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cal poly, san luis obispo winter 2014
inside
THE BOND THAT TIES Cal Poly Rodeo’s Dynamic Duo, Lane and Taylor Santos-Karney
THE CENTRAL COAST’S HIDDEN PEARL Cayucos’ The Abalone Farm Raises One of the State’s Specialty Seafood Varieties
PACKING UP PROFITS Innovative Packaging Proves to be Instrumental in Product Marketing
A LETTER FROM THE STAFF Hello and welcome to the Winter Issue! This being our first issue as the 2014-15 Brock Associates, we have had a great time learning the processes of editing, designing and printing the magazine. We were even
able to include Associate Editor Kenna in our meetings, who video-called us from her study abroad trip in Italy. In this issue we highlight the ambitious spirit Cal Poly students have to get the most of
their college experience. Stories include students traveling across the nation to attend a professional conference, students organizing a gala for the Agribusiness Department and its alumni, and students
leading a club to the forefront of the aquaponics movement. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did putting it together!
Harrison, Katie, Jordan & Kenna
CONTRIBUTORS Left to right: Meridith Bibbo, Barbara Causley, Sonja Eschenburg, Hannah Fortin, Kayla Gangl, Rylin Lindahl, Trevor Surrock & Sarah Tormeny
ON THE COVER See page 25 to read about innovations in produce packaging. 2 | Winter 2014
CONTENTS 04 07
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agcircle Volume 33, Issue 1, Winter 2014 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
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CAMPUS BUZZ
THE BOND THAT TIES
Cal Poly Rodeo’s Dynamic Duo
TAKING INDY BY STORM
Agricultural Communication Students Join Industry Professionals at Annual Meeting
AGRIBUSINESS GALA REUNION
Honoring The Past and Advancing the Future
CHASE TAKES THE FIELD
Cal Poly’s Mustang Makes His Debut
CAL POLY CHOCOLATES’ STORY GETS SWEETER
Chocolate Plans Expand with New Equipment and Guidance
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
Polyponics Club Gives New Life to the Student Experimental Farm
805.756.6138 brockctr@calpoly.edu Building 10, Room 234 Editor-in-Chief Jordan Dunn Faculty Advisor Megan Silcott Associate Editors Kenna Lewis Harrison Reilly Katie Roberti Writers Meridith Bibbo, Barbara Causley, Jordan Dunn, Sonja Eschenburg, Hannah Fortin, Kayla Gangl, Rylin Lindahl, Harrison Reilly, Katie Roberti, Haley Seeger, Trevor Surrock, Sarah Tormey Photographers Meridith Bibbo, Jordan Dunn, Kayla Gangl, Dan Hubbell, Lionel Johnston, Rylin Lindahl, Katie Roberti, Kendra Santos, SLO CWA, Trevor Surrock, Sarah Tormey
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DEVELOPING THE FUTURE OF AG LEADERSHIP Community Groups Work to Engage Young Leaders
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THE CENTRAL COAST’S HIDDEN PEARL
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RESTORING THE RIPARIAN
Cayucos’ The Abalone Farm Raises One of the State’s Specialty Seafood Varieties
One Cool Earth Organization and the Grizzly Academy Plant Success
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PACKING UP PROFITS
I N T H E I N D U S T RY
Innovative Packaging Proves to be Instrumental in Produce Marketing
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HOW DOES THE CDFA SERVE AGRICULTURE? GOOGLE IT. CDFA Improves Its Websites to Provide Agricultural Information
Graphic Designers Jordan Dunn & Katie Roberti 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.
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ROOTS RUN DEEP
F E AT U R E D N A R R AT I V E
The Käslin Family’s 230-Year-Old Dairy Farm in Switzerland
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.
PHOTO BY KAYLA GANGL, FEATURING CAL POLY’S LIVE MASCOT, CHASE THE MUSTANG agcircle
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The Bond that ties
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Cal Poly Rodeo’s Dynamic Duo
here is a story behind every great duo. Batman and Robin’s relationship was not built in one day, and neither was the story of the Cal Poly Rodeo Team’s duo, brothers Taylor and Lane Santos-Karney. Taylor is an Agricultural Systems Management sophomore, and Lane is an Agricultural Communication senior. Together the two have brought an exciting dynamic to Cal Poly Rodeo over the past year, and it is not over yet. In this family, rodeo is not a new
hobby. Taylor and Lane are now the fourth generation to continue the rodeo tradition. While most people take their first steps before they are put on a horse, it was the opposite for the Santos -Karney brothers. Growing up, rodeo was not a choice, it was something they had in their blood. “We were born into this lifestyle,” Lane said. “As I grow up, I value the lifestyle as much as anything. It’s more than just friendship, it’s a way of life in America.”
STORY BY KATIE ROBERTI PHOTOS BY KENDRA SANTOS & DAN HUBBELL
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In addition to having a long family history in the sport of rodeo, the brothers also have strong roots in Cal Poly Rodeo. In 1980, their mom won a buckle at the Poly Royal Rodeo. Years later both of her sons are on the same team she was once a part of and carrying on the family’s heritage in the Cal Poly Rodeo program. Growing up with a family history of rodeo and having a bond as brothers has contributed largely in giving these two an edge as teammates. “It’s pretty cool to be able to have
someone you’re that close with to feed off of,” Lane said. Although both compete individually in steer wrestling and tie-down roping, it is the team roping event where their years of being brothers and teammates make them shine. “We have grown into each other’s support team,” Taylor said. “We fight, but once we’re at the rodeo it’s game time. We forget about it because we’re a team.”
