Cultivate, Spring 2023

Thinking big

LEARN BY DOING IN COSTA RICA

Page 7

After 25 years at Cal Poly, I have announced my plan to retire in December. It was not an easy decision to make, but one that I owe to my wife and family who have supported me throughout the years in every phase of my career.

My love of Cal Poly runs deep, having started here as a first-generation college student from Washington. While I didn’t know anyone at Cal Poly or the surrounding community, I was fortunate to enter the Animal Science Department where the wonderful faculty and staff made me feel welcomed and supported. Our amazing faculty and staff continue this tradition of support today. Attending Cal Poly changed my life, making me a better person, and for that I am sincerely grateful.

In this issue you’ll read about students traveling abroad to Learn by Doing while experiencing new cultures and making vital international connections throughout the world. From implementing safe water filtration systems in Fiji to learning about the forest conservation and sustainability at coffee plantations in Costa Rica, our students are embracing their educations and thinking globally.

I am extremely optimistic about the future success of the college. Our focus on sustaining life – food security, environmental sustainability and climate smart agriculture – while embracing one another’s ideas and cultural backgrounds will continue to provide the leaders that our future depends on. I joined Cal Poly from humble beginnings and leave with a humbled heart.

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5 'GOOD BUGS' 7

Cover Story

TEAM FIJI 12

FRESH TRACKS 14

PHOTO ESSAY

CULTIVATE is published for alumni and friends by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES).

Dean’s Office

805-756-2161

Communications Team Haley Marconett hmarcone@calpoly.edu

805-756-2933

AnnMarie Cornejo ancornej@calpoly.edu

805-756-2427

Anya Rehon arehon@calpoly.edu

Publication Designer Julia Jackson-Clark (Graphic Communication, '19) juliajacksonclark.com

Printer Lithographix Los Angeles, California

Staff Photographers

Felipe Vallejo (Agricultural Communication, '21) cafes.calpoly.edu

In gratitude,

Andrew J. Thulin , Ph.D. | Dean

805-756-6235

Cover photo by Foster Bensing (Fourth-year environmental earth and soil sciences major)

Stay connected on:

COFFEE IN COSTA RICA

LEAVE NO TRACE

A study of environmental experience and impact on the Pacific Crest Trail

This summer Ben Sherman, a third-year environmental management and protection major, and Audrey Gregg, a second-year recreation, parks and tourism administration major, will spend three weeks hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to further their research on minimizing hiker impact on publicly managed lands.

The study “Education and Land Management on the Pacific Crest Trail,” overseen by Experience Industry Management Professors Marni Goldenberg and Keri Schwab, is built on more than four years of research on the PCT and the socio-psychological connection that hikers experience. Through that research it was determined that enforcing the importance of sustainable behaviors by hikers to preserve the quality and function of wilderness areas was needed.

Sherman and Gregg were awarded a $5,000 grant through the Baker and Koob Endowments to continue their research on hiker impacts. The pair will collect qualitative and quantitative data through in-person interviews and surveys with hikers encountered on the trail, as well as collect observational data on the trail conditions. “This research is important in order to implement future trail conservation practices on the Pacific Crest Trail, especially now that is has gained popularity in the past decade,” Gregg said.

The research will aid outdoor adventure land managers in how to best educate adventure tourists, such as PCT thru-hikers,

on the importance of sustainable behaviors that preserve the quality and function of wilderness areas. The findings will have the potential to help alleviate the increasing pressure of a growing population on outdoor spaces.

“This furthers the leave-no-trace ethos of outdoor enthusiasts,” said Goldenberg. “It is about optimizing the experience while causing minimal environmental impact.”

The PCT is a National Scenic Trail running 2,653 miles from Mexico to Canada, traveled by thousands of visitors each year, who hike portions of or all of the trail. While the PCT provides access and exposure to beautiful natural resources, it also exposes sensitive wilderness areas to environmental impacts such as erosion, trail degradation, litter, improper waste disposal, wildfire, and potentially harmful wildlife interactions.

Sherman, an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, said that he was first drawn to the project during the college’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program because of its focus on land management and the use of natural spaces. “I’m excited to get on the trail,” Sherman said. “Getting paid to do research of this caliber is a dream come true.”

