Minutes

Minutes-Ag Advisory Meeting 10/15/2019
Members Present: BJ Diedrich
Teachers Present: Erica Correia, Gene Lieb, Kate Smith, Stephanie Goeb & Mike Ortiz
Called to order at 5:10pm

Welcome
a. Updates
b. Review of Madera Fair
1. What do potential buyers in Firebaugh need to come to either Chowchilla or Madera fair?
  -nice letter sent a few weeks in advance. Some people in the community want to talk in person after getting a letter. Also, people forget about the auction & need a reminder - send out a reminder postcard Monday before or call
  c. FFA
  d.Farm/Horticulture

3.7 acres of almonds harvested - $18,000. Money in account will be used to purchase an SUV for the department. Pumpkins ⅔ acre. Only ½ came up. Supplemented with donated pumpkins & profit $438 in 4 hours.

a. Reviewed course approvals and offerings
b. 16 courses offered this year, all courses are UC/CSU A-G approved

3. Course Offerings
a. What are essential skills we need to have taught to students for you to hire straight out of high school in Floral, Mechanics, Plants, Science, and Animal Science?Be able to listen & take orders. Students not expected to be able to do the actual skills of job (hooking up an implement, discing field) not be a screw-up, not cuss out boss if they do not like the task. Need hard workers with a good work ethic.

Student SAEs
b.Farm Crops into SAE projects- what are some ways we can turn almonds and pumpkins into SAE projects for students (need to find a way to pay kids)?

Kids need buy-in & get paid. Run through Boosters to get paid either hourly or a part of profits

1. SAE Day- what is the best way to showcase student projects to the community?

Move to Google Presentation (NO BOARDS). Winners for each category present at Giant Burger at 7 am to farmers. Each winner goes a different week/day. Winners also announced in newspaper & have a summary of slides. Slide summaries/presentations made into poster & have at Night in Vegas, Banquet or an SAE/Ag Department Showcase evening. Also have insert in Night in Vegas program or project summary slide of student & SAE on the wall at NIV

Advisory Committee Member Nominations
a. Lori Dedmond-Food Science (Correia)
b. Amber LaSalle-Animal Science (Lieb)
c. Luke Hicks-Ag Mech(Correia)
d.Melanie Hicks-Ag Business (Correia)
e. Dr. Bertha Mata-West Hills/College-Career (Lieb)
f.Brian Wood-Ag Mech (Ortiz)

Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes for March 23rd, 2020
Room 804

Members Present: Pat Ward- Operations Manager- Perfect Pac, LP (Chair) Ted Crockett
Bj Diedrich- Former Member/Owner- Beau Diedrich Farms/Children in Program
Maurine Parker- FLDUSD Administrative Assistant II/Paker Farms (Vineyards)/All Three Children American Degree Recipients
Brandon Turman- Former Member/Owner- Turman’s Equipment
Melanie Hicks- Business Manager- Luke Hicks Farm Service
Luke Hicks- Former Member/Owner Luke Hicks Farm Service
Amber LaSalle- Former Member(American Degree Recipient)/Dairy Genetics and Program Specialist (All West Select Sires)
Members Absent: Chris Cardella- Owner Cardella Farms

Teachers Present: Erica Correia, Stephanie Goeb, Gene Lieb, Mike Ortiz, Brenda Peterson- Student Teacher