“
We show up at a rodeo and have two chances to win. We each have an extra bullet.
”
The same holds true for when they compete in solo events. No matter who wins, they are always supportive of each other. In 2012, Lane received a title as the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year. “If I don’t win first place, I want him to. If I do get first place, I want him to get second,” Lane said. “When we
show up at a rodeo we have two chances to win. We each have an extra bullet.” With two opportunities to achieve success, both brothers made it to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and represented Cal Poly this past June. The CNFR is considered the Rose Bowl of college rodeo. Each year only the top cowboys and cowgirls in the nation earn the chance to compete at the CNFR for the national champion title in each rodeo event. This year, Taylor was able to clinch the tie-down roping competition and bring back California’s first national championship win since 2006. “I was really proud to represent Cal Poly at a national level and continue the Mustang tradition,” Taylor said. Although the brothers were not able to bring home a medal in team roping, having the opportunity to compete on a national level together was an
CAMPUS BUZZ
achievement in itself. Competing at this level has been a dream in both Taylor and Lane’s minds since they were kids. Together they believe the support they have received has played a huge role in helping them and many other members of the Cal Poly Rodeo Team make it to the CNFR. “We speak on behalf of Cal Poly
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the successful and longstanding rodeo program it has and appreciated how the school is rooted in agriculture. Taylor was also looking for a great education and a rodeo program at the college he chose. He knew this decision would have an important role on his life after college. “At Cal Poly, it’s proven you can take time to get an education and still have a chance to go pro,” Taylor said. “The networking Rodeo and we appreciate the support of everyone from President and connections I’ve built are going Armstrong, to the faculty members, to help me if I continue to rodeo or if I stop and need help finding a job.” to the booster program,” Lane said. Down the road, after graduation, The brothers were not able to win the dream for both brothers is to join the national championship in team roping for 2014, but time hasn’t run the Professional Rodeo Cowboys out. They still have one rodeo season Association and compete at the left to compete together wearing green National Finals Rodeo together someday. Until then, both Lane and and gold. In addition to chasing a win this coming year at the CNFR, the brothers will continue to have an important role on Cal Poly’s Rodeo Team and continue pursuing their degrees. Across the country there are many colleges and universities with successful rodeo programs, and Lane and Taylor could have chosen to compete for different teams. However, being raised just down the road in Templeton, both chose the school in their backyard for more reasons than just rodeo. Lane was impressed with the quality education Cal Poly offers, 6 | Winter 2014
Taylor will continue working towards their goals of competing at the CNFR again in 2015 and receiving diplomas from Cal Poly. “To graduate from Cal Poly will be one of the happiest moments of my life,” Lane said. “I’m proud to be a student and represent this school in rodeo.”
“
To graduate from Cal Poly will be one of the happiest moments of my life.
”
Every student knows that after graduation the memories made will be the majority of what’s left from their college experience. For these two talented individuals who have proudly aspired to achieve their goals as a duo, they will both have many belt buckles, honors and awards to remind them of their time spent in the green and gold vests. In a few years both Taylor and Lane will be graduated. But, if history repeats itself, maybe someday there will be another Santos-Karney carrying on the family’s legacy in the Cal Poly rodeo program.
Taking Indy by Storm
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ive of Cal Poly’s Agricultural Communication students experienced one of the great industry events this summer, the 16th annual Ag Media Summit (AMS) held in Indianapolis. AMS is an annual convention and combined meeting of the Livestock Publications Council, the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, the American Business Media Agri-Council and the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT). The event is the largest gathering of agriculture media professionals in the United States and attracts a variety of agricultural communicators, publishers, writers, editors and photographers. The convention also invites several universities to bring students of their ACT chapters, including Cal Poly ACT. In recent years, the event has been held in Buffalo, NY, Albuquerque, NM, and New Orleans. “AMS has made the ‘real world’ that much more real to me,’” Giuliana Marchini, Agricultural Science junior, said. “It’s nice to know that the things I’m learning in college are actually going to benefit me in a future career, because I’ve had the opportunity to attend AMS and actually see the industry professionals utilizing the same strategies we are learning about.” Some of the most beneficial experiences came from the different speakers. The sessions had topics based around writing, Adobe InDesign, leadership, photography and social media, Marchini explained. These workshops were advanced, cutting-edge and designed for professionals. The trip was not just about attending workshops, however. Cal Poly students also had the opportunity to meet and
CAMPUS BUZZ
network with professionals from across the country, gathering advice and information from successful people in agricultural media. “Honestly, its a place to meet someone who is currently in the career that they want,” Richard Gearhart, Journalism professor, said. “It gives them an idea of what they’re going to do on a day-to-day basis, a resource for training if they need that in the future, and a resource to find job within that particular field.” The convention also hosted an exposition where many of agriculture’s leading organizations and businesses shared their companies to the media professionals in attendance. Many were interested to hear about student experiences and some even offered internships. “It’s so cool that I got to have the opportunity to speak with companies that I might possibly work for in the future,” Marchini said. Along with three full days of learning and networking, Cal Poly students explored a part of the United States they had never seen before. The students took advantage of local cuisine and tried fried chicken and sweet potato waffles at Maxine’s Chicken and Waffles. They explored the city, monuments, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Hall of Champions as well as the Lucus Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, and the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Cal Poly ACT chapter is already looking forward to the 2015 Ag Media Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. This will be a great way for the department to get more experience, network with professionals and see more of the beautiful country we live in.
