UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH
1 California Collegiate Dairy JudgingHanford 7 CAL Conference Hartnell 9 CA Collegiate Livestock Show Porterville 15-16 Stanislaus Youth Poultry Show 21 Regional FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest 22 Champions 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

F E B R U A R Y

2 6 ,

2 0 1 4

MJCs Ag News Kick-Off

Photo and Article by John Westberg MJC Ag News is comprised of the Ag Communications Class taught by Sue Hobby. The class consists of Matthew Marshall, Nicole Serpa, Tyler Menane, John Westberg, Jake Kaiser, Dominique Germann, Jason Parker, Sarah Lopes, Dustin Parson, Daniel Titus, and Nicole Hobby. We are starting a biweekly newsletter highlighting agriculture in and around MJC. The goal of MJC Ag News is to inform people about agriculture within Modesto Junior College and the Stanislaus County area. We will do this via the MJC Ag News newsletter, MJC Ag News Facebook page, and a website. We are excited for this great opportunity to represent MJC by communicating events and activities of the MJC Agriculture Department. The MJC Agriculture Department is one of, if not the best, programs in California; with students and instructors that are committed to increasing the level of agricultural knowledge and expertise in California and the world. We are dedicated to provide news and information through our outlets with the highest level of journalistic ethics. Thank you for reading and going on this exciting journey with us.

Scholarships due this spring: always check www.mjcag.com

In this issue:
MJC Ag News ACE Pavilion Student Spotlight Young Farmers Ag Incentive Grant

Whats Happening at the ACE Pavilion

By Sarah Lopes
On February 22, the MJC Animal Science Club co-hosted the Golden Opportunity Club Lamb Sale. At this sale, six lambs raised by MJC Ag interns were sold. Mr. Nicewonger from Oakdale provided nineteen lambs in the sale. All of these lambs are high quality show lambs. The preview started at 10:00am and the auction began at 11:00am. At the conclusion of the sale, the Charmasson Lamb Show Camp was held on both the 22nd and the 23rd. At this event, Chad Charmasson instructed 31 students about proper lamb care, fitting, and showing. This new event hosted at the Pavilion was a great fundraiser and recruitment tool for future MJC students. On March 15 and 16, MJC will be co-hosting the Stanislaus County Youth Poultry Show. Many different activities will take place at this event, and the projected attendance is over 400 students and many more chickens!

Contact Us
Agricultural Communications Class hobbys@mjc.edu Room Ag 127 MW 8:00-9:25

Modesto Junior College Ag News

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com

Student Spotlight:
This issues Student Spotlight goes to Shannon Tower. Shannon was the winner of this years Showdown in Motown showmanship class. She is from Copperopolis, California and a Sophomore here at MJC. Her major is Ag Business and she is transferring to Oklahoma State University in the Fall. Not only does Shannon show cattle, she is a West Campus Intern for the Nursery Unit as well as the Environmental Horticulture Science Club President. She would like to thank the sponsors of the jackpot Nasco and Nutrena for her scholarship earnings.

Do you know your Spring 2014 Young Farmers Officers?

(Left to right) Anthony Drumonde (Treasurer), Jeremy Leeper (President), Makenna Hanson (Historian), Chelsea Maddox (Secretary), Mikaela Williams (Vice-President), Garrett Morales (ICC Rep), Brad Borges (Reporter).

Next Young Farmer Event!

Know someone who should be Spotlighted? Contact us and tell us who!

Governor Brown Cuts Ag Incentive Grant

By Tyler Menane

or many MJC students, we found a sense of comfort and ease in our high school Agriculture Departments. Agriculture Education programs throughout the state provide a wide variety of students the ability to study areas of interest in a learn-by-doing manner. However, what separated our Ag Biology class from our peers Biology class was the incorporated Three Ring Model of Agriculture Education: Classroom/Laboratory, Supervised Agriculture Experience, and FFA. It doesnt matter if we were in the Ag mechanics shop daily, exhibiting livestock at our local fair or an officer in the FFA, we each have been able to take something away from our high school Agriculture Education Courses. In Governor Jerry Browns January Budget, he has eliminated the Ag Incentive Grant, an estimated $4 million that was specially earmarked for Agriculture Education. Under his budget, the money would be given

directly to school districts to determine how the Writing Tips money will be spent. This means that money aimed at helping increase the education of agri Introduce yourcultural students involved will now be sent to self: If you had help a variety of district officials desires. Asless than a semblymembers Adam Gray and Rudy Salas minute to tell recently introduced legislation on February 20 your story, what to ensure continued funding for California Agwould you say? ricultural education. Want to have your voice heard? Write Make sure your letter and enveimmediately to your local Senator and/or Aslope look professemblyman (available at http:// sional findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov). Let them know the positive impact Agriculture Education left Have a friend, parent, or teachon you. Remember that 25% of the nations er look over your food is produced in California, which is a vital letter. part of Californias economy. Once you have used the tips at the right, send your letter. The time is now to let the voice of the citizen be heard!

Remember whom you represent. Be polite!

Modesto Junior College Ag News

www.mjcagnews.weebly.com