Ultimately, the pair hope to determine what clear and convincing communication tactics will best benefit accommodating the trails increased traffic without the increased degradation of the trail and surrounding fragile ecosystem.

practices on the Pacific Crest Trail, especially now that is has gained popularity in the past decade.”

This research is important in order to implement future trail conservation

-AUDREY GREGG

Photocourtesy of AudreyGregg

Photocourtesy of TylerRevak

Photo courtesy of Ben Sherman

A Happy Farewell

Andrew Thulin, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), will retire from the university at the end of 2023 after more than 25 years of service. A Cal Poly alumnus, he joined CAFES in 1998 as head of its Animal Science Department and has led the college for the last 10 years. In that time, he worked to ensure the college is continuously poised to prepare future generations of students in sustainable agriculture practices that will build long-term food safety and security, environmental sustainability, and climate-smart agricultural systems. A national search for the next dean will be conducted in partnership with an external search firm.

During his 25-year tenure, more than $230 million was raised for numerous new laboratories and the construction of a new Beef Center, Animal Nutrition Center, J & G Lau Meat Processing Center, Oppenheimer Family Equine Center, Boswell Ag Tech Center in the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, and the $22 million JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, which has been recognized as the largest donor-funded project in California State University history. All projects were built to reflect Thulin’s vision of offering advanced technologies to provide students with the hands-on experience needed to succeed and thrive in varied industries, and to support the Teacher-Scholar Model for the college to ensure faculty and students are partners in discovery and innovation.

“It has been my great pleasure to serve as dean of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for the past 10 years, focusing on developing solutions to food security, environmental sustainability and climate-smart agriculture,” Thulin said. “My love for Cal Poly runs deep, and I am honored to have spent the last 25 years alongside those who work tirelessly to prepare our graduates to address these global issues. I can retire knowing that the future is in good hands.”

As dean, Thulin hired nearly 100 new faculty and numerous full-time lecturers to support the college’s nine departments and 15 majors, with an emphasis on adding international and diverse expertise. His mentorship facilitated partnerships across the university and strengthened interdisciplinary efforts collegewide. A strong believer in diversity of thought and respect for others, Thulin initiated the college’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and has encouraged and funded innovative programs to support first generation and underrepresented minority students.  His focus on expanding student and faculty success helped pave the way for faculty to grow research grant funding to $21 million in 2022 from about $5.5 million in 2014. In addition, his passion for providing students the opportunities to innovate and conduct undergraduate research showed through the development of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Since 2015 he has supported as many as 100 students and faculty with up to $400,000 each summer to support this important program. In addition, he updated the college’s strategic plan, and he advocated for the preservation of the college’s more than 6,000 acres of agricultural production, water supply, processing and research land and facilities near the campus core during the university’s master plan update.

Thulin strategically partnered with industry leaders who recognize and share the value of investing in the future to provide significant funding to launch the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, and the Wildland-Urban Interface FIRE Institute, and to reinvent the Dairy Processing and Technology Center, all of which are poised to expose students daily to existing challenges and prepare them to be future leaders in industries that sustain life.

$230M+ 100 years of service to the Cal Poly community raised for educational facilities new faculty and staff hired

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My love for Cal Poly runs deep, and I am honored to have spent the last 25 years alongside those who work tirelessly to prepare our graduates to address these global issues. I can retire knowing that the future is in good hands.”

NETWORKING IN THE COLLEGE

Students attended two college-sponsored career networking events in the fall and winter quarters, meeting with more than 100 industry professionals across a broad spectrum on companies in the food, environmental, agriculture and wine sectors. The CAFES Connections event, held in November, was launched in 2021 to assist students in fostering new professional connections, as well as helping them to gain awareness of the various careers and industries available to them. In addition, the longstanding, student-led Ag Showcase, managed and organized by students in the college’s Agribusiness Management and National Agri-Marketing Association Club, was held in January. At both events, students were given the opportunity to interview with industry professionals for internships and full-time employment opportunities.

USDA Grant Funding

From studying disease resistance in baby leaf salad greens to finding sustainable ways to use the byproducts of olive oil production, the college was awarded more than $850,000 in 2022 through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – allowing faculty and students to do increased research in areas that have a direct impact on California and beyond.