Teachers Absent: Kate Smith- was not allowed on campus for the meeting as she traveled to the state of Washington on the 13th-15th of March, and is not allowed back on campus until the 29th of March.
Call to Order
a. The meeting was called to order at 5:03pm
Review and approval of minutes from the previous meeting
a. The meeting held in October only had one member present, because of that we had no minutes for the meeting.
Call for additional items to be added to the agenda
a.We added introductions, since the last meeting with the entire committee in May of 2019 we have added four people, and introductions were needed. All staff and committee members took time to make introductions.
Purpose of an Agricultural Advisory
a.Having new members, Agricultural Instructor, Erica Correia, shared that the purpose of this committee is to ensure the vitality and growth of the agricultural program with an eye for industry relevance.
Students animal projects for Chowchilla Fair
a.With the current COVID-19 crsis, we have begun the planning for not having a fair. With that in mind we will have a clear picture by the next meeting, because a decision will be made on the 30th of March. Once that has been answered we will decide how we will move forward with the 5 swine projects and 7 lamb projects. It was Pat Ward that said to have final costs for the students to determine the cost of the animals. We would then go to the “coffee shop” and work to sell the needed animals. A number of committee members already had leads on sales on animals. The community will be ready and willing to support if and when the time is needed.
Tour of facilities (farm-orchard, barns, shop, greenhouse)
a. This item was moved to the next meeting, because during the hour long meeting it poured rain and would have been a challenge to move through the farm, which is a majority dirt.
Department equipment-including technology
a.It was shared with the committee that the new trailer was acquired, a 16 foot bumper pull with a ramp. That is going to be extremely helpful as the program continues to grow. This item was purchased through an AIG Specialized Grant. We also received an AIG Specialized Grant for this year and we shared that a van would be purchased. We will also be going to bid for a Ford Expedition SUV, this will be used to transport students and the bumper pull trailer, and will be purchased from the sale of three years of the four acre almond crop. These are all in the works and should be completed by this summer at the latest.

b.Science has purchased all items for all levels, and beyond consumables are stocked and ready to ensure a quality science education for years to come.
c. Agricultural Mechanics has tons of new equipment that is being used routinely. Three items remain on the wish list, all of which are different types of saws. These saws total around $36,000 and are not required for the shop to be successful, but would be nice items to have. Ms. Lopez the CTE Administrator has stated that these items will be ordered if and when money is available.
9 .Review course syllabi, courses offered & curriculum (newly adopted textbooks- Sustainable Agriculture Biology and Chemistry in Agriscience)
10. a. The committee had the syllabi for a week and reviewed them prior to the meeting, the one that had the most questions was Animal Science and the various courses that make up that pathway. Unfortunately that teacher wasn’t present, but Amber LaSalle the member with the questions was given Ms. Kate Smith’s phone number and will call to continue that conversation. We will record the findings on the 20th of April at the next meeting. Two new courses have been flown for students to register for. Erica Correia, talked about Horticulture/Plant Production Management, which would be the capstone course for Plant Science- Production. This course will be working with the pumpkins that will be grown for a third year, continuing with the almond production, and the new citrus orchard that will go in this fall. Erica has worked hard to research and implement a clementine orchard, with the product being sold to the school to be included in lunches. A lot of work still remains with this project, but we have been moving in the correct direction to complete this project. One of the courses previously proposed to offer was Viticulture, but that ability to grow grapes has been a challenge. It was discussed to still research that idea and see if it is viable. One of the committee members even asked for us to check with the local winery to see if they have a variety of grapes they require, meaning we would already have a point of sale ready to go and be one to two varieties at most. We will return to the drawing board to continue the research and conversation on this area. Finally. As it relates to Plant Science we talked at length about the Greenhouse. It has been a 20 year project and the committee wants it completed. If we have it, it should function, was the notion from the committee. In the Plant Production- Floral Pathway the capstone course will move from Advanced Floral, which will become the intermediate course, and the capstone course will become Retail Floral and Event Planning. This will combine the agricultural world of floral design with the needs of event planning. From a career perspective event planning is the direction we need to move, because that is where jobs exist, and we need to be industry focused.

