Chancellor to lead Agricultural Forum

By JENNA NIELSEN

Five CSU campuses will hold a forum today at Fresno State to discuss the system’s essential role in the agricultural industry.

The forum will be held at the Fresno State’s Viticulture and Enology Center from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Speakers and panelists will discuss the impact CSU’s have on California agriculture. “The CSU system is the largest producer of California’s agricultural workforce,” Chancellor Charles B. Reed said.

The CSU system plays a big role in the industry because there are currently 5,000 students in some form of agricultural education today.

“We are looking to see what CSU can do to improve our partnerships with agricultural leaders from all over the state,” Chancellor Reed said.

Chancellor Reed wants to let citizens know the CSU’s capacity and what they are doing for the agriculture industry.

He is also hoping the forum will bring ideas to improve the CSU’s partnerships with agricultural leaders and prepare students for the 21st century in agriculture.

“Exporting agriculture will become more and more important.

We want to see what’s in our future in research and student preparation,” Reed said.

Representatives from government organizations, the food, wine and timber industries, growers and ranchers will be at the event.

Attendees will also discuss how their partnerships with the CSU campuses will aid in furthering agricultural knowledge and keep California’s agricultural industry strong.

The event is sponsored by the California State University Chancellor’s office. Speakers will include Charles B. Reed, chancellor of the CSU system; Fresno State President John Welty; Bill Pauli, President of the California Farm Bureau and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo President, Warren Baker.

Panelists include Mary Wagner, chief technology officer of E. & J. Gallo Winery; George Soares, managing partner of Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP; Tonya Antle of Tanimura & Antle, Inc., a member of the USDA
Advisory Board; Chuck Ahelm, former undersecretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture and Mark Burrell, managing partner of the West Mark Group.

The participating campuses are Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, CSU Chico and Humboldt State University.