On Jan. 21, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal, and U.S.

Representative Jimmy Panetta visited Cal Poly to announce $72.9 million of grant funding is available in 2023 through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Assistant Professor Shunping Ding and graduate student Reilly Blair presented their related research on baby leaf salad greens during the visit.

WORLD AG EXPO

The college, in partnership with Cal Poly Alumni, hosted an Alumni and Friends Reception at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, on Feb. 15. Throughout the weeklong event the CAFES Ambassadors, a collegewide student organization that represents the college, shared the latest college happenings with prospective students and alumni.

UNIFIED WINE AND GRAPE SYMPOSIUM

The Wine and Viticulture Department hosted a booth at Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, an industrywide trade show and program in Sacramento from Jan. 24-26. The college also hosted an Alumni and Friends Reception to discuss the latest developments in the department.

Director of Development

Abigail McCullough joined CAFES in December 2022 as director of development. McCullough comes to Cal Poly with 15 years of experience working in fundraising and program development. She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from California State University, Sacramento, and began her career in fundraising with Boy Scouts of America. Most recently, she worked as an assistant director of development at UC Davis as a liaison to the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the Department of Entomology and Nematology. Outside of work, McCullough is an avid horse rider and enjoys fostering kittens.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL 13-15

Cal Poly Open House

April 15

Ag Pavilion

9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Alumni Beer and Wine Garden

2 to 4 p.m.

April 16

Tractor Pull

1 to 3 p.m.

APRIL 14-15

Poly Royal Rodeo

JUNE 2-3

Performance Horse Sale

JUNE 18

Commencement

NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD

George Gallagher joined the Animal Science Department in February as the new department head, replacing Jaymie Noland, who retired from the post in 2022. Gallagher was previously a professor in the Berry College Animal Science Department in Georgia, where he served as chair of that department. Gallagher has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences from New Mexico State University and a doctorate degree in reproductive physiology from Washington State University. "My previous institution and Cal Poly have much in common. Both are predominantly undergraduate institutions with a focus on hands-on learning. and have strong animal science programs,” said Gallagher. “I have had Cal Poly on my radar for some time waiting for the right opportunity. I am honored and excited to be a part of the Animal Science Department at Cal Poly."

CAL POLY STRAWBERRY CENTER

The Cal Poly Strawberry Center was recently named the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s 2022 Integrated Pest Management Achievement award winner. The Strawberry Center helps advance integrated pest management and sustainability in strawberry production through prolific research and outreach programs with a focus on plant pathology, entomology, and labor automation. The center also provides training for undergraduate and graduate students who plan to advance to positions within the strawberry industry and carry the center’s integrated pest management and sustainability philosophy throughout California and beyond. Each year the Department of Pesticide Regulation honors California organizations for their integrated pest management achievements, recognizing organizations and individuals that are leaders in using reduced-risk pest management practices and sharing their successful strategies with others.

Aspire to Grow

The college hosted the fifth annual Aspire to Grow Conference in February, exploring innovation in food, agriculture, and natural resources. The symposium, focused on the theme of perseverance and the role diversity of thought and experience plays in achieving this, was attended by students, staff and faculty from across the university, as well as from area community colleges and high schools. Featured speakers included Hilary Graves, vineyard and grower relations manager at Booker Vineyard; Boris Coto Calvo, head of field solutions at Bayer Crop Science North America; Alexandra Roberts, food safety manager at Rice Fruit Company; Roxanna Smith, senior relationship manager of Agribusiness, Food and Hospitality at Wells Fargo Bank; and Heidi Vasseur, senior manager of fertilizer, plant nutrition and seed compliance at Nutrien. The Aspire to Grow Conference, sponsored by Nutrien Ag Systems, aims to inform and empower students from across campus about the many and varied career opportunities in these industries. It also creates a forum for students to learn from and network with companies for which diversity and inclusion are an essential part of their visions. The event is planned each year by students.

'GOOD BUGS'

Educating the public on what it means to be organic

Organic agriculture has become a common part of American eaters’ daily language and plate. But what does organic mean and, more importantly, what do organic farmers do to get those tasty fruits, vegetables and animal products to our plates?