Report of FFA Activities (activities, conferences, meetings, CDE/LDE)
1. Currently all events have either been postponed or cancelled, because of that, we continue to wait, the financial piece was discussed, and any money remaining we will have additional time to spend this year, because of that we will continue to watch and recalibrate the situation.
2. The banquet scheduled for the 4th of May remains, but is pending a possible move as needed.
Enrollment number of males & females and minorities being served
1. We have a fairly even spread of males to females, numbers have dipped from four and five years ago, but it was shared that we had all the science during those years, we have gone from the low 600s to around 520 members. That is a decrease, but is not something extremely alarming due to the changes in teaching assignments.
Program assessment-survey
1. The survey was completed by the majority of the committee, but the members were able to take it home and complete and return on the 20th of April if needed. These results will be compiled and recorded at the next meeting.
Founder’s Award
1. The Founder Award was created by the Firebaugh FFA Boosters and Agricultural Teachers with the knowledge that we had recently lost a few extremely important members of the community as they relate to the agricultural community and more spectivfcailly the Firebaugh FFA. Pat Ward, asked to discuss this topic and it was shared that he believes people should be awarded this award when they’re still living. Everyone agreed and we will move forward awarding the award to people who have made a significant contribution to the program living or deceased, it will depend on the circumstances. Melanie Hicks and Gene Lieb will work on a list of criteria for the award to ensure its integrity, but also be a reference point to people on why someone maybe is not being included.
Committee concerns and recommendations
1. The completion of the Greenhouse, a 20+ year project to get it working continues to be a main focus and directive from the committee, and will be an item we focus on. TS&L who helped to fix the coating will be a contact we make. Brian Tassy at Merced College will be contacted to see available options. Ned Perry, MOT for the district will be contacted to see the electricity capacity and if it needs to be upgraded. Finally, AgriValley will be contacted to discuss a filtration system for the water, the well we have has rust and that will clog the lines, which would negate the water system. All of this may not be completed by the 20th of April, but the process of working through a plan to complete the greenhouse will be started.
Adjournment
1. The meeting was adjourned at 5:57pm.
2. Next Meetings- Monday, April 20th, 2020 @ 5:00pm & Banquet, Monday, May 4th, 2020 @ 5:30pm at FMS

Firebaugh High School Agricultural Department
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes for April 20th, 2020
Zoom Meeting

Members Present: Pat Ward- Operations Manager- Perfect Pac, LP (Chair),
Ted Crockett- Farmer,
Bj Diedrich- Former Member/Owner- Beau Diedrich Farms/Children in Program,
Maurine Parker- FLDUSD Administrative Assistant II/Paker Farms (Vineyards)/All Three Children American Degree Recipients,
Brandon Turman- Former Member/Owner- Turman’s Equipment,
Luke Hicks- Former Member/Owner Luke Hicks Farm Service,
Amber LaSalle- Former Member(American Degree Recipient)/Dairy Genetics and Program Specialist (All West Select Sires),
Chris Cardella- Owner Cardella Farms,

Members Absent: Melanie Hicks- Business Manager- Luke Hicks Farm Service

Teachers Present: Erica Correia, Stephanie Goeb, Gene Lieb, Mike Ortiz, Kate Smith

