Touyee Thao, a Fresno State Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology student, won first place for the graduate division in the water poster competition at the California Plant and Soil Conference on Feb. 3.

Thao’s study was on sugar beet irrigation levels.

“The Central Valley is the most produced place in the world,” Thao said. “We have a real high demand in agriculture.”

The conference was hosted by the California chapter of the American Society of Agronomy and was held at the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia February 2 to 3. The theme of the conference was California water, and during the gathering, each poster was reviewed on each student’s topic and his/her findings. Students were asked questions regarding their posters, and then a team of judges collaborated on whom they believed should receive which awards.

Thao said the reason he wanted to get a master’s degree in agricultural sciences was because he fell in love with research.

Fresno State students Giulano Galdi won second and Elizabeth Mosqueda won third in the graduate division.

Dr. Anil Shrestha, an undergrad and graduate professor, was one of four mentors who helped students during the creation of their posters. ­

“I was proud to have had them with these honors,” Shrestha said. “They put in a lot of work.”

Mosqueda has worked on her thesis for two years, which was the basis for her study on automated and manual lettuce weed thinning methods.

“I found that the averages were very similar,” Mosqueda said.

She explained why this was something of interest for her to study.

“People are leaving, and no one is coming to fill in the gap,” Mosqueda said. “I helped the growers, and I helped the laborers because I can speak Spanish.”

Mosqueda said that the people working manually were predominantly Spanish speakers who would tell her that because not a lot of people wanted to weed thin the lettuce, they were working long days. Mosqueda said that she wanted to help by being that “voice” for them.

“Thinning is only one part of it,” Mosqueda said. “I’m prideful to help every aspect of the growing process.”

Thao said that he did not believe people were fully aware of how important agriculture is to the Valley.

“People don’t appreciate how everything is a cheap price,” Thao said.

Shrestha noted that the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is also important to Fresno State.

“It does have meaning to the real world,” Shrestha said. “I think we are the best place in the world to be teaching plant science.”