Matthew Grieshop, director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research at Cal Poly, partnered with Moses Mike, an assistant professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department, and his agricultural communications students during fall quarter 2022 to help provide produce buyers and consumers with answers to those questions.

The pilot project developed a series of short videos to provide insight into why there are sometimes “good bugs” on organic produce.

“Organic produce growers do not use synthetic pesticides to kill the 'bad bugs' (pests), instead they rely as much as possible on biological control – using 'good bugs' to eat the pests,” Grieshop said. “One result of this is that sometimes we find 'good bugs' on our produce (e.g., ladybugs, lacewings, and syrphid flies). If you find these on your produce it provides extra assurance that your food is free of synthetic pesticides. You can even release these critters into your own garden or houseplants to benefit from the services they provide.”

The project rapidly grew to help provide consumers with answers to questions about the history of organic agriculture, explain how organic certification works, as well as offer first-hand insight into production practices. The student-produced videos will be delivered through social media outlets in the coming months.

To further elaborate on the project, Mike’s current class of students is developing 10 podcasts on organic agriculture featuring interviews of organic experts from around the state. “Students are learning skills in three important areas of communication: interpersonal communication skills, media production skills and technical production skills,” said Mike. “All three areas are critical for the current digital media market and transferable across industries.”

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), the largest certifier of organic products in California, is working directly with the students and providing funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recently announced Organic Transitions Program.

“The overall goal of the project is twofold: to train Cal Poly students to be Organic Ambassadors in their future careers and to develop high-quality social media products to help Americans better understand this fast-growing agricultural sector,” Grieshop said.

LEAD Scholars

PREPARING FUTURE LEADERS

The natural resource management and environmental issues confronting current and future generations are daunting and present complex challenges for graduates entering the workforce. Aware of these challenges, the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department recently launched a new program to prepare students as future leaders by developing strong interpersonal, teamwork and project-management skills. The Leadership Education, Application and Discovery (LEAD) Program, a cohort-based leadership program and the first of its kind at Cal Poly, launched in February, enabling students to collaborate on real-world projects that will better prepare them to be conservation and natural resource professionals.

The donor-supported program is open to students of all academic years majoring in one of the department’s three majors: environmental earth and soil sciences, environmental management and protection, and forest and fire sciences. Students selected to participate will gain leadership training skills while working on applied land conservation, ecosystem management, and resource sustainability projects.

Assistant Professor Yamina Pressler, program facilitator, said the new program will serve as a model for students coming into the department who want to make a difference. “We want the program to support activities that engage students in developing as professionals and people of the world,” Pressler said. “Being able to see a model of students who are addressing these issues can be very motivating and create a culture of problem solving.”

Along with Pressler, Assistant Professor Seeta Sistla and Department Head Jeremy James will oversee the program and support students with their projects, connecting them with

stakeholders and environmental needs in the community. The program structure exemplifies Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy and aims to address environmental issues on campus and in the local community, while expanding the diversity of leaders entering the workforce. “We don’t have the representation and diverse viewpoints that we need to tackle our most serious environmental challenges,” said James. “One key impact for the program is to make meaningful progress in diversity and the types of leaders we bring into the environmental field.”

In January, the first cohort of seven students were selected among dozens of applicants from the department, and in February, initial group meetings took place where students started brainstorming project ideas. Projects span a variety of topic areas, including waste production in the dining commons on campus, wetland conservation outreach and education, and housing insecurity in the community. LEAD program member Sophia Ortiz, a fifth-year environmental earth and soil sciences major, is interested in creating more community spaces on campus that bring NRES students together and has been researching what makes up these kinds of spaces. “I have done a lot of grassroots work in clubs,” said Ortiz. “Having faculty support to tackle the issues you see in the community is monumental. Being able to work together and receive feedback and direction is so helpful.”

Thanks to support from generous donors giving to the NRES LEAD Program, students are given a $1,000 budget to support program and project activities, along with an annual $2,500 stipend for their participation. Contributions made by donors to the program are essential to its growth and success in preparing the next generation of environmental leaders at Cal Poly.