Teachers Absent: NONE

Call to Order
1. The meeting was called to order at 5:07pm
Review and approval of minutes from the previous meeting
1. The minutes were approved as presented by Pat Ward and seconded by Ted Crockett.
Call for additional items to be added to the agenda
1. Nothing added
Students animal projects for Chowchilla Fair- Goeb & Ortiz
1. Ortiz- Through the call we have leads on buyers for the five pig projects. We should have a little more insight in the coming days. A swine project will break even at $750.
2. Goeb- Sheep projects are coming in at $500 per project and five have been sold at this time, and one by Pat and Amy is a possibility. Letters have gone out and the process is moving and being handled. The buyers list was presented last year from Chowchilla Fair and the students are working through it. We are working to have a processor to come out and slaughter. Of the 12 sheep we have seven that need to go now, and six of those seven have been sold. We continue to look for buyers for more of those animals, and students are diligently working on getting letters out and selling those animals. All twelve sheep will be leaving on around the 1st of May and we have about a week left to go to complete this project.
3. Smith- A steer will break even at $2,500 and has an offer at $2,000 that is most likely going to be accepted and work on bump bids to make additional dollars.
4. Bump Bids- Students will work on obtaining bump bids to work to make additional dollars above and beyond the break-even point.
Virtual Tour of facilities (farm-orchard, barns; shop, greenhouse) – Correia
1. Great video! Some of the members have viewed the video and others will be viewing the video in the coming days. It gives an overview of the seven-acre farm and agricultural building.
5. Scholarship Applications
1. It was determined that $1,300 remains in the account. A discussion started if we would keep the account or not. At the end of the conversation, it was decided that the account would remain with $300, and we would work with the FFA Boosters to determine if a $1,000 could be moved over to supply each of the applicants with $1,000. We will meet again on Monday, April 27th at 5pm to continue that conversation. It was also shared that once the pandemic is over the Firebaugh FFA Boosters and Firebaugh High School Agricultural Advisory will meet to continue the conversation about how to do something at the A Night In Vegas event to support the Firebaugh FFA Agricultural Advisory obtaining $2,000 yearly to continue this scholarship program.
6. Committee concerns and recommendations
1. Gilbert Coelho’s and finding help for the Almond Orchard- A lot was discussed about this item. It is important to find a few students to help and support Gilbert in his mission. Luke shared that some of the retail outfits with machinery would love to share some of the new technologies with students. We have a lot of information that Erica Correia will now turn into a plan of attack. It's going to take some work to determine the process on how to proceed, but we have quality information and resources to make this work.
2. Almond Orchard- Part of the above-discussed pair with the idea of payment for students and how do we make this viable. Lieb shared that the financial needs of the chapter were partially carried for by the orchard, we have work to do to determine how we would provide financial support to students for work completed.
3. Barn- Some of the barns have been dedicated to different people. We have work to do to get the buildings to a point that they’re ready for dedication. Goeb and Ortiz will work to come up with panel sizes and costs to redo the inside of the barn. Water also needs to be updated and fixed.
4. Greenhouse- Erica, Ned, and Pat will be spending May and June to determine the cost to update the greenhouse and get it to the point of running. Erica will also be working on a plan for how the greenhouse will be used to make it a worthwhile investment for a class laboratory and resource.
5. Livestock Panel at Rodeo Grounds- Maurine and Pat will be checking into the panels at the Firebaugh Rodeo Grounds and determine where they are and if they could work for our needs.
6. Board Procedure on Repairs- Maurine will be checking in on what the board policy for repairs, this includes how we can work to obtain or leverage dollars to obtain the aging facility.
  1. We will reconvene in mid to late June to update on all of the above and determine the next steps in moving forward to better the agriculture department and learning labs.
7. Adjournment
1. The meeting was adjourned at 6:05pm.
8. Next Meetings
1. The meeting relating to scholarships will be on Monday, April 27th, 2020 at 5:00pm (may be via text) and we will reconvene with a meeting in late June to continue the discussion on the items listed above.

Firebaugh High School Agricultural Department
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes for June 22, 2020
Firebaugh High School Library & Zoom Meeting

Members Present: Pat Ward- Operations Manager- Perfect Pac, LP (Chair),
Bj Diedrich- Former Member/Owner- Beau Diedrich Farms/Children in Program,
Luke Hicks- Former Member(American Degree Recipient)/Owner Luke Hicks Farm Service,
Amber LaSalle- Former Member(American Degree Recipient)/Dairy Genetics and Program Specialist (All West Select Sires),
Chris Cardella- Owner Cardella Farms (Joined Via Zoom/Facetime)

Members Absent: Melanie Hicks- Business Manager- Luke Hicks Farm Service,
Maurine Parker- FLDUSD Administrative Assistant II/Parker Farms (Vineyards)/All Three Children American Degree Recipients,
Brandon Turman- Former Member/Owner- Turman’s Equipment,
Ted Crockett- Farmer

Teachers Present: Stephanie Goeb, Gene Lieb, Mike Ortiz, Kate Smith

Teachers Absent: Erica Corriea (Attending Children’s Hospital of Central California with her son during surgery)

