everyone fascinated would be an understatement.”

SHEILA VARIAN

Owner of Varian Arabians

everyone fascinated would be an understatement,” Varian said.

Cowboy Dressage World has become a competitive discipline within the last few years while gaining popularity across the U.S. In a short amount of time, the discipline has also spread internationally, to Canada and to countries across the Atlantic.

Cowboy Dressage World is not associated with the United States Equestrian Federation; it is a separate society. Unlike many equestrian associations, there is no cost to be a member of Cowboy Dressage World. All that is asked to be a member is a handshake, because “A cowboy’s handshake is his word.”

“Granted, [cowboy dressage] is not for everyone,” Eitan said. “But it definitely is for the Western horsemen and women with an independent spirit and a true love of the Western culture and lifestyle.”

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Turquoise Diaries:

Ladies of the West STORY BY JEANINE MADSON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY QUINCY FREEMAN

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he’s an artichoke lover, professional auctioneer, a lover of Western heritage, and a local artisan jewelry maker. Meet Mackenzy Bailey; a spit-fire 20-something with bling on her mind, all the time.

A creative spark ignited in early childhood. Her love of jewelry was born in Ruidoso, N.M., where she would go every summer with her family. Ten years ago, she found herself in a little bead shop in Ruidoso Downs, and met “two amazing people named Ron and Linda. They looked at [her] one day and told [her], ‘Mack, you need to learn the trade. Come back tomorrow at 2 p.m. and we will get started.’” Enamored by the beauty and authenticity of the local craftsmen, her brand, Cowgirls&Indians, was born.

Since then, Bailey has been making oneof-a-kind pieces for the Western heritage lover in all of us. Never duplicating a single piece, she creates custom jewelry to be remembered. “I never make anything twice because I feel like everyone should have something unique,” she said. “It’s important to me to provide anyone who has a piece of my jewelry to have the opportunity to feel beautiful and confident.”

Born and raised in King City, Calif., agriculture has been a huge motivator in Bailey’s endeavors. “Agriculture has raised me. From our little herd of registered Black Angus bulls, to auctioneering at the sale barn, to going to work with my dad, cruising fields and prescribing fertilizer, I’ve had a lot of 26 | Summer/Fall 2015

help experiencing the agricultural world. All these aspects combined has influenced my desire to create jewelry.” And what beautiful jewelry indeed. With turquoise intensive accents, a piece of the Southwest is available on the Central Coast.

Mackenzy sells her products at local farmers markets, private shows and on her Etsy site: “mackenzybailey.” She can also be found on Facebook and Instagram. She currently resides in Santa Ynez, Calif.

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hen you hear the name Quincy Freeman, you automatically think of bold colors and beautiful artwork. She’s a recent Cal Poly graduate, an entrepreneur, and a former stylist for Ariat, where she launched her own line, the Quincy Collection. Recently, Freeman began her own business venture, Rodeo Quincy and Quincy Tack & Belts.

With a deep-rooted love for Western heritage and style, Freeman creates looks that exemplify her passion for agriculture and the cowboy lifestyle. “I love history and heritage, and I put a lot of that into my designs.”

An artist from the start, Freeman was discovered in high school for her beautifully painted horse tack at high school rodeos where she competed. “This gained a lot of attention because at the time everything was very traditional, and cowboys didn’t stand out,” Freeman said. “It was at a rodeo that

Ariat approached me and eventually gave me the opportunity to design for them.”

Freeman credits her work with Ariat and her experience at Cal Poly for giving her the solid foundation for her business ventures. At Ariat she gained business skills to go along with her great ideas, as well as connecting with others in the industry. At Cal Poly, Freeman was involved in an entrepreneurship program that helped spark her interest in beginning her own company.

“Between working for Ariat and attending Cal Poly at the same time I had the ultimate Learn by Doing experience. The idea of the American dream seemed possible to me for the first time. If not for their patience in me, or without the confidence they gave me, I’m not sure if I would have taken the leap.”

And a leap she has certainly taken. Last fall, Freeman launched her first company, Quincy Tack & Belts, and in April, she launched Rodeo Quincy, featuring her very own line of boots.

Raised on a cattle ranch in Reedley, Calif., Freeman has been surrounded by agriculture her entire life. “If it wasn’t for agriculture, I wouldn’t be able to create my pieces nor sell them. Everything I use from the leather material, down to the pencils I draw with, stem from agriculture.” Being in an industry where everyone is so connected, it is easy for Freeman to feel at home. “One of the most gratifying things that I get to do is create pieces that are meaningful to myself and sell them to the people who are nearest

INDUSTRY

and dearest to my heart, the salt of the earth, our ranchers and farmers!”

