UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH
21 Regional FFA Parli Pro Contest 22 Champion Choice Project Animal Sale ACE Pavilion 29 MJC Field DAY East & West Campus

V O L U M E

1 ,

I S S U E

M A R C H

1 9 , 2 0 1 4

By Sarah Lopes

MJC Celebrates 61 Years of Competition

For 61 years, the MJC Ag Department has hosted an annual FFA Field Day. The field day consists of a variety of agricultural competitions. This year, the competitions include: Agricultural Mechanics, Agronomy, Best Informed Greenhand, Dairy Cattle Judging, Farm Business Management, Farm Power & Machinery, Farm Record Book, Floriculture, Fruit Tree Judging, Job Interview, Livestock Judging, Novice Livestock Judging, Milk Quality & Dairy Food, Nursery Landscape, Poultry Judging, Small Engines, and Vegetable Crops. Last year, an estimated 1,800 FFA members competed in the field day with similar numbers pegged for this year. This is the biggest event the MJC Ag Department hosts each year. Its phenomenal success is a direct result of the instructors knowledge, student help, and teamwork by all.

APRIL
5 Spring Classic JackpotACE Pavilion 10&17 YF Softball TournamentWest Campus Soccer Field 24 Last Breakfast ACE Pavilion

Scholarships due this spring: Check www.mjc.edu/ag

SEE PG. 4 FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO HELP.

In this issue
Field Day Student Spotlight Staff Spotlight Livestock Judging World Ag Expo SJ Ag Fest CAL Conference Field Day Continued

Student Spotlight:
This issues Student Spotlight goes to Jake Olsen. He comes to us from the small town of Fallon, Nevada. He is a sophomore here at MJC and is a herdsmen for the student-run Swine Unit. Olsen is not only a member of the livestock judging team but also a Sophomore Field Day Chairperson. Besides from being involved in school Jake has the special talent of singing. You can hear him sing at almost any MJC Agriculture Department event. Thank you Jake for all of the hard work and dedication that you bring to us here at MJC!
Know someone who should be spotlighted? Let us know today! 1

Contact Us
Agriculture Communications Newsletter hobbys@mjc.edu tmenane@student.yosemite.edu Room Ag127 MW 8:00-9:25

Modesto Junior College Ag News

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com

Staff Spotlight:

Spotlighting staff from all departments of MJC

Our MJC Ag News first Staff Spotlight goes to Dimitri Keriotis. Dimitri teaches a Short Fiction Creative Writing class and three sections of English 101. This semester, his 101 classes revolve around The Congo. As a student he graduated from Yuba City High School; he then went on to attend UC Santa Cruz. Prior to employment here at MJC, he spent his time all over the world. Volunteering in the Peace Corps and teaching English in Greece led him to living a prime example to us all of selfless service. His favorite part of teaching is working with students, talking ideas, and learning from them. After leaving his classroom, he wants students to pursue their passions. The discussion in class and the thought provoking style of his teaching allow his students to do just that. If you are in search for a teacher who uses the curriculum to help motivate you towards reaching your goals, Dimitri Keriotis is the instructor for you!

Hughson High School May 2-3, 2014 Hilmar High April 14th-15th, 2014

Modesto Junior College Young Farmers

Please help us reach our fundraising goal of $2,000 by donating.

Dairy Judging Takes the Lead

By Nicole Hobby

(HANFORD, CA) On March 1, seven students from MJC competed in the annual Great Western Dairy Judging Contest. This event takes place at the Kings Fairgrounds. Although the contest is open to everyone, it is usually MJC competing against Cal Poly as a warm-up contest to prepare them for future competitions. The contestants judged five classes and gave two sets of reasons. These classes included Holstein five-year-olds, Holstein threeyear-olds, Holstein spring yearlings, Jersey four-year-olds, and Jersey spring yearlings. It was the MJC Girls and the MJC boys that made for friendly competition even between the MJC squad. The MJC girls team members were Joya Lemos, Rachel Roberson, Belgica Yoc, Victoria De Leon. AJ Vaz, Austin Bettencourt, and Mark Vieira made up the MJC boys team. AJ Vaz was the high individual for MJC with 388 points, Mark Vieira was second high with 378 points, and Rachel Roberson was third high with 339 points. Cal Poly won the contest with 2298 points. The MJC Hanford Dairy Judging Teams MJC boys team came in third with 1982 points. MJCs Dairy Judg- From left to right: Austin Bettencourt, AJ Jaz, Mark Vieira, Joya Lemos, Belgica Yoc, Rachel Roberson, Victoria De Leon, Coach Mr. Bill Hobby ing team is looking forward to their upcoming contests.

