August 25th, 2022

Welcome back students to your Fall 2022 Semester!

Our Agriculture Department has been hard at work brainstorming ideas to make this semester better than ever.

We hope you are as excited as we are!

How to make the most of your experience at the MJC School of Agriculture

Take Charge of Your Education – Meet with the Agriculture Counselor Tina Giron

While it may seem obvious, the very first thing you should do when you get to college is to consistently go to class. Many professors don’t have a formal attendance policy, so it can be tempting to skip out, especially for those early morning classes. Keep in mind, though, you chose this educational opportunity for a reason. Consider your goals and keep them in mind when you’re tempted to ditch a class. This may help you decide if it’s worth it. One more thing to consider regarding academics is that this is your opportunity to maximize your education. Don’t forget to look for additional chances to learn and grow, visiting your professor during office hours for more information and clarification on an issue or to get some study tips.

Explore as Much as Possible – Get involved with clubs and activities in the MJC School of Agriculture

College is more than just taking classes so you can get a good job. It’s a time for learning, growing and exploring. Whether you’ve declared a major or not, be sure to take classes that sound interesting to you. You will have to take classes that count as electives and others that will work toward your requirements, so why not choose a class simply for the sake of learning something new? This exploration may even lead you down an entirely new career path or even spark a lifelong interest. This rule applies to extra curricular activities and clubs, as well. These kinds of opportunities are a fabulous way to make new friends and gain valuable skills like leadership and interpersonal communication.

Build Relationships – With your fellow students.

Making friends and getting involved in activities allows you to network, which is one of the most beneficial things you can do during your college education. The concept of networking goes beyond just meeting people and making friends. Networking is all about building relationships with a variety of people. It extends to your professors, classmates, and more. The wider you cast your net, the more you will learn and the stronger the bonds you can count on in the future. Someone you meet and get to know in your course of study may end up being an inside job lead down the line. It’s also a particularly wise idea to get to know your professors, perhaps even to find a mentor. An authority figure who sees your potential and knows your strong characteristics will make a fantastic reference when it’s time to apply for jobs. A mentor also provides valuable advice along the way. You never know the kinds of opportunities may transpire due to your network connections.

 ~ Mr. Borges, Dean of Agriculture

Come join YF for our first meeting of the semester!

We will be having an Ice Cream Social

Join us at the East Campus Ag Patio on September 12th at 6:30 PM!

Frisbee, Cornhole, and Jenga will be offered

Want to be more involved on Campus? Join MJC Young Farmers for monthly activities and meetings!

All you have to do is bring $10 (Cash only!) to either the East Campus Ag Dept. or West Campus ACE Pavilion, and fill out a quick form!

Find us September 6th-8th, 8:30-12:30 to join the club!

Don't be afraid to ask questions!



Remember to be on the lookout for any Young Farmers events!

Keep these dates in mind as the semester gets busier.

We hope to see you there!

Want to stay updated on all of our YF activities and events?

Join our Remind group!

Just text "@mjcyf" to 81010

The MJC livestock judging team had the opportunity this past summer to travel up and down the state of California judging Master Showmanship at various county fairs. They were able to build their confidence and show ring presence through this experience. MJC Livestock Judging is appreciative to have judged amazing exhibitors and have seen amazing livestock these past couple of months!

~Submitted by Morgan Gravatt, MJC Livestock Judging

MJC Dairy Judging travels to Utah!

The Richmond Black & White Days is the longest organized dairy show that dates back to 1915. What once started as a chance for dairy farmers to walk their cows down to the arena to be judged, is now the Western Spring National Show hosting a national junior and open Holstein contest. Each year the Utah State Dairy Department and Mid-America/All West hosts a dairy judging contest open to 4-H, FFA, and collegiate teams. This year MJC traveled with 2 full teams to compete at the event to be the only junior college school in the collegiate division competing against 4-year universities. The MJC Blue team consisted of Colton Silveira (Hilmar), Hartley Silva (Modesto), Anthony Diniz (Hilmar) and John Toste (Gustine) took Reserve Champion Honors placing 2^nd High Team Overall behind Cal Poly Gold. There were only 19 points separating 1^st and 2^nd place teams. The 3^rd place team went to Michigan State University trailing MJC blue by 65 points. Accolades for the MJC Blue Team include; 1^st High Team in Placings, 2^nd High Team in Reasons; Colton Silveira – 2^nd High Individual Overall, 2^nd High Individual in Placings; Hartley Silva – 7^th High Individual Overall; Anthony Diniz – 9^th High Individual Overall, 6^th High Individual in Reasons.

The second team, MJC White included Avery Oliveira (Hilmar), Alayna Azevedo (Escalon), Blake Zimmer (Turlock) and Josie Beoshanz (Dixon) took home 7^th High Team Overall. All dairy judging members did very well, and have a lot to be proud of. Seven of the eight who competed are first-year team members and will be traveling with MJC through the end of 2022. The dairy judging season will pick up in the fall with 4 more national competitions including World Dairy Expo (Wisconsin) and the North American International Livestock Exposition (Kentucky). Congratulations again to MJC Dairy Judging!

~ Submitted by Mrs. Morris, Dairy Science Instructor

The Modesto Junior College Dairy Science Program was very busy during the Stanislaus County fair, representing the Dairy industry and MJC. A string of cattle was brought from Johnny and Nicole Morris Dairy. From June 12-17, West Campus Interns, Blake Zimmer, and Alayna Azevedo cared for the 3 milk cows and 8 heifers. As the dairy show took place prior to the opening of the fair to the public, it was important that dairy cattle were represented during fair week and fairgoers were exposed to dairy animals. The cows were milked daily at 6 am and again at 6 pm. The afternoon milking shift was used as an educational demonstration to the public, with a presentation and first-hand look at the milking process. Questions were encouraged and the crowds enjoyed getting to see the process by which milk goes from teat to table! Throughout the fair, an MJC booth, located next to the dairy exhibit was open to all for some free MJC Merchandise and information for those with questions. The kids especially loved the free Real California Milk straws and activity books also located at the booth that was donated by the California Milk Advisory Board. On June 17th, 2 of our cows were happily involved in the Turlock Chamber of Commerce’s “Bovine Bingo” fundraiser. This event was a fun way for supporters to help local businesses that benefit from the Chamber of Commerce.

~Submitted by Alayna Azevedo, MJC Dairy Intern

MJC Ag hosted a new class of high school freshman through the 2022 Summer Academy. Five academies were brought to Modesto Junior College this summer to give students interested in career technical pathways a first hand look into the industry of their choice. There were 12 students this summer who participated in the Agriculture Academy where they learned about the different pathways in agriculture and completed Ag 115. Students ranged in grade from incoming sophomores to incoming seniors, and learned about agriculture careers, MJC Ag majors, and professional development during their 2-week course. 

We look forward to the next class in Summer 2023! 

~Ryan Amaral, MJC Program Specialist