Agriculture Students ASMJC Officers
Congratulations to all our newly elected ASMJC Officers for the 2014-2015 Academic School Year. MJC AgNews would like to send additional applause to four of our very own Agriculture students who were elected for this upcoming year!
Vice President of Legislation: Tyler Menane, Agriculture Science
Vice President of Finance: Jason Mendes, Agriculture Business
Vice President of Communications: John Westberg, Agriculture Business
Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Senator: Brad Borges, Mechanized Agriculture
Vice President of Legislation: Tyler Menane, Agriculture Science
Vice President of Finance: Jason Mendes, Agriculture Business
Vice President of Communications: John Westberg, Agriculture Business
Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Senator: Brad Borges, Mechanized Agriculture
MJC Plant Sale April 5th
by John Westberg and Jason Parker
This years 18th annual plant sale was a success, probally one of the best years yet. This year we raised over $11,ooo ensureing funds for next years operation of the greenhouse. This event is put on by Dale Pollard, who is head of the horticulture department at MJC. The sale started at 8AM, going until 4PM, before we could open the gates there was a line around the corner. The sale was a huge success, selling out of many popular outside vegetables and herbs within the first hour. The atmosphere and envirorment must have been perfect because everybody was in a great mood and we sold out fast. We would like to Thank all the students who particapated and our customers, because we could have not done it witout you, thank you and hopefully we will see you next year at the 19th annual MJC plant sale.
by John Westberg and Jason Parker
This years 18th annual plant sale was a success, probally one of the best years yet. This year we raised over $11,ooo ensureing funds for next years operation of the greenhouse. This event is put on by Dale Pollard, who is head of the horticulture department at MJC. The sale started at 8AM, going until 4PM, before we could open the gates there was a line around the corner. The sale was a huge success, selling out of many popular outside vegetables and herbs within the first hour. The atmosphere and envirorment must have been perfect because everybody was in a great mood and we sold out fast. We would like to Thank all the students who particapated and our customers, because we could have not done it witout you, thank you and hopefully we will see you next year at the 19th annual MJC plant sale.
Young Farmers Casino Night March 13th
2014 CAL Contest March 7th
Photos by John Westberg
MJC Poultry at the PEPA Conference in Hawaii
By John Westberg
Poultry Instructor Marlies Boyd and students Kelsey Lowe, Lauren Young, and Jenica Reagan (pictured right) attended the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PEPA) conference in Maui Hawaii. The MJC representatives arrived in Hawaii on Monday February 24th and then came back on Friday February 28th. MJC was one of three colleges at the event, the others two colleges were Cal Poly SLO and Oregon State. On Monday, Kelsey Lowe and Lauren Young each gave a scientific presentations and all three students were awarded scholarships from the PEPA conference. The PEPA was not student conference, it is mainly an industry conference with industry presenters. These presentations covered topics such as; proposition 2, new vaccines, an egg substitute, and other current issues around the poultry world. The Industry presenters would normally end at noon, which gave the opportunity for the students to experience Hawaii.
Poultry Instructor Marlies Boyd and students Kelsey Lowe, Lauren Young, and Jenica Reagan (pictured right) attended the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PEPA) conference in Maui Hawaii. The MJC representatives arrived in Hawaii on Monday February 24th and then came back on Friday February 28th. MJC was one of three colleges at the event, the others two colleges were Cal Poly SLO and Oregon State. On Monday, Kelsey Lowe and Lauren Young each gave a scientific presentations and all three students were awarded scholarships from the PEPA conference. The PEPA was not student conference, it is mainly an industry conference with industry presenters. These presentations covered topics such as; proposition 2, new vaccines, an egg substitute, and other current issues around the poultry world. The Industry presenters would normally end at noon, which gave the opportunity for the students to experience Hawaii.
Young Farmers and Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet 2014
By Dominique Germann
Modesto Junior College competed in the California Farm Bureau Federation’s YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet on March 1, 2014. Brad Borges, Katy Gaede, Dominique Germann, Chris Hudson and Heath Sousa competed against students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Fresno and Santa Rosa Junior College. Discussion Meet is a contest that mimics a committee meeting in which participants attempt to lead discussion based on a variety of agricultural topics. These topics range from increasing Farm Bureau membership to working with legislators on agricultural regulations.
HIGHLIGHTS: Katy Gaede and Dominique Germann advanced to the Elite Eight Semi-Finals.