STORY/PHOTOS BY RYLIN LINDAHL
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STORY BY HALEY SEEGER PHOTOS BY JORDAN DUNN & KATIE ROBERTI
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n November 8, 2014, the Agribusiness department hosted its first Gala Reunion for current students, alumni, faculty and friends. The event was held at the Madonna Inn Expo Center, and over 500 guests were in attendance. The Agribusiness Gala Reunion celebrated the theme “Honoring the Past and Advancing the Future�. Since it was established in 1965, the Agribusiness department has seen many changes, but the long-lasting dedication to student success had made the department what it is today. The Gala Reunion was a great opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of thousands of 8 | Winter 2014
past graduates in their careers. It also served as a chance to honor emeriti faculty, staff and other stakeholders who have selflessly dedicated their lives to building a strong foundation on which the current agribusiness program stands. The event provided an opportunity to honor Professor Emeritus Robert McCorkle for his more than 50 years of service to the Agribusiness department. The Gala Reunion was also a chance to learn about the challenges and opportunities the department will face in the future. A silent auction showcased future learning labs that will provide an environment to enhance the skills
students need to be successful. The silent auction was followed by a delicious Farm-to-Fork dinner, with food donated by the companies of past Agribusiness students. The evening was full of unforgettable moments: Agribusiness seniors were recognized for their leadership and perseverance, attendees heard from the special guest speaker, Al Montna, and a live auction concluded the evening. The Gala Reunion was a great way to celebrate the many emeriti faculty, staff, alumni, friends and other stakeholders that continue to support the Agribusiness department and the students.
HONORING THE PAST AND ADVANCING THE FUTURE agcircle
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STORY/PHOTOS BY KAYLA GANGL
Chase Takes the Field
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fter his debut as Cal Poly’s new mascot last October, Chase the Mustang has been working hard to fill his new role and adjust to the collegiate lifestyle. Before a university-wide naming contest, Chase was formerly known as Moonstar. Students and the community had their first view of Chase in his official role at the start of the 2014 football season. He galloped onto the field in true mustang fashion: without a rider, head high and mane and tail flying behind him. While Chase was tame before, he still had to undergo a lot of training to acclimate to his new way of life. “You can imagine [a football game] can be a high stress environment for a horse, especially one that was born out in the wild,
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you know?” Equine Center Supervisor Natalie Baker said. “So now bringing him into this new environment, and being in his mid-teens, now later in his life, being exposed to all of this is very new and exciting to him. Part of the challenging aspect of it was helping him calm down, relax and accept those new things later in his life.” As the mascot, another facet of Chase’s training has been keeping him healthy and in shape for his appearances. “A lot of it is just basics of good horse care, like making sure he has a proper diet and that he is receiving proper nutrition on a daily basis,” Baker said. Baker explained along with his diet being maintained, Chase is groomed and ridden several times a week as a way
to keep him in good physical appearance and condition, and when it gets cooler he is blanketed to keep his coat smooth. One assistant with Chase’s training and adjustment to the campus atmosphere has been Chico, a stall buddy and the horse Chase is led by when he is racing out onto the football field. Baker explained Chico is kept in the stable right next to Chase so the two bond and stay acquainted with each other. “They work together during the week,” Baker said. “We have specific students working with them on a daily basis and making sure they are building up those horses and keeping those horses familiar with each other so that when those horses go to football games it is just like any other day of training, just in a new environment.”
Baker said being stalled next to Chico has made the football games easier for Chase because his buddy is right there with him taking it all in. Having a live mascot on campus has enhanced the pride of being a Cal Poly Mustang and enriched the lives of those who get to work with Chase on a daily basis. It is a tradition Baker hopes will continue into the future. “For me it has actually been exciting to work with a mustang,” Baker said. “Getting to see those students work with him and building up their confidence, and getting to be more involved with the athletic events and just continuing on the tradition and the spirit of the Cal Poly Mustang is really thrilling.”
