As an agricultural business major, senior Israel Garduno is considering a career in agricultural finance and accounting while taking an interest in appraisal, since that has been one of his favorite Fresno State classes.
The related research and analysis skills he’s learned while eyeing that profession were put to good use by Garduno and other students who competed in the USDA Agricultural Service Marketing Innovation Summit on March 18, hosted by the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.
Nine groups of students made presentations sharing their understanding of agricultural industry issues and their ability to solve the related problems. The presentations were coordinated by Nicole Nelson Miller, USDA deputy associate administrator, and Dr. Srinivasa Konduru, chair of the Department of Agricultural Business at Fresno State. USDA staff, agricultural business faculty, and industry experts served as judges.
Garduno joined two other agricultural business seniors, Kent Harris and Julyessa Struckmeyer, in analyzing the USDA’s website to provide solutions to make its seemingly endless amount of information, data and reports more user-friendly.
After researching the website and meeting with USDA data analytics management and program analyst Barbara Meredith, they created a presentation with solutions to create an improved and simplified directory, implementation of artificial intelligence and AI-integrated email subscription reports.
They added that the website could integrate a new search engine that utilized artificial intelligence to filter relevant information efficiently and incorporate past preferences in future searches. The technology could send automated follow-up emails in batches at preferred intervals and formats.
“I saw how this information is very valuable for so many people in the industry,” said Garduno, who will participate in the Jordan College’s commencement ceremony from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the Save Mart Center. “I know appraisers would love to access these trends since they work with clients in so many different commodities and parts of agriculture, especially in California. The ease and ability of AI to understand these needs can make these searches so much simpler and limitless.”
In the event’s other challenge, student teams presented ways to improve the efficiency and accuracy of raisin or barley commodity grading.
The winning team of agricultural business seniors Jacob Friesen and Kent Harris and juniors Andrew Arroyo and JonMichael Silva proposed using hyperspectral imaging technology with AI to help remove extra debris and moldy raisins. The automated detection application could gather average moisture readings to verify that sample batches were within desirable parameters.
The student teams that competed at the event also included a group from the Fresno State Viticulture and Enology Department, who presented ways to evaluate raisins more effectively using FOSS WineScan equipment.
Their experience on campus with the near-infrared spectroscopy technology showed it could improve grading speed and accuracy of raisin composition and moisture levels. The equipment could integrate automated technology such as conveyor belts, robotic feeders and arms to enhance sorting and grading efficiency and lower human labor costs for producers.
Student presentations in both competitions were scored on their use of technology, creativity, usability, efficiency, functionality and impact.
Two months earlier, 17 student teams from Fresno State and Bakersfield College had created initial proposals in the first stage of the event.
Throughout their preparation for the final competition, AMS subject-matter experts Robert Eaton, Michael Harutinian, Jesse Lujan, Jeff Vanfossen and Greg Neill assisted the teams as they shaped their presentations.
The final round judging panel included agricultural business faculty Dr. Serhat Asci and Dr. Jiaochen Liang, along with Michael Sheats, director of the Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News Division, and Barbara Meredith.
“These types of challenges encourage collaboration, build confidence, expand knowledge, create networking opportunities and forge creative solutions that lead to valuable results,” Bailey said. “[They] are more than competitions; they are opportunities to grow foundational skills and mindsets of bright students, as well as lay the foundation for innovative solutions that can benefit American farmers, ranchers and businesses.”
The one-day event began with a welcome by Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and AMS associate administrator Dr. Melissa R. Bailey.
Ben Palone, director of commercialization for Western Growers, served as the keynote speaker. He spoke to students about recent innovations in data management, machine learning and artificial intelligence that keep agriculture at the forefront of modern technology.
The Fresno State alumnus stressed how these new technologies are aligned with historic industry trends to help farmers reduce uncertainty and maximize their resources. The use of modern data allows them to more efficiently predict, understand and respond to unexpected challenges from weather, disease and environmental and market influences.
After their presentations, students attended a virtual mentoring session featuring USDA Agricultural Marketing Service staff who shared their career paths, professional highlights and job-seeking advice.
This department is one of many areas in the USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber and specialty crops. Its programs also provide the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country.
“One of the greatest successes of the AMS Innovation Summit was that it connected students directly with industry leaders,” said Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, dean of the Jordan College. “While the primary focus was on agricultural innovation to address key challenges, the event featured valuable mentoring. Students had the opportunity to receive advanced career coaching from top USDA leadership personnel and gain invaluable insights from the organization’s deep pool of expertise.”
The event was a new way for the Jordan College to connect with the nation’s leading agricultural agency. Faculty and staff are already connected to the USDA through innovation and outreach programs and grants such as the Agricultural Advancement Program, Pacific Coast Coalition Dairy Business Innovation Initiative and Southwest Regional Food Business Innovation Center.
From a personal perspective, the recent event gave students like Garduno a chance to look inside the far-reaching organization and better understand the people who direct it.
On campus, the Reedley native has been attracted to an equally impressive array of agricultural areas by joining the Plant Science Club, Viticulture Club, Enology Society of Fresno and Young Cattlemen’s Association. He has taken on a leadership role in the Fresno State FFA Field Day committee to help coordinate state contests for over 2,000 high school students from across the state. He has added leadership skills as an officer for the Agricultural Business and National Agri-Marketing Association Chapter.
He had competed in other marketing competitions with the National Grocers Association, Food Distribution Research Society, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and National Agri-Marketing Association.
In April, he was part of a Fresno State student team that won the People’s Choice award at the Fresno State Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit. Their proposal, for a more sustainable insulation product made from bamboo and agave fibers and soybean adhesives, also placed third in an overall award category judged by professionals, faculty and staff.
This event with the USDA took all of these prior experiences one step further and gave him practical skills, advice and direction.
“Looking through all the data on the USDA AMS website was really engaging,” Garduno said. “Agriculture shapes our economy in so many ways, so even if I go into a different career field, I could see how this information connects with different areas. I’ve enjoyed this journey while being able to grow continuously as a Fresno State student, and meeting the professionals at this conference showed there are so many more opportunities in agriculture.”