“Technical expertise is not enough to solve the state’s pressing environmental challenges,” said Tim Northrop, senior director of development. “Today, students also need training in leadership, communications, collaboration and project management to make a demonstrable impact. I encourage alumni to get involved in supporting our students through this unique program.”

To make a gift toward the next generation of environmental leaders participating in the program, please designate your gift to the NRES Leadership Education, Application and Discovery (LEAD) Program Fund.

Pictured are a few of the students selected for the first cohort of the Lead Scholars program, from left to right: Ezekiel Pearl, Lilyana Elola, Melissa Evans, and Assistant Professor Seeta Sistla.

Coffee in Costa Rica

An intersection of culture, sustainability and coffee

In the small, tropical town of Agua Buena, Costa Rica, coffee growers work tirelessly to produce shadegrown coffee in a complex global market. Each summer, a group of Cal Poly students spend five weeks living within the community to explore first-hand issues of sustainability and culture.

The summer course, Sustainable Agriculture and Forest Conservation in Costa Rica, is taught by Nick Babin, an assistant professor in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department. Babin, who specializes in agroecology, the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems to reduce environmental impacts, has traveled to the rainforest of Costa Rica for more than 20 years doing research and has forged strong relationships there. While the course is focused on Costa Rican coffee and forest conservation sectors as case studies to explore issues of sustainability, the immersive experience exposes students to a first-hand lesson in intercultural communication. Students live with host families for three weeks of their stay, practicing their Spanish skills and participating in the life and culture of a traditional coffee-producing community.

(Continued on Page 8)

“I’m fascinated with intersections between agriculture and ecology, so this program seemed like a perfect fit to explore those interests,” said Aspen Garrido, a fourth-year environmental management and protection major. “It was definitely a one-in-alifetime opportunity to see firsthand how the issues that we study affect these families and the community built there on coffee farming.”

Students spend their time learning on the 16-acre farm, Finca El Bosque de Don Roberto, which grows shade coffee as well as more than a dozen other crops. They study tropical agricultural practices with an emphasis on the design and management of coffee agroforestry systems and coffee processing and international trading. Students also work on a long-term research project managed by Babin on the links between coffee shade-tree management, soil health and farmer livelihoods.

“We spent as much time doing physical work as we did in the classroom at the farm site,” said Joey Paddock, a third-year environmental management and protection major. “To experience what it is like to be on a coffee farm and understand what the farmers do every day was an eye-opening experience. We saw firsthand that if done properly, coffee can be grown in forests and jungles in a way that conserves biodiversity and soil health.”

The social connection to coffee makes it an interesting crop to study, Babin said. “It is a product that is heavily consumed in the United States and demonstrates a connection across cultures,” he said. “Yet few people know where their coffee comes from or the agricultural practices that are used to produce it.”

We saw first-hand that if done properly, coffee can be grown in forests and jungles in a way that conserves biodiversity and soil health.”

-JOEY PADDOCK

Third-year environmental management and protection major

The small coffee farm in Agua Buena is a prime example of doing it right. “Their practices exemplify the agricultural connection to ecosystems and coffee produced in a shade system can be fairly self-sufficient and viable,” Babin said. “They developed a shade agroforestry system that incorporates nature and sustains it.”

A FUTURE PARTNERSHIP

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences will soon forge an additional partnership with the Finca El Bosque de Don Roberto farm to further promote the lessons instilled there.

A cooperative agreement will allow the college to import an initial 1,000 pounds of green coffee beans from the farm to be roasted locally and sold as a way of raising awareness of sustainably farmed coffee and to provide additional funding to create a scholarship to allow more Cal Poly students to take the five-week summer course.

The farm has a rich history. Finca El Bosque de Don Roberto was started by husband-and-wife team Roberto and Noemy in 1990 and by 2000 was a regional leader in sustainable agriculture. The farm is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to improve their coffee production. The farm is located at 1,100 meters above sea level and produces the “catuai,” “caturra” and “catigua” varieties of Arabica coffee. The distinctive flavor profile and the singular chocolate notes of their coffee can be attributed to mastery of the natural, washed, honey and anaerobic processing methods.