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Cal Poly Chocolates’ Story Gets Sweeter
C
al Poly Chocolates has been a studentrun enterprise for the past twelve years, but in the past few months the project has skyrocketed beyond expectations. Cal Poly Chocolates has emerged from its fledgling beginnings as a legitimate mid-sized business. Today, over one thousand bars are produced per day, the line includes seven distinct flavors from spicy cayenne to beloved classic milk, and over a dozen stores– including large brand names such as Vons–carry their products. “In the last year…we have increased chocolate bar production by 15 percent,” Brandon Coleman, the pilot plant manager, said. The method to find this success, Coleman shared, was three-pronged: increasing production optimization, developing new marketing strategies and increasing sales. On the production front, the team is led by a student production manager who
knows the ins and outs of tempering the chocolate, working the machinery and managing the other students. Last year, Biology senior Sara Adams held this position, and then passed the baton to Food Science junior Jillian Elisberg for the summer months. Beatrice Lunday, a graduate student who has been involved with the program since her years as an undergraduate, will now take over as production manager. Thanks to the work of Lunday, Elisberg, Adams and their predecessors — as well as the purchase of more molds and an automated depositing machine for the bars — Cal Poly Chocolates’ production capabilities have grown beyond expectations. Students used to ladle by hand a couple hundred of bars a day, but now the count surpasses over 1,000. In fact, the speed dry rack, where the fresh bars sit while they await their wrapping, no longer fits the entire product. In the past, the speed
STORY/PHOTOS BY MERIDITH BIBBO 12 | Winter 2014
dry rack rarely was filled past halfway. Although production continues to increase, the output is hindered by one limiting factor: hand wrapping. Each bar is meticulously folded into a silver foil and then hand-cloaked in its colorful label. At best, a student can wrap five bars a minute. For this reason, the Food Science and Nutrition Department has recently invested in a new piece of technology called an automatic horizontal form, fill, and seal machine. “The flow wrapper will allow us to package a month’s worth of chocolate bars in a single
day,” Coleman said. He is excited for the debut of the more appealing labels, and also by the fact this will free up a lot of time for more diverse endeavors, such as product development and quality assurance. This year, the department decided to create two new managerial positions for these fields, allowing the enterprise to hone on new needs that have arisen with the exponential growth. Elisberg will assume all responsibilities encompassing quality assurance; she will inspect ingredients, operational procedures and of course final products to ensure all safety and s at i s f a c t i on
CAMPUS BUZZ
requirements are met. Students are working on perfecting new recipes to satisfy the sweet tooth of target consumers. Potential new products include pistachio brittle, chocolate-covered pistachio shortbread and organic chocolate trail mix. With production, quality and innovation increasing, new marketing strategies and increased sales are the final components of Coleman’s plan. The department has recently hired a graduate student, Parmita Choudhury, as Marketing Coordinator. Choudhury, who earned her undergraduate degree in
Marketing from Fresno State University, spearheads development of brand equity and awareness, coordinates special events and strategizes short term and long term marketing platforms for Cal Poly Chocolates. “I love promoting a product I am passionate about,” Choudhury said. “I am hoping to really grow the identity of the brand through social media, more promotional events and potentially a chocolate and jam club through which parents and alumni would receive an annual package of exclusive products.” So far, the increased staffing has allowed for more specialized connections with
the community, most notably the Safeway brand. “We are now selling our FSN products at four Vons locations on the Central Coast,” Coleman said. “The stores located in San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Atascadero and Paso Robles [sell] the products…under the ‘Local Product’ category.” Whether buying chocolate while picking up milk, or at the campus bookstore alongside Cal Poly fan gear, know that the purchase of Cal Poly Chocolates is supporting a business that embraces Learn by Doing in the sweetest of ways. agcircle
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Opportunity
to Grow STORY/PHOTOS BY SARAH TORMEY
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ne of Cal Poly’s newest clubs, Polyponics, is exploring methods of growing food that produces faster, yields higher densities, is cheaper in the long run and uses far less water than traditional methods. Besides its use of creating sustainable food, aquaponics is an 14 | Winter 2014
exciting way to explore nature, practice sustainability and learn together. “We have big plans — this technology has been around for thousands of years and yet no one has heard of it,” Dylan Robertson, Civil Engineering student and Polyponics President, said.
“As California’s drought becomes more and more severe it’s going to become more relevant.” Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (farming fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil), which is far more productive than either system alone.
It is organic by nature since adding fertilizer or chemicals would harm the fish. The biodynamic community of fish, plants and bacteria regulates itself requiring minimal supervision and maintenance. Set up correctly, an aquaponics system produces
CAMPUS BUZZ
100 percent organic protein, fruits, vegetables and herbs all while using 90 percent less land and water than farming in soil, according to Aquaponics Global. This system allows the life cycle to circulate naturally with the fish providing nitrates for the plants, which in turn purify
at some forum, and it’s backyard Joe telling you what he did specifically. There’s no concrete data,” Robertson said. His hope is Cal Poly can change this and make advancements in the field of aquaponics. “I think its really cool that at Cal Poly we have this opportunity as an agriculture and engineering focused
on working the pumps, designing the structures and monitoring the water quality and flow. Physics students help in aspects of controller systems and computer animation, business students are working together on a potential farmers market booth, and of course there is also plenty of input to be had from plant-enthusiasts, biologists and fish experts.
school, and we could be at the forefront of the aquaponics movement,” Robertson said. “I imagine 25 years from now aquaponics will be a common household term and a main way of producing food.” Last spring, Robertson and his co-founder, Alex Hill, were awarded $1,500 from the College of Civil and Environmental Engineering the water to be re-circulated to build a prototype aquaponics system in a back to the fish. Although there are plenty greenhouse at the crops unit. of aquaponics enthusiasts, “It was really cool and it and a few commercial gained a lot of attention from facilities, there is little in the fellow students and teachers everyone seemed way of substantial research and interested,” Robertson said. and education. As a fifth-year Civil Engineer, “You go online and you look up an issue, look Robertson has taken point
“When I started this club I liked it because with aquaponics you can attack from so many perspectives,” Robertson said. “Everyone can contribute in their own way.” With a few signatures and plenty of support, Polyponics officially became a club in spring of 2014. The complete and impressive prototype got the club awarded $5,000 from the Baker Endowment for Cal Poly students to build a bigger system. With funding taken care of, Robertson set out to find the space they would need and made a profound finding that changed the game for the club – the Student Experimental agcircle
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Farm (SEF). This abandoned 2-acre parcel of Cal Poly agricultural land is rich with history and boundless potential, home to a chicken coop, outdoor growing beds, a pond and room for much more. “There was [an entire] empty greenhouse there, a 25x60-foot abandoned hoop house,” Robertson said. They’re using this structure to house the new system they named Zion. Zion is coming alive with a huge biodynamic system of fish, plants, bacteria, and other critters — it is set to be four times the size of the aquaponics systems at other state universities. There is already a tank stocked with tilapia, grow beds being built and tables covered in flats of seedlings. Not to mention the whole SEF is coming alive as students clean up and breathe life back into the land. “Dylan is all the energy behind it,” Dr. Greg Schwartz, the club’s advisor, said. “He’s getting it all started and trying to get the Student Experimental Farm going too and putting in for work days under Polyponics club umbrella,” Schwartz said. Although there is plenty of work to be done on these sunny weekends, the clubs and community members gathering at the SEF know how to have fun together and are incredibly warm and welcoming. “There’s a stage for music, there’s yoga, there’s art — it’s all about making 16 | Winter 2014
relationships with people, doing cool things, and spreading the word,” Schwartz said. With a worsening drought and growing global population, now is the time for universities like Cal Poly to use a talented network of students, faculty and resources to support the sustainability research and development. Ideally, many minds will come together at the new unit and student, faculty and community members will have a valuable educational space to grow. Together, they will create a site demonstrating sustainable living techniques like aquaculture, permaculture and solar energy use. “It’s a space for self-learning and doing projects. It’s a great opportunity — let’s build this thing, let’s explore, let’s find out what works,” Robertson said. “Let’s do it together.”
