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 During
his first five weeks attending Fresno State, freshman Aaron Leonard, a
self-proclaimed “city boy” from Los Angeles, learned more than just his
way around the campus. He learned how to show a 150-pound animal in
competition.
It all started when one of Leonard’s teachers, John Cordeiro of the
Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education, encouraged
students in his animal science class to work on the Campus Farm. He also
asked if any of them would like to show an animal at the Big Fresno
Fair.
“I had seen animals before, but I had never worked with them,” Leonard
said. “I’m a city boy who wanted to work with animals, and I feel
privileged because the people from my hometown aren’t getting the
experiences that I am taking part in.”
He’s majoring in animal science with plans to make a career in the
industry.
Every year, California State University, Fresno agricultural students
are involved with several events at the fair. Many of the students grew
up on San Joaquin Valley farms and have been showing animals at fairs or
been involved in agriculture for years.
However, a few, like Leonard, have never stepped into a livestock ring
and are participating in fair activities for the first time at this
year’s Big Fresno Fair, which runs through Oct. 14.
Leonard will be one of the handful of students who making their debut
showing animals today.
“It doesn’t matter if I win or lose. It’s the experience that counts,”
said Leonard, who will be showing sheep, joining fellow Fresno State
students exhibiting sheep, dairy and beef cattle. University students
also are organizing the collegiate judging contests on Saturday, Oct. 6,
and assisting with 4-H and FFA junior livestock shows next week.
One of the fair’s most-popular activities that gets an assist from
Fresno State students is the Animal Birthing Center, a fair showcase
since 2004. During the entire run of the fair, the center gives visitors
a close-up experience of livestock parenthood. Calves, piglets, lambs
and kids will arrive, and so will armfuls of newly hatched chicks.
Fresno State animal science students who are members of the Pre-Vet,
Dairy and Young Cattlemen’s clubs volunteer to work around the clock to
care for the animals. They also provide educational information about
the Valley’s rich agricultural heritage to fair visitors.
The Animal Birthing Center in the northeast corner of the fair’s
Livestock Pavilion (near the Butler Avenue entrance) has six television
screens, which broadcast animal-science videos made by students.
Background information about the animals also will be posted near their
pens.
For more information about Fresno State’s animal science program, call
559.278.2971.
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