The farm has its own micro-processing mill, where harvested coffee cherries are de-pulped and processed. Washed, fermented, honey and anaerobic methods of small batch processing are all employed depending upon customer preferences. The processed beans are then laid out in a greenhouse to dry with regulated sunlight and wind. The farm also has a drum roaster and possesses all necessary permits from the Costa Rican Coffee Institute to process, roast and export green as well as roasted coffee.

The Cal Poly collaboration will not only further the farm's efforts but increase awareness of the symbiotic relationship between farming and environmental sustainability. “I took a lot away from the program and it solidified my decision to be an environmental management and protection major,” Garrido said, who plans to pursue a career in environmental field work. “I will now forever read coffee labels and learn where it is coming from to make sure it is sustainable for the environment and people. But more than anything else the value of community was instilled in me. Learning how they built resiliency as a community was inspiring.”

Garrido said she would be first in line to purchase a cup of coffee once it is available at Cal Poly. For her, it is about sharing the lessons she learned while studying in Costa Rica and inspiring others to learn more.

“There is value in purchasing coffee with a story that you know of,” she said. “It is a way of connecting people.”

Photos courtesy of Foster Bensing

To purchase coffee and support Learn by Doing opportunities in Costa Rica, visit tinyurl.com/ donrobertocoffee

TEAM FIJI

TEAM FIJI

Bringing access to clean drinking water to the rural parts of the world

Cami Lowrey, a fourth-year bioresource and agricultural engineering major, plans to one day work on development projects in rural, under-resourced areas. This past summer she had the opportunity to put that vision into action in Fiji as a member of Cal Poly Engineers Without Borders.

The student-led nonprofit organization supports community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while creating multidisciplinary and leadership experiences for students. Lowrey joined the club her freshman year.

In August, Lowrey joined three other students for the 5,539-mile trek to Fiji, a country of more than 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Geneva Newell, fourth-year civil engineering major, Andrew Klein, fourth-year electrical engineering major, and Jillian Buteau, third-year civil engineering major, also made the journey. Peter Livingston, head of the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department, and Dawn Neill, head of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education, at Cal Poly accompanied the students. The trip, focused on improving the current water supply systems of three Fijian communities – Nakawaga, Ligaulevu and Vesi, on the northern island of Mali – was years in the making. The initial request for assistance was made by one of the federal representatives for the island, Seru Moce, in 2017. “This project was done in partnership with the community,” Lowrey said. “This was a collaborative effort to help the villagers implement a project that they could both take ownership of and be proud of.”

In the years prior to the trip the Cal Poly team, dubbed “Team Fiji,” worked to

build a plan that would increase the villages’ rain catchment capacity, install a solar pump system at an existing borehole and design user-friendly portable sand filters that villagers can construct on their own. “COVID-19 delayed our ability to travel to the site but the work never stopped,” said Lowrey. “I spent the years prior to the trip designing biosand filters that would improve the quality of the water being used by the community.”

Lowrey and the team spent a month on the island, living with villagers who rely on fishing and weaving for their livelihoods. The team installed 1,000-liter tanks at homes that would provide fresh drinking water to those who live there. Each of the three rural communities, totaling 71 households, rely heavily on rainwater as a source of fresh drinking water because the nearby stream has long been polluted.

“I was constantly learning the entire time, while having fun,” Lowrey said. “From engaging with the Fijian culture and the people there, to learning their market to purchase the needed supplies and troubleshooting on the spot, it was an experience I will always remember. My favorite part of the trip was listening and learning.”

Lowrey arrived in Fiji prepared with a list of materials she planned to purchase based off research she had done before arriving of available products at Fijian hardware stores. However, despite careful planning, not everything was available. “I sat in the corner of the hardware store, surrounded by customers, making it work,” she said.

“I put everything I had learned in my classes into practice knowing that the villages we were assisting were depending on us.”

Materials were purchased on the main island and villagers transported the

I sat in the corner of the hardware store, surrounded by customers, making it work. I put everything I had learned in my classes into practice knowing that the villages we were assisting were depending on us.”

-CAMI LOWREY

Middle: Cami Lowery gathered around the new rain water barrel with local children.