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Developing the Future of Ag Leadership
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griculture is currently facing a generational gap between the leaders of today and the leaders of tomorrow. Young professionals and college students are beginning to take the action necessary to solve this. Groups such as the San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Farm Bureau are serving as a host for their involvement. The SLO County Farm Bureau is made up of almost 1,300 members, and the number of younger members is growing, Lynn Diehl, the Executive Director of SLO County Farm Bureau, explained. College students and young
professionals are welcome, and don’t have to even be in production agriculture. “I tell everyone that if you’re a farmer or if you support farming and ranching, you need to be here, because in the community you need to have a say in things,” Diehl said. “It’s important to be involved, otherwise you become a bystander and you’re always on the defensive side of things.” The SLO County Farm Bureau is a local division of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The organization’s purpose is to act as a unified voice for agriculture, to strengthen the lives of rural Americans and build strong and prosperous
agricultural communities, according to AFBF. They offer many opportunities to make a difference. The primary channel younger members first come through is the SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers group. This group is fostered through the SLO County Farm Bureau and it holds the same essential goal: bring together agriculturists to aid in letting their voices be heard. “We encourage everyone who’s around here to join,” Diehl said. “It’s not a huge membership fee, and the more great people we have, the more great projects we can do.” Within these two groups,
young members hold the same authority as older members, Diehl stressed. “When you are a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers, and you pay membership to the Farm Bureau, I consider you a Farm Bureau member,” Diehl said. “You’re not in a younger, junior group. I consider you as one of my bosses.” With the majority of leaders in agriculture being part of an older generation, it can be intimidating for younger people to take leadership roles. However, it is necessary for all generations to both be involved in order to successfully make a difference.
STORY BY JORDAN DUNN PHOTOS BY JORDAN DUNN & SLO CWA
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“Part of the benefit that I’ve been hearing over and over from the young people I talk with is some of what they get out of it is what they put into it. That’s coming in, coming up with ideas, and volunteering to help create projects,” Diehl said. “The sky is the limit. Come give me a good proposal, and we’ll see what we can do.” In terms of engaging the community and building the county’s awareness of the SLO County Farm Bureau, Diehl has big plans. “It’s important to step out, communicate, innovate, and continue to thrive in agriculture. It’s very simple,” Diehl said. “You can guarantee that in the next year, there will be more and more reasons to come here.” With the SLO County Farm Bureau leading the charge in young professional engagement, they are in full support of other groups with similar intentions. Another group offering the same
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type of agricultural leadership is the SLO chapter of the California Women for Agriculture (CWA). This is a non-profit organization bringing together people in all aspects of agriculture, Ashley Odgen, President Elect for the SLO CWA chapter, explained. “We basically want to become an avenue for everyone to come together and have a common voice and a common goal,” Ogden said. Ogden, like many members, first experienced the SLO CWA when her friend invited her to a meeting back in 2011. A big portion of SLO CWA’s membership growth comes from Cal Poly students and young professionals, Ogden explained. Younger members are vital to the organization, as they help provide a unique perspective on issues. “Anyone is welcome to come, men and women. There are no age restrictions and meetings are open to the public,” Ogden said.
The SLO CWA hosts events throughout the year that allow for the members to interact with each other and to introduce new members to the organization. In September 2014, they held their annual Agriculture Mixer at Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, Calif. This event was intended to bring members of the agriculture community, including a group of Cal Poly students, to interact with the SLO CWA members. The SLO CWA also has other events to rally members, and is even hosting the State CWA Conference in San Luis Obispo in January 2015. It goes to show that in a time where involving younger generations into agricultural leadership is becoming more important, there is plenty of opportunity to do so. The ways the SLO CWA, SLO County Farm Bureau, and SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers are stepping up may be what it takes to help narrow the generation gap.