Modesto Junior College competed in the California Farm Bureau Federation’s YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet on March 1, 2014. Brad Borges, Katy Gaede, Dominique Germann, Chris Hudson and Heath Sousa competed against students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Fresno and Santa Rosa Junior College. Discussion Meet is a contest that mimics a committee meeting in which participants attempt to lead discussion based on a variety of agricultural topics. These topics range from increasing Farm Bureau membership to working with legislators on agricultural regulations.
HIGHLIGHTS: Katy Gaede and Dominique Germann advanced to the Elite Eight Semi-Finals.
Livestock Judging Heads to Houston
By Dustin Parson
The Modesto Junior College Livestock Judging Team just arrived home from the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. Before the contest the team worked out at many different places such as Colorado State University, Magness Land and cattle, and various other cattle ranches. Brandon Machado, Alex Borba, Jake Olsen, Amy Hanks, and Kayla Welcher competed in the contest and Brandon Machado won 2nd in cattle and 2nd in sheep overall in the Livestock Judging Contest. After that the Carload contest was the next day, Brandon Machado, Alex Borba, Dustin Parson, Jesse Odom. We were in the top ten teams for that part of the contest. As we draw to a close our upcoming events we are headed to Huston Texas Stock how at the beginning of March. Our team is excited to have the opportunity to travel and compete in this contest.
The Modesto Junior College Livestock Judging Team just arrived home from the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. Before the contest the team worked out at many different places such as Colorado State University, Magness Land and cattle, and various other cattle ranches. Brandon Machado, Alex Borba, Jake Olsen, Amy Hanks, and Kayla Welcher competed in the contest and Brandon Machado won 2nd in cattle and 2nd in sheep overall in the Livestock Judging Contest. After that the Carload contest was the next day, Brandon Machado, Alex Borba, Dustin Parson, Jesse Odom. We were in the top ten teams for that part of the contest. As we draw to a close our upcoming events we are headed to Huston Texas Stock how at the beginning of March. Our team is excited to have the opportunity to travel and compete in this contest.
MJC Celebrates 61 Years of Competition
FFA Field Day Contest Overviews
By John Westberg
Poultry Judging
At the poultry Judging contest at MJC Ag Field Day, high school FFA students are given a chance to show their poultry knowledge. MJC Poultry instructor Marlies Boyd has been running the Poultry Judging contest for twenty years. During the event the contestants will judge live hens, meat birds, judge turkey carcass, candle and grade eggs both external and internal, identify cuts of poultry, have to grade poultry parts and carcass, written defects on bone in and boneless, and written test. They are also required to give reasons on the live hen, meat bird, and turkey carcass judging. There are a total of 12 sub contests with in the overall contest. The Poultry Judging contest takes place at the Poultry unit. Currently there is not limit for the amount of contestants. For this year’s contest there are 82 contestants registered
Poultry Judging
At the poultry Judging contest at MJC Ag Field Day, high school FFA students are given a chance to show their poultry knowledge. MJC Poultry instructor Marlies Boyd has been running the Poultry Judging contest for twenty years. During the event the contestants will judge live hens, meat birds, judge turkey carcass, candle and grade eggs both external and internal, identify cuts of poultry, have to grade poultry parts and carcass, written defects on bone in and boneless, and written test. They are also required to give reasons on the live hen, meat bird, and turkey carcass judging. There are a total of 12 sub contests with in the overall contest. The Poultry Judging contest takes place at the Poultry unit. Currently there is not limit for the amount of contestants. For this year’s contest there are 82 contestants registered
By John Westberg
Floriculture
The Floriculture competition at MJC is run by, MJC floriculture instructor, Gale Brumley. She has run
the competition on and off for the last 17 years. This event seeks to effectively prepare students for the expectations of the Ag floral industry. This competition is capped at 100 students and is held at MJC East Campus. The students are then divided into teams of four, making a total of 25 teams. Each individual on every team completes every task during this event. The most possible points per individual are 900 and there is a maximum of 2700 points per team. The competitors will participate in Flower ID, Potted Plant ID, Tool/Material ID, as well as creating their own corsages in thirty minutes.
Floriculture
The Floriculture competition at MJC is run by, MJC floriculture instructor, Gale Brumley. She has run
the competition on and off for the last 17 years. This event seeks to effectively prepare students for the expectations of the Ag floral industry. This competition is capped at 100 students and is held at MJC East Campus. The students are then divided into teams of four, making a total of 25 teams. Each individual on every team completes every task during this event. The most possible points per individual are 900 and there is a maximum of 2700 points per team. The competitors will participate in Flower ID, Potted Plant ID, Tool/Material ID, as well as creating their own corsages in thirty minutes.