Bottom: "Team Fiji" with their host family.

items by boat to the smaller islands. The Cal Poly team followed.

In addition to installing improved rainwater catchment tanks at homes and the local school site, the team developed a first flush diversion system to assist with diverting contaminated water from the tanks and implemented filter systems that households could easily use to ensure that their drinking water is safe.

The team also installed a solar borehole pump at a water reservoir in Vesi – something that community had been wanting for more than two decades. “The entire community came out to celebrate on the day that we installed it,” Lowrey said. “They are now looking into sourcing more of them for future needs.”

Village children were taught how to use water filter systems that were provided to every home. Team Fiji also used field testing kits to test water tanks for dangers like E. coli and salinity. Those findings were then used at community meetings to instill the importance of safe drinking water.

In all, 32 water tanks, gutter collection systems, and individual home filter systems were installed during the four weeks the Cal Poly team was there. The solar pump, solar panel, and associated wiring and pipeline will ensure that the village has a reliable water supply – something that the community had never had.

“While the primary benefit to the community was a firm supply of safe water, the secondary benefits are the ability to now increase population in villages and the reduction of standing water that will reduce mosquito population and associated diseases,” said Livingston. “Our students did the research and the work, making impactful changes that the villages can now carry on into the future."

Photos courtesy of Cami Lowrey

Top: A solar borehole pump being installed at a reservoir in Vesi.

32water tanks, gutter collection systems, and individual home filter systems were installed

FRESH TRACKS

A panel discussion from some of Cal Poly's first-generation students

Vanessa Cervantes didn’t think she would go to college. As a first-generation Mexican American high school student working fulltime, attending college seemed daunting and unattainable.

“Going to college was a last-minute decision. It was extremely scary. My family lived paycheck-to-paycheck,” said Cervantes, a second-year animal science major. “I didn’t think college was an option.”

Cervantes is not alone regarding her fear of being the first person in her family to attend college. Many first-generation students face unique barriers and limitations compared to other students including coming from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and speaking English as a second or third language. As a result, many first-generation students may feel like they don’t belong in the college setting.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ (CAFES) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is dedicated to finding ways to support and welcome a diverse student community. In February, four first-generation CAFES students from a spectrum of majors participated in the third annual Fresh Tracks: First Generation Student Panel, one of several such events held by the college each year. During the hourlong panel, moderated by Agricultural Communication Assistant Professor Moses Mike, students shared their personal stories about navigating college and the hardships and unique experiences they’ve had at Cal Poly. One of the four students on the panel was Cervantes, who shared her feelings about being a firstgeneration student and how she’s glad she

didn’t let her fears stop her from pursuing her dreams. “I felt like I had more to offer the world, and if I pushed myself, I knew I could get there,” Cervantes said.

In fall of 2021, Cervantes started Cal Poly as an animal science major. Soon after, she started working on the research team at the Beef Unit for Assistant Professor Zach McFarlane, studying how behavior and the microbiome impact the fertility of bulls. Working on that committee motivated Cervantes to pursue a career dedicated to protecting vulnerable species from going extinct. She shares that she is fascinated by assisted reproductive technologies and the work that scientists, like those at the San Diego Zoo, have done for critically endangered species like the Northern White Rhino. Cervantes wants to do the same, saying, “The least I could do is fight for these animals and offer them a home.” These days, she is staying busy with a full course load and being a member of the Zoo and Exotic Animals Careers, Cal Poly Barbell and Sustainable Fashion clubs on campus. She plans to travel to Australia and South Africa with Loop Abroad this summer, where she will assist with animal rehabilitation for wildlife populations that have experienced poaching.

Cervantes said that she is proud of her achievements and urges other first-generation students who are entering college to believe in themselves and share their stories. “Focus on yourself and what you want,” she said.

“Growing up, I felt so lost. Now when things are tough, I like to talk about it. It’s a way for me to remind others that they are not alone.”

Now when things are tough, I like to talk about it. It’s a way for me to remind others that they are not alone.”

-VANESSA CERVANTES

The Cal Poly Dairy Judging Team placed second overall at the Southwest Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas, in January. The team consisted of fourth-year animal science major Ashley Waymire, fourth-year agricultural business major Katey Diniz and third-year agricultural business major Zoe Bitter. They were coached by Lecturer Morgan Wonderly and Emeritus Professor Stan Henderson.

