The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is hosting its fifth annual Food, Family and Farm Month, which will showcase over 20 in-person and virtual events featuring Fresno State students, staff, faculty and supporters and their close ties to the Central Valley community and agricultural industry.
All of the activities are open to the public over the course of five weeks, and many are free.
The Jordan College Open House begins the series from 9 a.m. to Noon Saturday, Oct. 7, with family-friendly activities, campus farm and winery tours and demonstrations, and lots of free prizes and free food samples.
A free wine tasting at the Gibson Farm Market (5368 N Chestnut Ave,) follows that Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. as part of a fall series hosted by wine marketing students. Similar wine tastings will be held each Friday and Saturday through Saturday, December 2, except for Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and Thanksgiving Break on Nov. 24 and 25. A select ‘wine of the month’ will be discounted 20 percent at each tasting, and the market is the only place to buy the more than 20 varieties of award-winning, student-made wines.
The campus California Water Institute will spotlight water-related research, studies, education and online presentations by faculty and students at its “Imagine a Day Without Water’ program Thursday, Oct. 19.
The Ag One Foundation will host its 52nd annual Turf Day Golf Classic Friday, Oct. 20, at Belmont Country Club for alumni, campus and industry supporters. Ag One supporters can also attend the West Side Luncheon Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Fresno Equipment Company (21350 S. Lassen Ave, Five Points).
The Gibson Farm Market will host its annual fall festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, and will feature a free pumpkin patch and kids zone, and a wine tasting from 1 to 4 p.m.
The public is invited to the Whole Vine Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 on the campus lawn northeast of the Science II Building (and southwest of the corner of Barstow and Woodrow). The free event offers wine tasting, educational elements, food trucks, music, art and kids activities that spotlight the San Joaquin Valley’s role as a national leader in table, raisin and wine grape production.
Agricultural companies can meet students from all six of the College’s academic departments at the college’s Welcome Back Social & Career Fair from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at O’Neill Park (2611 E Barstow Ave.) to discuss internship and full-time positions. Registration and sponsorships are available at the HireFresnoState employer link, or by contacting Nancy Vue (nvue@mail.fresnostate.edu).
Alumni and industry supporters are invited to a Centennial Tailgate at O’Neill Park that will start three hours before the homecoming football game. Dinner tickets are $20 each person or $30 for dinner and two alcoholic beverages.
Additional industry and research presentations will be coordinated by the Jordan College’s three research centers, the Center for Irrigation Technology, Institute for Food and Agriculture and Viticulture and Enology Research Center.
CIT will host in-field demonstrations of innovative technology at the University Agricultural Laboratory at its seventh annual Ag Tech Day, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The free event is aimed at growers and industry members and includes an exposition featuring 30 vendors promoting their agricultural products and services.
The seventh annual Day of Giving on Thursday, Nov. 2 will encourage donors to support agriculture students through gifts of $10 or more towards scholarships, the campus farm, Dean’s Fund or its six academic departments.
The Jordan College will host its 42nd annual Agribusiness Management Conference 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Pardini’s Banquets and Catering (2257 West Shaw Avenue). Agricultural industry experts from Wells Fargo, S&P Global and other financial organizations will make presentations about Central Valley, national and international economic trends.
The Viticulture and Enology Department will host its 16th annual internship and career fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 8, at the Fresno State Winery. Employers can sign up by Wednesday, Nov. 1 for $250 for a table to promote their internship and full-time opportunities. Registration costs after Nov. 1 increase to $275.
The campus viticulture club will host its 70th annual Fall Harvest BBQ at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at the Kings River Winery (4276. S. Greenwood Ave., Sanger). The event features food, wine and an auction at its biggest fundraiser of the year to support the student club’s professional enhancement activities and industry visits. Regular admission tickets are $70 or $60 for students and veterans.
The Bulldoggers campus rodeo club will host a fall rodeo against the West Coast’s top collegiate teams Friday, Nov. 10, at the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds (44777 Rodeo Grounds Ln, Coarsegold, CA 93614). Tickets can be purchased online.
More information on many of these events is available by contacting Luz Mendoza (luzmendoza@csufresno.edu).
