Fresno State graduate student Brendan Black’s thirst for knowledge and sharing how agriculture touches all lives has blossomed and evolved in new ways since starting his “Talk Ag to Me” podcast more than three years ago.
Over the course of 129 episodes, he has explored agriculture through a wide range of perspectives with guests ranging from industry professionals to consumers.
The once-shy, Tulare Joint Union High School freshman initially found the confidence to share this voice with the help of three high school agricultural teachers – Dave Caetano, Kevin Koelewyn and Shay Williams-Hopper – all Fresno State alumni.
“I’m so grateful for all their support and positive reinforcement, and how they challenged me to try new things in the classroom,” Black said. “They encouraged me to enter FFA speaking contests and attend leadership conferences, which have definitely helped shape my career path.”
These experiences also helped Black at the Young Farmers and Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet, held at the American Farm Bureau FUSION Conference in Jacksonville, Florida in March.
Over the course of three days, 33 student contestants from around the nation were judged on their understanding of key agricultural issues; ability to facilitate positive discussion and collaboration; and courtesy, etiquette and time management skills.
Black advanced to the 16-person semifinal round based on combined scores in the pair of opening rounds.
Initial round topics included how the American Farm Bureau could help the integration of autonomous and drone technology on farms, and encourage younger members to maintain more sustainable farms and ranches. The round of 16 topic examined how the organization could use policy development and programming to reduce the impact of external influences on supply chain disruptions for its nearly 6 million members.
Black prepared for the five potential topics during the fall and winter with help from faculty advisers Dr. Steven Rocca and Dr. Avery Culberston and others. Tricia Stever Blattler, executive director of Tulare County Farm Bureau; and other industry members contributed industry-specific background and suggested additional resources. Stephanie Younger, a state farm bureau staff member, added last-minute advice at the Florida event.
“It was an unbelievable experience, partly since I had never been outside of California except for national FFA conventions (in Louisville and Indianapolis),” Black said. “It was interesting to look at how other states deal with similar issues but with much different resources. Dr. Rocca was worried that I was studying too hard beforehand, but it was so interesting to learn about these topics, and then integrate their ideas with mine.”
Black qualified for the event by winning the state discussion meet that was hosted this past December.
The year before, Black made his debut at the state event and finished as one of four state finalists.
Black was encouraged to join the Fresno State discussion team in 2021 by Rocca, the team’s adviser since 2006. A former Fresno State agricultural education graduate and Easton native, Rocca had guided Fresno State students to eight individual and 10 team titles at the state meet, as well as three national individual titles.
“I felt Brendan was a great fit for the discussion meet contest after I had worked with him in class and as an academic adviser,” Rocca said. “I had first met him when he attended the College of the Sequoias, and had heard about his podcast and speaking history in high school and was impressed.”
In high school, Black advanced to the state FFA extemporaneous public speaking contest as a senior and competed as a junior.
“The farm bureau discussion and FFA extemporaneous contests are similar in that you’re thinking on your feet how to best convey different industry concepts, yet they are also a little different. The discussion part involves working back-and-forth with other competitors and has a very research-heavy component,” Black said.
His interest in researching the industry came in handy as he wrote and recorded over 100 stories for the AgNet West radio network for over a year as a Fresno State undergraduate student. His five-minute stories often focused on agricultural education topics and featured teachers, farm bureau employees and others developing new curriculum and ag literacy programs.
This spring, he is focused on finishing his graduate-level classes and starting his master’s ag literacy research project. In the fall, he hopes to wrap up his graduate research thesis while he starts his first semester of student teaching, followed by a full semester of student teaching next spring.
He is also currently creating an agricultural leader roundtable event this summer that will feature producers from different industries, consumers and other professionals discussing industry topics and effective communication methods.
This spring he is equally busy four days a week as a teacher’s aide at Palo Verde Elementary School in Tulare, the same school he attended. He helps students one-on-one who could use some extra help in a kindergarten class taught by Shannon Demalignon, who was his fourth-grade teacher.
Being a mentor allows him to help kids understand how education can open a new universe of opportunities. It’s a perfect chance for him to return the same favor he received, while preparing for his high school ag teacher career.
“Coming from a small town, it’s a little special to walk the same halls, and develop new relationships with some of my former teachers,” Black said. “However, the biggest rewards are the relationships I get to create with students, even the kids who might be seen as troublemakers. Being able to understand their needs, and figuring out how to channel their motivations through encouragement, it’s rewarding to see them grow in new directions.”