Definition of SUCCESS

A team of agricultural business students won second place at the National Grocers Association Case Study Competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in February. The team, consisting of fourth-year agricultural business majors Simran Kurse, Charlotte Courts, Shay Warren, Camille Harteker, and Sophia Pinto competed against 11 other collegiate teams from around the country. The team, advised by Associate Professor Ricky Volpe, was tasked with creating a plan to assist Dierbergs, an independent supermarket chain operating 26 stores in the greater St. Louis area, with attracting and retaining Gen Z in the workforce. They devised a four-initiative solution called Dierberg’s Direction, aimed at providing upward potential and a greater sense of fulfillment for younger workers in the stores, commissaries, and corporate offices.

A group of students from the Food Science and Nutrition Department attended the California League of Food Processors Expo in Sacramento, the largest event of its kind in California, to meet with food processors and make new connections while learning about the latest products and services available to the food processing industry. Students highlighted the Cal Poly program while attending educational seminars and networking.

Nineteen Cal Poly students representing all six Cal Poly colleges were recently recognized for their hard work and accomplishments by state lawmakers on the floors of the State Assembly and Senate in Sacramento. Fourth-year animal science major Ashley Waymire and fourth-year bioresource and agricultural engineering major Fiona Plunkett were a part of the group honored for their achievements.

Super bloom

January brought gray skies, significant rainfall and flooding throughout much of the state, leading to the temporary closure of campus. As spring begins to unfold, the campus is quickly transformed from puddles to vibrant green rolling hills and bold blossoms.

ROOTED in HISTORY

LAURA SORVETTI | UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

PPictured here may be the first class photograph of the students and instructors at Cal Poly, at the time known as the California Polytechnic School. Taken in early 1904 by local photographer Lee M. Fitzhugh, this scene shows 14 of the first students and the six instructors and staff of the school. Seated at the lower right is Cal Poly’s first director, Leroy Anderson, aged 36, who championed the Learn by Doing philosophy and taught agricultural courses. The school had opened just a few months earlier in October 1903, offering courses in agriculture, domestic science and mechanics, with instructors arriving from around the country to develop and lead the new programs. Students from across California, ranging in age from 16 to 26, enrolled in

the vocational two-year program this first year, and of the students photographed here, eight would graduate.

They are seated on the steps of the Recitation and Administration Building (where Cotchett Education Building stands today). This was one of only two school buildings, the second being the men’s dormitory. No dormitory space was provided for women, who had to board in town (the Righetti family moved from Cayucos to San Luis Obispo to accommodate their daughters’ enrollment). Now, 120 years later, with an incoming class of 2027, we can reflect how far Cal Poly has come yet trace our roots from these first students.

Photo courtesy of University Archives.

Seated, left to right: Gwendolyn Stewart (instructor of domestic science, Matron of the Dormitory), Laura Righetti, Francis Buck, Mary Bello, Henry Pezzoni, William Boswell, Irene Righetti, Henry Wade, and Director Leroy Anderson. Standing, left to right: Owen E. Hollister, Naomi M. Lake (stenographer, bookkeeper, and librarian), Oscar Leslie Heald (instructor of drawing, carpentry, sloyd, and iron work), Harry James, Kent Knowlton, Gus Wade, George Coonradt, Edwin Yount (instructor of carpentry), Herbert H. Cox, H. Floyd Tout and Sydney S. Twombly (instructor of agriculture, chemistry, and veterinary science).

Make a Gift to the Boswell Ag Tech Center Support Fund

The Boswell Ag Tech Center, a centerpiece of Cal Poly’s new William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, will enable hands-on, applied learning to train tomorrow’s leaders in food and agriculture innovation. The center will facilitate research and discovery in seven state-of-the-art laboratories to educate tomorrow’s leaders in food innovation, nutrition, food safety, and experience management. Your gift will help outfit these labs with the equipment, tools and supplies needed to fulfill the center’s vision and ensure our students are ready to make a difference on Day One. Please make your gift in time for the Grand Opening on May 5!