Freeman’s goods are available at quincytackandbelts.com and rodeoquincy.com. She can also be found on Facebook at Quincy Designs and Quincy Tack and Belts.

and worn in.” It’s a place where cowboy boots are always welcome. And speaking of cowboy boots, they are one of Settrini’s favorite pieces. Since she travels regularly for business, her boots are often a conversation piece.

“I am perfectly happy in a big city with my cowboy boots!” she said, “It is a part of who I am! I have some amazingly fun boots he’s a cattlewoman, mo- and lots of times in an airport tivational speaker, and they ignite a conversation which a self-proclaimed fash- always comes back to ranching, ionista. Celeste Settrini is a cattle and advocacy.” third-generation cattle rancher Settrini is an avid social mefrom the Salinas Valley, who has dia user, and while she most always had an eye for sparkle. often uses #ranchlife, she has Her love of fashion began in incorporated fashion onto her childhood, as she looked up to platform as well. Every week she icons like her grandmother, who tries to post a piece of clothing was the prime example of a classy that she’s purchased and a little lady. Living in the country, she bit about it. By doing this, she lived right down the dirt road helps a lot of folks who “maybe from her. Settrini said, “She was don’t have the knack to shop.” By the classiest, most stylish lady using hashtags of fashion terms I knew.” she brings in folks who might “She wore pearls almost dai- not normally follow someone ly even while working on the like her, but now has opened a ranch with my grandpa. Her window into her ranch and the bag always matched her shoes, world of agriculture. and when she went to town, Settrini believes in originality, she always looked impeccable,” and looks up to fashion icons, Settrini said. like Iris Apfel, to help her deSettrini credits her grand- scribe it. For Settrini, it is a sense mother and the Western life- of what makes her feel good. As style she grew up in for her cre- Apfel said, “if it feels good in the ative and energetic style. Having pit of my tummy then I know a focal point in each outfit is it is right.” “Pretty much goes something she has adopted the same for me and my fashinto her every ion sense,” day outfits.

S e t t r i “I always ni said, . seem to “Don’t be have a piece a sheep, of ‘fun’ in in other my outfits, words, you whether it don’t have be a really to follow evbig chunky eryone else; CELESTE SETTRINI ring or piles original Third Generation Rancher of bracestyle is the lets with my most classy, watch, a funky headband or fun, or so I think.” sassy boots,” she said.

Settrini is a current member of Currently she can’t live with- the California Women for Agriout leopard print, but her looks culture, San Luis Obispo Counconstantly change. ty Chapter, and is the founder of Style for Settrini doesn’t just CS Connections, a public relamean clothes, however. Her tions and marketing consulting 100-year-old ranch house is agency. She currently resides in the epitome of Western style. Salinas, Calif.

She describes it as “comfortable

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“She wore pearls almost every day, even working on the ranch with my grandpa.”

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#Agvocate

#WhyILoveAg #WhyILoveFarmers #CaliforniaDrought #FoodSafety

# A g r i c u l tu r e

#Foodie #AgChat #CalPolyProud #MeetYourMeat #EndHunger #TeamBrock

The Power of the Hashtag STORY BY HARRISON REILLY

#ThrowbackThursday, #BringBackOurGirls, #RE2PECT, #BreakTheInternet and #YesAllWomen.

These hashtags have contributed to revolutions, evoked laughter, and helped cultivate important images. Hashtags are used in many different situations across all industries and are now helping agriculture share its voice. #AgChat, #FoodSafety, #AgInAmerica and #Agvocate facilitate agriculture discussion across Twitter timelines. #BeefsOnMyPlate, #Harvest and #FarmFresh help foster positive images of agriculture.

“Simply put, hashtags link the agriculture community to the greater social media community,” said Katie Pratt, nationally recognized agriculture advocate and blogger. “Hashtags are an easy way to push positive ag messages out to audiences who may not have found them before.”

At Cal Poly, the hashtags of #CalPolyProud and #LearnByDoing showcase the opportunities the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Science students have every day in their labs and lectures.

Professor Ann De Lay in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department uses hashtags as an educational opportunity.

“It sends [my followers] to people who actually have blogs and write good content from a very personal perspective because of the role they play in the industry,” De Lay said. “For me, it helps me teach others.”

