Forty-two local high school students learned about agricultural career pathways and how to advocate for agriculture by participating in Partners in Agricultural Leadership, a Reedley College-administered USDA Hispanic Serving Institution grant-funded competitive agricultural leadership and education program.
Over the two-year program, Reedley College partnered with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Fresno, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Kingsburg Administrative Committee, Reedley College Ag Backers Council, Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA-ARS (Parlier), UC Davis, and UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Students worked with Reedley College mentors, attended seminars and delivered agriculture advocacy outreach to local students.
The 42 students received scholarships totaling over $73,000. Aaron Ramirez of Clovis East High School was the recipient of the $50,000 grant-funded scholarship. Aaron’s mother said that after attending the PAL seminar at UC KARE, Aaron became very enthusiastic about exploring a career in agriculture.
For his outreach project, Aaron worked with UC KARE to collect and sterilize owl pellets. He then delivered a training module that taught students in Aaron’s community about the importance of owls as well as determine what pests the owls were eating by identifying the bones in the owl pellets. Aaron plans to attend Reedley College prior to transferring to a four-year university and pursuing a career in agriculture.
Attached Images:
Left to right, Karri Hammerstrom, PAL Coordinator; Aaron Ramirez, $50,000 Hispanic Serving Institution Grant Scholarship Recipient; and Dr. Barbara Hioco, Reedley College President.