By Dustin Parson
Best Informed Greenhand
The chair and co-chair for the BIG contest are Andy Torres and Dominique Germann. The
objective of the Best Informed Greenhand contest is to understand the aims, purposes, history,
and structure of the Local, State, and National FFA student organizations and know the
opportunities it makes available as referenced in the current National FFA Manual and State
Constitution.
Farm Business Management
The chair and co-chair for the Farm Business Management are Liza Payne and Kristen Wright.
The National FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event is designed to test
the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch
business management decisions.
Job Interview
The chair and co-chair for the Job interview contest are Bailey Taberna and Andrew Beaken.
The Job Interview Career Development Event is a competitive activity that tests students' ability
to perform effectively throughout the entire job application process. The participants prepare
resumes, cover letters and complete a written application. They also participate in phone, one-on-
one and panel job interviews as part of the competition.
Farm Record Book
The chair and co-chair for the Farm Record Book contest are Kristen Wright and Liza Payne.
The National FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event is designed to test
the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch
business management decisions in their FFA record book.
Best Informed Greenhand
The chair and co-chair for the BIG contest are Andy Torres and Dominique Germann. The
objective of the Best Informed Greenhand contest is to understand the aims, purposes, history,
and structure of the Local, State, and National FFA student organizations and know the
opportunities it makes available as referenced in the current National FFA Manual and State
Constitution.
Farm Business Management
The chair and co-chair for the Farm Business Management are Liza Payne and Kristen Wright.
The National FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event is designed to test
the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch
business management decisions.
Job Interview
The chair and co-chair for the Job interview contest are Bailey Taberna and Andrew Beaken.
The Job Interview Career Development Event is a competitive activity that tests students' ability
to perform effectively throughout the entire job application process. The participants prepare
resumes, cover letters and complete a written application. They also participate in phone, one-on-
one and panel job interviews as part of the competition.
Farm Record Book
The chair and co-chair for the Farm Record Book contest are Kristen Wright and Liza Payne.
The National FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event is designed to test
the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch
business management decisions in their FFA record book.
By Sarah Lopes
Livestock Judging
At the upcoming Field Day, Livestock Judging is one of the largest contests with probably the most participants. This year’s contest chairs are Sophomores: Amy Hanks and Halee Cole, and Freshmen: Brittnay Grogan, and Hannah Neville. The advisors for this contest are Mr. Mendes and Ms. Schnoor. There are two different sections of the contest, advanced and novice. The students in this contest judge 11 classes of any combination of beef cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats. These animals can be either market or breeding classes. The contestants also take a written test, and the advanced students give four sets of reasons on why they placed certain classes in that particular order. After the contest, sub-awards are given for the contest on the high placing teams and individuals in reasons, beef, sheep, and swine. Then the overall high team and individual awards are given in the gym with the rest of the contests.
Livestock Judging
At the upcoming Field Day, Livestock Judging is one of the largest contests with probably the most participants. This year’s contest chairs are Sophomores: Amy Hanks and Halee Cole, and Freshmen: Brittnay Grogan, and Hannah Neville. The advisors for this contest are Mr. Mendes and Ms. Schnoor. There are two different sections of the contest, advanced and novice. The students in this contest judge 11 classes of any combination of beef cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats. These animals can be either market or breeding classes. The contestants also take a written test, and the advanced students give four sets of reasons on why they placed certain classes in that particular order. After the contest, sub-awards are given for the contest on the high placing teams and individuals in reasons, beef, sheep, and swine. Then the overall high team and individual awards are given in the gym with the rest of the contests.
MJC represented at Educating for Careers
By Dominique Germann
The Educating for Careers Conference was held in Sacramento on March 2-4, 2014. The conference
focuses on Career Technical Education courses and working with teachers responsible for those
programs. Modesto Junior College was represented by Mr.Borges, Brad Borges, Dominique Germann
and Andy Torres who aided in putting on the conference. MJC also presented a workshop about
creating Portfolios, which received great feedback from participants.
The Educating for Careers Conference was held in Sacramento on March 2-4, 2014. The conference
focuses on Career Technical Education courses and working with teachers responsible for those
programs. Modesto Junior College was represented by Mr.Borges, Brad Borges, Dominique Germann
and Andy Torres who aided in putting on the conference. MJC also presented a workshop about
creating Portfolios, which received great feedback from participants.