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The Central Coast’s Hidden Pearl STORY BY HARRISON REILLY PHOTOS BY JORDAN DUNN
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he coastal towns of California are generally known for their fish and crab. San Francisco is famous for its Fisherman’s Wharf, Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast for its abundance of crab and Monterey for its shrimp production. The Central Coast, however, is a hotbed for a sometimes-overlooked variety of seafood: abalone. Just a few miles north of Cayucos, Calif., hidden by a modestly sized hill and grazing cows, lays The Abalone Farm — one of the four farms in California that exclusively harvests abalone. “In general, the marketplace word abalone is still used as a generic term,” said Brad Buckley, sales manager of The Abalone Farm. “If you look elsewhere, there are specific types of oysters from specific bays and places. You want the story. But abalone doesn’t have the same type
of knowledge among the general public.” The Abalone Farm focuses on raising red abalone. The other two common species of abalone found in California, black abalone and white abalone, are considered endangered species. Both black and white abalone became endangered due to excessive hunting from the 1930s until the 1960s. Red abalone, however, are much harder to hunt because they like to live on the bluffs and shores of oceans. “Not all are commercially raised,” Buckley said, “only 12 species of abalone are commercially raised. But they vary in textures, type of water, flavor, ideal cooking method and color.” Buckley, born and raised in Mississippi, came to the Central Coast in the late ‘80s looking for work. He stumbled upon a job listing for The Abalone
Farm, which was looking to expand its farming property. “All I did for the first three months was cut PVC pipe,” Buckley said, “I really started falling in love with it in the early ‘90s.” After he was done with construction work, Buckley expanded his role with the company and was integral in establishing new markets for the company once Japan, its biggest market at the time, had an economic collapse. The company sent Buckley to Los Angeles and New York City to establish new markets and from there the company thrived. The farm is located right along the coast and on a clear day, Morro Rock is visible from the operation. The abalones are raised in tanks filled with seawater pumped from the ocean and recycled back out. The pumps have a capacity to transport 5,000 gallons of water per minute
from the Pacific Ocean. To raise an abalone crop takes years of planning in advance, much like growing a vineyard. “Managing crop four to six years in advance and not being able to anticipate what market demand will be is the biggest challenge,” Buckley said. “We take a chance and hope it hits right.” In recent years, the farm gambled as they decided to grow larger abalone, typically six years of age. The farm predicted correctly, as the market is now demanding for bigger sizes of abalone. Since farming abalone was a relatively newer enterprise when the farm began, the operation is considered a pioneer of growing abalone in the United States. Most of their process was derived from trial and error. “It was all learn by doing,” Buckley agcircle
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said. “We adapted the farm to what works for us here.” The process starts with spawning, which Buckley notes as the most difficult part of growing abalone. The farm has a special permit to keep spawners from the North Coast of California on their property. Tens of millions of eggs come from a single spawner, but the eggs have a staggering 90 percent mortality rate. In the hatchery building, they have around 40 to 50 million abalone growing. But when looking at the tanks, abalone isn’t visible to the naked eye because at this point of their life, the abalones are at a microscopic size. Per lifespan, approximately only one million abalones survive. After about three months, the abalones are about the size of a pinhead. At eight months of age, the abalones are ready for the larger growing tanks. The tanks on the property are lined up from north to south, from youngest to oldest, with the oldest abalone close to the shipping center of the farm’s property. When feeding the abalone, the farm makes sure they have a diet close to what they find in the ocean. Kelp is
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made readily available for the abalone, and since there are huge patches of kelp growing off the Cayucos coast of the farm, they have a nearly unlimited supply.
“
It was all learn by doing. We adapted the farm to what works for us here.
”
They chop up the kelp and distribute it across all the tanks. They also add diatoms and algae to make sure the abalones have a variety in their diet, just like in the wild. “You can’t make them do something they normally won’t do,” Buckley said. Oceanic aquaculture is one of the few industries in California that isn’t currently being impacted by the drought. In fact, the
abalones tend to have higher growth rates in droughtimpacted years. Once the abalone reaches age (four to six years), the farm sells them to various places. Roughly 10 percent of the abalone gets shucked by the farm and produced into tenderized steaks and sold directly to local restaurants. “[The abalone] can’t be mechanically separated, it needs a human touch.” The rest of the non-shucked abalone are sold and shipped to various markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Japan. The abalones are shipped in special Styrofoam containers and are stored at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit to simulate ocean conditions. It’s crucial the abalones stay cool and wet so they don’t dry out. The containers can ship out 20 to 30 pounds of abalone at a time. Live in the shell abalone sells for about
LOCAL
$30 to $40 a pound on the retail market. Abalone is typically paired with a dry white wine, such as sauvignon blanc or viognier. Rose is also typically paired with abalone. Buckley insists the best way to cook abalone is to treat it like a rib eye steak. Buckley grills the abalone fresh with brown butter, olive oil and sea salt to bring out the best flavor.
An alternative method is to coat the abalone in egg wash and panko and cook it in a skillet with white wine or caper sauce. The Abalone Farm only adds to the unique and diverse commodities found in San Luis Obispo County. Cayucos might be the commercial abalone capital of California, if not the world.