De Lay teaches her students to use hashtags professionally in her AGC 426: Presentation Methods in Agricultural Communication class. “Primarily we use a hashtag of #AGC426, and there’s an ‘s’ or ‘w’ (spring or winter), depending which quarter it’s offered, so they can follow each other,” De Lay said. “I want them to follow the hashtag and see what content is put out there.”

Students post photos from their labs in the 28 | Summer/Fall 2015

various Cal Poly agriculture units, from family farms back home, and wherever there’s an agriculture story to be told.

“I think now is the time to make those good [posting] habits, so when they’re in the industry, they can play a stronger role from an advocacy standpoint,” De Lay said.

De Lay’s greatest motivation is to prepare her students for their future jobs. She realizes many graduates of Cal Poly’s agricultural communication program may have a hand in at least partially managing social media for various agriculture companies — some may even carry the title of social media manager. Using hashtags gives Cal Poly students a professional social media example to showcase their advocacy work to future employers.

While hashtags can be a helpful tool, it is important to not overdo it when crafting a message, according to blogger, Pratt. Diluting an Instagram post with hashtags doesn’t help.

Pratt used Jamie Schmidt, a blogger under the name “Foodie Farmer,” as a positive example of someone using hashtags correctly.

“She manages to work in hashtags in all her social media posts in all platforms,” Pratt said.

“And she does it in a way that is not distracting from her message.”

Hashtags help catalog topics of conversation. Clicking on hashtags can take the viewer through the world of agriculture. “You can find some pretty remarkable images through Instagram, and through Twitter you can find some pretty powerful posts,” De Lay said.

A simple click on the hashtag of #corn can lead you to a picture taken by a farmer in the cornfields of Iowa. Or visit #NapaValley, where a winemaker shared a photo of a grape pressing. Clicking on #CaliforniaDrought can show a person in a New York City high-rise the struggles farmers today are facing in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The opportunities are endless for people to explore and ideally, become better

educated about agriculture “You’ll find some organics, you’ll find free range, you’re going to find non-GMO, you’re going to find a lot [of hashtags] that all fall under the ag umbrella,” De Lay said.

“I think there’s a little something for everyone, so rather than polarizing agriculture, I think [hashtag conversations] can help unify [the agriculture industry].”

“As agricultural communicators, we can use hashtags to promote our community by linking in to other conversations,” Pratt said. “Think of hashtags as a way to connect via shared values.

People follow or search for certain hashtags to connect to a group of like thinkers, or search for information on a subject. By being creative in using hashtags, we can establish relationships with non-ag audiences, just as we would in a face-to-face conversation based on shared values.” #Farm365 is an interesting agriculture hashtag example. What began as a topic from Ontario, Canada, meant to share daily images of all things big and small on a farming or ranching operation, became inundated with animal welfare activists. The #Farm365 hashtag is still utilized today by opposing groups promoting their ideals and trying to educate viewers.

Blog and hashtag bashing is an unfortunate trend in social media. While some are emboldened by the anonymity of online profiles, others may suffer unfair attacks rather than contribute to conversations.

Hashtags are a powerful tool for improving the image of agriculture. Anybody can post a #selfie on Instagram and get a number of likes, but far fewer can post a #felfie (farmer selfie).

This generation is being defined by how they’re using social media to craft meaningful messages and create an impact in an instant. Agriculture is on that path, one hashtag at a time.

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agcircle | 29

Ruffling Feathers Across the State An update on California’s Proposition 2

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t has been seven years since California’s voters approved Proposition 2, which, effective Jan. 1, 2015, set new industry standards for the confinement of farm animals.

While the law established new regulations for veal crates, sow gestation crates, and battery cages, it is the latter that has many Californians weary.

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service explains the price surge in eggs: “One difference for 2015 is that California is now basically a separate market for eggs compared with the rest of the United States. The production restrictions placed on table eggs sold in California have created a market shortfall that has pushed California prices well above the rest of the country.”

Consumers first saw the effects of Proposition 2 at the end of 2014, when average egg prices rose to $2.68 per dozen in December.

Although this was already a dollar higher than what consumers in New York were paying, it was just the beginning of Californian’s grocery store woes. At the end of January 2015, the USDA reported the average price for one dozen jumbo eggs was $3.16, and in some parts of the state, the price had reached more than $5.