Modesto Junior College Ag News

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com

World Agriculture Gathers in Tulare

By John Westberg

MJC Brings Home the Blue

The 47th annual World Ag Expo finished its three-day stint on February 13th, hosting 1,500 exhibitors and over 100,000 attendees from fifty different countries. Over 1,000 volunteers were involved in the planning and organization of this massive event. Californias Governor Jerry Brown and South Dakotas Governor Dennis Daugaard were in attendance this year. Another notable attendee was San Francisco 49ers, All-Pro linebacker, Patrick Willis. This event has become a very important place for ag business as well as ag education. Thousands of buyers and sellers came together at this event. Thousands of students have their eyes opened to thousands of products and concepts. The World Ag Expo has become the cant miss event for ag-related companies to show off new and improved products. Not only does the World Ag Expo give opportunities for buyers and sellers, it also holds seminars regarding all things agriculture throughout the event. These presentations cover a wide range of topics in the ag world ranging from education, challenges of farming in developing countries to the current drought and more. The 2015 World Ag Expo will be held on February 10-12th, 2015. Plan for it!

By Tyler Menane

On March 7th, twenty -five MJC students competed at the California Agriculture Leadership Conference in Salinas, California. Kayla Welcher presented a Prepared Public Speaking Speech on The Prevention of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. My favorite part of going, Welcher said, is spending time with my friends from the Ag Department and competing in the same contests I loved in FFA. For most students at the contest, they thrive off the thrill of the competition. For Welcher, it goes beyond that. I get to speak about something that Im passionate about. At the end of the day it just makes holding the plaque even sweeter. And that she did, by placing 3rd in Prepared Public Speaking. If you have a passion for Agriculture, and love the thrill of competition, be sure to sign up to compete next year, which will be at Modesto Junior College!

Fair Turns to Fest

By Daniel Titus

The San Joaquin County Fair was established in 1860 and recently celebrated their 150th year. After many years of operation, this will be the first year that San Joaquin County will not have the regular fair to serve the communities of Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, and the surrounding areas. After several years of deficit finances, the fair has been suspended for this year and perhaps more. With the help of several community members, the livestock and vocational competitions will continue through a new event named AgFest. There are a large number of community members which have come together to form a committee to create this event. AgFest will be a five day show that consists of all livestock projects and an auction as well as vocational education projects. Perhaps this event will help to maintain the area FFA and 4-H involvement in the absence of a county fair. AgFest will be held and the San Joaquin County fairground on June 17-21.

Job Interview: Ag Production 1st Kayla Welcher, 2nd Chris Hudson Ag Sales 3rd Lainey Smith Ag Teacher1st Makenna Hanson, 3rd Anthony Drumonde Horticulture 1st Heath Sousa, 3rd Kenny Saephan Ag Mech Technician 1st Joseph Borrelli College Bowl: 1st MJC B, 4th MJC A Prepared Public Speaking: 1st Lainey Smith, 2nd Eileen Desmond, 3rd Kayla Welcher Extemporaneous Speaking: 3rd John Westberg Portfolio: 1st Dominique Germann, 2nd Lainey Smith, 3rd Brad Borges Discussion Meet: 1st Katy Gaede, 2nd Dominique Germann Team Marketing: 1st: Brad Borges, Joseph Borrelli, Makenna Hanson, and Kenny Saephan; 2nd: Anthony Drumonde, Tyler Menane, and Mikaela Williams 3

Modesto Junior College Ag News

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com

61 Annual MJC FFA Field Day

17 Contests to Help
Contest Advisor

ST

Agricultural Mechanics Agronomy Best Informed Greenhand Dairy Cattle Judging Farm Business Management Farm Power & Machinery Farm Record Book Floriculture Fruit Tree Judging Job Interview Livestock Judging Livestock Judging (Novice) Milk Quality & Dairy Food Nursery Landscape Poultry Judging Small Engines Vegetable Crop

Amador Alves Borges B. Hobby Borges Conrado Borges Brumley Morales Borges Mendes/ Schnoor B. Hobby Pollard Boyd Conrado Morales Mandatory Co-Chair Field Day Meeting Wednesday 3/19/2014 6-7pm Room: AG132

March th 29 , 2014
Prep-work done day before. 3/28/14 1-3pm AG125

Your help is needed! Talk to an advisor today!

The MJC Field Day is one of the most competitive events for FFA members during the school year. Help us continue the tradition of success!
Modesto Junior College Ag News
4

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com