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Restoring the Riparian
STORY BY SONJA ESCHENBURG PHOTOS BY LIONEL JOHNSTON
S
an Luis Obispo is home to many things, including three different charter schools. Grizzly ChalleNGe Charter School, established in 1998, is located just down Highway 1 at Camp San Luis Obispo. The school has a heavy focus on community service and giving back. One of the most recent community service programs they participated in was working with Cal Poly’s nursery. Lionel Johnston, co-founder of One Cool Earth, has spent the past 23 years establishing nurseries all over San Luis Obispo County. 22 | Winter 2014
One Cool Earth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on planting native tree species within local communities. With Johnston’s help, the youth of Grizzly Academy have been given the opportunity to get first-hand experience of preventing gradual climate damage by planting and tending to trees all over Cal Poly’s campus. Grizzly Academy is home to young men 16 to 18 years of age working towards earning their high school diploma or GED. They live militarystyle for six months with strict
dress codes, physical training and academic work. The programs offered are entirely voluntary – students cannot be court-ordered or forced by their parents to enroll, but instead independently choose to apply and attend themselves. In an effort to improve Cal Poly’s overall landscape, the students will plant trees where it is appropriate, not necessarily everywhere. They are planting a variety of local native trees such as oaks, sycamores and redwoods in hedgerows (which act as windbreaks), as too much wind
IN THE INDUSTRY
dehydrates crops. Johnston has made it a point to have the youth plant trees on hillsides, both on the top and bottom, to protect the interior landscapes from the harsh wind. Most of the youth attending Grizzly are foster kids who have missed out on many experiences — the most prominent being a healthy work environment. Through the various programs offered, these youth learn skills that will later help them become responsible citizens. Understanding how the environment works is the first step to recreating soil agcircle
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and landscape, which are both productive and fruitful. If there is anything Johnston wants the youth to take away from this experience, it is learning to take better care of themselves, but also the world around them. He hopes
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to point them in the right direction towards sustainability by showing the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. Johnston’s views on this are simple: there is too much take and not enough give.
Packaging Up Profits
STORY/PHOTOS BY TREVOR SURROCK
M
uch like the cover of a book is to the pages of a story, the package design of fresh produce is the first thing consumers will see while shopping. Having the ability to create unique packaging and eye-catching labels largely contributes to the establishment of a company’s brand and reputation. Originally, containers were made out of woven grasses, organs from animals,
hollowed logs or other natural materials, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Luckily for all of us, packaging has come a long way thanks to innovations in technology, a greater focus on sustainability and a demand for convenience and value-added products. Today’s most common forms of packaging include glass, paper-based products, metals and plastics. Cal Poly Professor Dr.
Koushik Saha explained this high dollar industry plays a large role on how the agricultural industry does business. Saha has a Ph.D. in Packaging Science and is considered an expert on the subject by many. “Packaging is the world’s third largest industry with expenditures in the U.S. exceeding $190 billion and $600 billion worldwide,” Saha said. When it comes to
agricultural products, it is often hard for companies to differentiate their commodities. Driscoll’s, one of California’s largest berry distributors, has a significant influence on produce packaging. “[The packaging’s] shape, color, and logo are all critical components of communicating who you are as a brand,” Frances Dillard, Director of Marketing at Driscoll’s, said. agcircle
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During the entire supply chain process, packaging is a critical component in maintaining freshness, nutritional value, and product safety for the consumer, Taylor Anderson, Sales Coordinator at Taylor Farms and Cal Poly alum, said. “When you’re harvesting a commodity in California, and need it to arrive in that same condition in Florida and have up to a 14-day shelf life,” Anderson explained, “the effectiveness of a 26 | Winter 2014
packaging’s ability to maintain freshness is everything.” Companies are in constant competition to create packaging that enhances the customer experience. Consumers today are gravitating towards products on shelves that offer convenience for their family. With busy lifestyles and health conscious consumers, people want a healthy alternative to the usual snack that can be enjoyed while on the go. Companies
are responding to this issue by stepping up to the plate and offering many different solutions. Del Monte, for example, has created products such as Fresh Cut Spear Multipacks. These individually wrapped, pre-sliced watermelon and pineapples are perfect to eat whether on the way to work or adding it to a child’s lunch box. An exciting part of walking around a grocery store is being able to see
all of the produce being targeted to people with a more adventurous palate. Unfortunately, many of these more exotic fruits and vegetables are often difficult to incorporate in daily meals. This is where a gap in the marketplace and innovation combine to create a product offering convenience to the customers. Melissa’s Produce packages its coconuts in such a way that benefits both the consumer and the company. People purchasing the pre-cut Sweet Young Coconuts no longer have to go through the trouble of cracking open the tough shell. Melissa’s Produce has made it easier for people to sit by their pool and feel as if they are on a tropical vacation while sipping on fresh and delicious coconut water. Driscoll’s was a game changer in terms of
packaging in the agricultural industry. They introduced the commonly used clamshell container seen in stores today. Prior to this advancement, berries were shipped in an open basket. When the clamshell was implemented, Driscoll’s was the first to provide a better quality product, as it offered protection to the berries during transportation. Dillard expects more changes to come at Driscoll’s in terms of packaging. “Currently we are using recycled PET and are looking for more ways to improve sustainability,” Dillard said. While recent great strides have been made in the packaging industry, expect to continue seeing more innovations in the future. Packaging will continue to evolve and remain crucial to the perishable produce industry.
IN THE INDUSTRY
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How does the CDFA Serve Agriculture? Google It.