One significant factor behind the drastic increase was the change in production costs since the proposition passed. Under the new guidelines, producers are required to provide housing that gives animals enough space to freely stand up, lie down, and extend their limbs. The Congressional Research Service estimated these changes would cost farmers between $25 and $35 per hen to implement.

Furthermore, UC Davis published findings in 2014 that stated the average operating and capital costs per dozen eggs for aviary (cagefree) and enriched colony housing (Proposition 2 standards) are 36 percent and 13 percent higher than conventional housing, respectively.

However, California’s farmers are not the only ones paying the price to stay in the state’s billion-dollar egg market. On March 9, 2015, the Attorney Generals of Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky and Iowa 30 | Summer/Fall 2015

STORY/PHOTO BY CAITLIN PAULUS

filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in response to a lawsuit dismissal in October of 2014 regarding AB 1437.

The appeal stresses the unconstitutionality of AB 1437 due to its alleged regulation and discrimination of interstate commerce. Essentially, it requires all eggs sold in California, including those imported from out of state, must be produced using Proposition 2 standards.

For a state like Iowa, whose egg production accounts for almost one in every five eggs sold in America, and that exports more eggs to California than any other state, new regu-

lations such as these will have substantial effects. The six states also claim the law affects the health and wellbeing of their citizens by inevitably increasing the price of a previously low-cost, high-protein food that is a staple in many individuals’ diets.

While Proposition 2 may still be a topic of discussion for years to come, lucky for consumers, the price of eggs may not be. Estimates show prices stabilizing in the near future, and the USDA reports national egg prices are expected to average about 20 cents lower than last year, with California prices hopefully not too far above.

INDUSTRY

STORY BY KENNA LEWIS BROCK CENTER FILE PHOTO

International

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Year of Soils

ealthy soil plays an integral role in almost every aspect of our lives. From food production to climate-change mitigation to providing a foundation for our cities’ structures, soil is one of the most important components to life on earth.

While its presence is vital, its voice is almost non-existent. Unaware inhabitants around the world are taking this precious resource for granted, and as the world’s population continues to expand, the amount of productive soil continues to degrade at a dangerous rate.

According to Cal Poly soil science Professor Chip Appel, life without properly managed soil is simply not possible. “Without soils, we would be cold, naked, hungry and suffocating,” Appel said. “Basically, without the living, breathing, water-regulating and purifying, and biochemically active soil, life would not exist.”

In response to this growing crisis, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils. The primary goal of this declaration is to make the public aware of the importance and benefits of soil.

Nick Navarro, a Cal Poly soil science student, finds great value in this yearlong declaration.

“It will help raise awareness about the im-

portance of soil quality,” Navarro said. “People often view soils negatively, calling it ‘dirt’ — a terrible word in our department — when in fact, it is a valuable resource that takes thousands of years to form.”

Soil is the foundation for the international food system and the medium in which nearly 95 percent of all food is directly or indirectly produced. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations (FAO), it affects more than just the ground, contributing to the mitigation of climate change by maintaining the earth’s proper carbon content. The seemingly simple formation of a centimeter of soil can take up to 1,000 years, with a single teaspoon containing more microbes than there are people on earth.

The FAO has celebrated this year with roughly 120 soil-related projects, including a global soil information system aiding in strategic land management. Additionally, social media campaigns such as the interactive blog series “Soil Stories” and an Instagram contest with the hashtag #soilsforlife have been used to garner a stronger interaction with the public.

Professor Appel has taken several measures to incorporate the International Year of Soils into his classroom. For instance, he is screen-

ing videos produced by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) that each illustrate one of the many key benefits and services of soil.

“I show one of these videos each month so that students can experience other perspectives and hear and see more about the importance of soils,” Appel said.

Appel enjoys celebrating the importance of soil with a little humor. “I have developed what I call ‘An International Year of Soils Liturgy,’” he explained. “In this liturgy, I start by saying, ‘2015 is the International Year of Soils!’ and then I ask the students to say (and most of them do) in unison, ‘Without soils we would be cold, naked and hungry!’ Then I say, ‘And it’s true!’ And it is.”

The need to bring attention to proper soil maintenance is becoming even more pertinent over time. The FAO has high hopes the International Year of Soils will shed light on the importance of soil in every aspect of life.

“Soil is the foundation of life. It is what we live on, where we receive our food, and helps moderate climate change,” said Kate Grossmith, soil science major and national soil judging competitor. “Whole empires have collapsed due to their degradation of soil; healthy soil is the key to having a thriving life.” agcircle | 31

agcircle magazine

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