The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is hosting its sixth annual Food, Family and Farm Month, which will showcase nearly 20 events featuring Fresno State students, staff, faculty and supporters and their close ties to the area agricultural industry.
All of the activities are open to the public over the course of almost five weeks, and many are free.
The Jordan College Open House at O’Neill Park (2611 E. Barstow Ave.) opens the busiest day of the month from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 19, with family-friendly activities, campus farm and winery tours, drone demonstrations, prizes, food samples, research presentations and a visit by Victor E. Bulldog IV.
The Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.) will feature a fall plant sale at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, followed by its Fall Festival from noon to 3 p.m. that features a pumpkin patch, wine tasting, food samples and activities for kids.
The Whole Vine Festival will also happen that weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. The free event on the campus lawn, northeast of the Science II Building (near the southwest corner Woodrow and Barstow avenues) offers food samples, wine tasting, educational displays, food trucks, art, music and kids activities that spotlight the San Joaquin Valley’s role as the national leader in table, raisin and wine grape production.
There will be free, Friday wine tastings hosted by viticulture and enology students for ages 21 and over from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 and Nov. 15. A select ‘wine of the month’ will be discounted 20% at each tasting. The market is the only place to buy all 20 varieties of award-winning, student-made wines.
The Ag One Foundation will offer three events for alumni, campus and industry supporters that raise money to support agricultural students and campus programs.
The 53rd annual Turf Day Golf Classic returns to the Belmont Country Club (8253 E Belmont Ave) on Friday, Oct. 18, followed by the 45th annual Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at Cal West Rain (20935 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield) on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The seventh annual West Side Luncheon will be hosted at the Fresno Equipment Company (21350 S. Lassen Ave, Five Points) on Thursday, Nov. 7.
The Bulldoggers campus rodeo club will host its annual rodeo Friday, Nov. 8, against the West Coast’s top collegiate teams at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds (748 Rodeo Dr.). Tickets can be purchased online.
The campus Viticulture Club will host its 71st annual Fall Harvest barbecue at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, 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 $75 or $65 for students and veterans.
The Viticulture and Enology Department will host its 16th annual internship and career fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 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 increase to $275 after Nov. 1.
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.
The Center for Irrigation Technology will host in-field demonstrations of innovative technology at the University Agricultural Laboratory at its eighth annual Ag Tech Day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. The free event is aimed at growers and industry members and includes an exposition featuring 30 vendors promoting their agricultural products and services.
Growers and industry members can sign up for a free, Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program webinar from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, hosted by Center for Irrigation Technology education specialist Anthony Gunlund.
Viticulture and enology faculty will make research presentations at the Grape, Nut and Tree Fruit Expo at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds on Friday, Nov. 8, and the Tree and Vine Expo at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Turlock.
The Jordan College will host its 43rd annual Agribusiness Management Conference from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Pardini’s Banquets and Catering (2257 W. Shaw Ave.). Agricultural industry experts will make presentations about Central Valley, national and international economic trends and state policy. Early bird registration is $125 through Nov. 1, and student admission price is $50.
More information on many of these events is available by contacting Luz Mendoza at luzmendoza@csufresno.edu.