O
ur technologically advanced society has such a powerful tool that can connect anyone instantaneously with the topic they have searched: Google. Approaching the site from an agriculturalist point of view, consumers and producers alike, have the ability to tap into this free-flowing exchange of information. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has recently been focused on developing its website as a bridge. The CDFA site can help bridge the ever-present gap between producer and consumer, provide producers with access to programs, resources and assist producers with market and legislative challenges. With so much information being tossed about on the Internet, some valid, others false, the CDFA certainly has its work cut out in order to provide consumers with facts about their food, fauna, fiber and fuel. A couple clicks are all it takes to find the CDFA’s easily navigable website. The site is complete with links to resources for a wide variety of interests, including links to State Resources, how to contact various departments and department executives, the “Growing California” video series, public meeting information, industry news, employment opportunities and much more. “We’re trying to make this [information] available so anyone, say, a business professional or a curious parent, that wants to know this info can have easy access to it,” James Houston, Deputy Secretary for Legislation and Public Engagement at the CDFA, said. “Recently, we have been working on the Planting Seeds Blog and the Farm to Fork Program that we’re really proud of.” The Planting Seeds Blog and California Farm to Fork website aim to be easily accessible and navigable web pages that are both visually appealing and educational. The sites serve as a place for people to gain knowledge through postings and interaction with other readers. “We also want to facilitate local food markets. The small or medium grower may not have access to large buyers, school districts, or other institutions,” Houston said. “We’re trying to
STORY BY HANNAH FORTIN PHOTO BY KATIE ROBERTI
help the whole spectrum of farmers from those with 100,000 acres selling to schools and large institutions to five-acre specialty farmers looking to sell their product to a restaurant.” On the grower front specifically, the CDFA works to keep markets open. This effort becomes evident with the department’s pest prevention program. “Pests do economic and ecological damage that will close markets, and we want to prevent that from happening as much as possible, globally and locally,” Houston said. “The USDA monitors the nation’s borders; we monitor the state borders.” Most recently, CDFA has been dealing with the transmission of the citrus tree disease “huanglongbing” (HLB) carried by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). CDFA provides very detailed resources on how to become informed about this subject on its website. Additionally, the department is working with growers to find cold storage warehouses for their extra product, assisting in marketing and developing incentives for further research in the industry. CDFA works diligently to allocate the roughly $30 million of federal government funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – a segment of the Farm Bill that provides support for crops such as berries and vegetables that are produced on smaller scales than corn, soybeans and rice. The CDFA also “bridge[s] the gap between lawmakers and farmers [who are] trying to help growers from an advocacy perspective,” Houston said. The department is hard at work as a resource for legislators and growers as the industry battles the drought, and all of their participation is described on the website under “Environmental Stewardship”, and many other locations. As consumers browse the Internet for agriculture information on their laptop, smartphone or tablet, the updated CDFA site will help educate people about the agriculture industry. According to Houston, “The CDFA is here to promote and protect the agriculture industry.” Just try Googling it.
FEATURED NARRATIVE
Roots Run Deep Swiss Dairy
STORY/PHOTOS BY BARBARA CAUSLEY
T
he journey began at Tristelen, a house the Käslin family built in 1784. Käslins have been raising and milking dairy cows in Beckenried, Switzerland for the past 230 years. Fast forward to today, and the mature milking cows have already been herded to the next feeding grounds, roughly 1,000 ft. up to the top of the Swiss Alps. Now, it is now time for the family to heard the rest of the young calves and heifers. Rather than horseback roundups, the group of five traditional farmers grab their hiking sticks to lead the cows up the mountain themselves, the elder cows leading with the first-timers trailing behind. The final destination is the Mätt, another family home accompanied with more feeding pastures for the cows to graze. In Switzerland, it is extremely common for families to have more than one house to graze their cows near as plots of owned land are generally very small. As cows graze grass off one plot, they move to the next. The Käslin family has three homes with feeding grounds allowing their herd to graze at
each one for approximately a third of the year. Keeping with traditional, Swiss naming of the chalets, the Käslin homes are called the Gänd, Tris1telen, and the Mätt. As seasons pass, the cows move up and down the mountain to beat the snowstorms of winter. Back to the herd’s journey, after reaching the Mätt six hours from their start, the younger calves join the rest of the herd and become a complete family again. The calves gallop freely in the vast, open spaces. They graze on fresh grass that is theirs for the taking as far as the eye can see. Constant rain allows the farmers to have fresh hay and alfalfa all year-round. The cows are never in pens or gated on dirt mounds. They are either out grazing the Alps, or, being milked in the quaint barn attached to the house. The Käslin dairy is considered to be large for Switzerland standards, but small compared to stateside numbers as it only contains 40 head of cows. This number includes milking cows, the premature heifers and young calves. According to the agcircle
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“
Swiss men love their cows more than they love their wives.
�
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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an average American dairy has 1,000 to 5,000 cows. However, Switzerland is a small country. Its total population is around seven million people and is only a third of the size of California. The closest similarity between American and Swiss dairy farmers is their love for the livestock they raise. The Käslin’s truly see the cows as their family. Its difficult to work with these gentle
creatures and not get attached. Flavia Käslin is the daughter of the owner of the dairy. Franz Käslin, Flavia’s grandfather, said before his passing, “Swiss men love their cows more than their wives!” as he laughed and kissed his wife on the cheek. The cows are the family’s livelihood. As a result, they are greatly respected and appreciated. The farmers live an incredibly simplistic and traditional lifestyle. Flavia said in broken English, “We have been living this
way for the past six generations. We have lived in the same houses and love the way we live.” Today, the Kaslin family still lives off the land as much as possible, eat from their garden, drink milk from their cows and use herbs from the mountain ranges. The family is known as “Alpers” or people of the mountains. For the Käslin family, cows have been the heart of their lives for the past 230 years.
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