Call to Order
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm at the Firebaugh High School Library and via Zoom/Facetime.
Review and approve minutes of the previous meeting April 20th, 2020
1. A motion was made by BJ Diedrich to approve the minutes as submitted, the motion was second by Luke Hicks, and passed by voice vote.
Call for additional items to be added to the agenda
1. The advisory had no additional items to add to the agenda
Tour of Facilities
1. Each teacher reviewed the agricultural lab facility paying special attention to areas of improvement.
  1. Greenhouse- Correia wasn’t present, in her absence, Lieb talked about a few items we still need to find funding for. Lieb and Correia will be working on a grant to get that facility up and running. The goal is to obtain funding by the end of winter to complete a project of having a running greenhouse. This has been a long time coming.
  2. Aquaponics- The aquaponics facility will be removed and filled in, it will return to a landscape/production area for plant science. The current staff has no interest in this project that is leftover from 2012-2014.
  3. Swine/Beef Barn- Some panels do need to be replaced, the drain pipe can easily be moved if we just rip up the concrete in the specific location having an issue and move it to drain the other direction. It would move from draining into the almond orchard, to move to drain into the field of pumpkins and future citrus. It is important that when you move it you make it easy to clean, as we now solids will get stuck in that pipe and it will have to be flushed. The wash rack at the end of the left side (it would be located next to the swine storage room/old farrowing room) of the barn sounds great, but the bottom of the building next to it needs to be siliconed to ensure a strong seal. We also need to cover the wood completely in some way to ensure that getting wet constantly doesn’t ruin the integrity of the building. Finally, we have to handle the grading and ensure that it drains to the drains that will be fixed. The Beef enclosure will be reconfigured to be more open, and have a need for fewer panels.
  4. Arena- The arena panels will be replaced and one gate will be removed and a gate will be installed on the side of the arena.
  5. Sheep/Goat Barn- This barn was determined to have far less damage than originally thought. A drain does need to be added and depending on sloping it was recommended to look at having the drain go out towards the palm tree (this would take the drain straight out towards lake). The Roof needs a few panels to replace a new roof cap piece placed on the barn, otherwise, it is in solid shape. Pat Ward recommended contacting Morris Construction to get a quote for the roofing items.
  6. Rabbit Barn- Due to changes in rabbit shows, Kate Smith is cleaning out the rabbit barn, with only three rabbits left. Her goal is to clear the entire barn, complete a deep clean, and wait to obtain rabbits until the fair/show situation changes.
  7. Poultry Unit- The storage and utility rooms need to be completed with walls inside, roof issues, and a few other items, we will work on grants for these items in the future.

Student animal projects for Chowchilla Fair
1. Stephanie Goeb and Michael Ortiz shared that every student made money on their projects. Pat Ward was very happy the community stepped up to support the purchase of all animals from our students and it was even more exciting they all made a profit!
Ag Incentive Grant Funding & Budget
1. Goeb shared the fact that due to state budget reductions, the Agriculture Incentive Grant would be funded at 39% of the funds requested. Greatly reducing the money we have to work with and making it that a number of changes will be made. This includes focusing on the essentials...membership, state conference, and etc.
Greenhouse Update
1. With Erica Correia being absent, Gene Lieb covered this item. We will be working on a grant to help cover these expenses. The greenhouse has not been productive in 10+ years and this is our area of focus as a department currently. The agricultural advisory is very interested in seeing this item up and running, it is the main focus of the department currently, as it relates to a major project area.
2020-2021 School Year
1. Due to Erica Correia’s absence, this item was pulled from the agenda.
Committee concerns and recommendations
1. The major concern was the condition of the farm, it was shared that it would be nice to get more support from MOT/District to help manage the farm and ensure its cleanliness as it relates to weeds and weed control. We will continue working with MOT/District to find ways to better facilitate this need.
Adjournment
1. The meeting was adjourned at 6:47pm.

Announcement

Next Meetings – FFA Banquet June 29, 4pm @ FMS
1. Please attend the banquet as you will all be recognized for serving on the advisory committee.