Star Agricultural placement Award Regional Finalists :
Jacob Eyraud • Poway
My SAE is a position as a yard worker and delivery serviceman at California Firewood , a supplier of firewood to homeowners and businesses throughout San Diego County . My position allows me to locate trees to be removed , break down trees , recognize the cause of tree decline , identifying different varieties and qualities of wood , and many other aspects of the business . The business has found a niche reselling wood from trees that are removed at a homeowners request or because they are a hazard to residential homes and trees located in a forest with high fire danger due to the drought . This position has given me technical knowledge of forest products , how different woods produce different amounts of heat , the effect that different woods have on structures like chimneys and wood burning stoves , and the experience of working with people of different cultures , ages , and economic status . My bilingual skills have helped me to connect and service the large Latino culture in San Diego County . I have also learned the benefits of knowing my limits by listening to my body and keeping my well-being in mind , thus making myself the most efficient worker I can be .
Matthew Umbarger • king city
My SAE is working at New Holland Coastal Tractor Company where I preform repairs on tractors that are either warranted or are paid to be repaired . My job also consists of sweeping the shop , cleaning parts , maintenance of the shop / store and any tractors that are due for servicing , programming harvester GPS systems , and pressure washing the protective coating on the harvesters . I am also trusted to deliver all tractor parts or items that are away from the shop mainly to local businesses and farms . and repair any tractors that are located within our company ’ s range . My greatest challenge in this are of work was at first not knowing anything about the tractors internal parts such as a radiator , oil reservoir , oil filter , driveline , etc ., but after working with the manager of the shop , he was able to teach me along the way what exactly every part and item of the tractor was . Being a part of the FFA Farm Power and Machinery Team has also helped me gain knowledge that is needed for me to move up in my range of work at the shop . After learning these items and parts I am now able to work efficiently and independently .
Anthony Klisura • Healdsburg
I was first exposed to the dairy industry when in fifth grade my mother married my stepdad , John Bucher . John is the owner of Bucher Farms in Healdsburg , which consists of both wine grape vineyards and an organic dairy . Since my first exposure I remember waking up at 5:00 am to watch John artificially inseminate the cows , feed , assist in parturition , and decide which heifers would become part of our family ’ s herd . Since then , my experiences have grown . Now my typical workweek includes feeding calves , heifers and cows , palpating cows for pregnancy , cleaning free stall barns and calf hutches , and performing maintenance on various pieces of equipment . My favorite aspect of working at the dairy is performing artificial insemination and preg-checking cows . Since acquiring a job at Bucher Dairy as a freshman I have developed a passion for the dairy industry and hope to return to the dairy after college to begin the transition of taking over . I would like to continue the family tradition while making improvements to our current practices . My work experience is related to the proficiency area because of the skills and tasks that I do on a daily basis at the dairy .
Kaleah Bese • Merced - golden valley
Nestled on 30 acres in between the towns of Merced and Planada , Hullana Farms originated in the 1940s as a family based Agriculture Sales entity which got its start attending San Francisco Farmers Markets on a weekly basis to market their locally grown produce . I grew up attending these markets with my grandfather and as my grandparents slowed down in energy , they needed the extra help to stock and market the produce . As I obtained more knowledge and appreciation , my love for agriculture flourished even more and still I attend every weekend to lead the family business . Currently , I grow many various types of specialty vegetables that include squash , bell peppers , chilies , Korean based products , and sweet potatoes . In addition , my project also encompasses the production of various fruits and melons that include yellow watermelon , red watermelon , orange watermelon , cantaloupe , Korean melon Ambrosia melon , Sharlyn melon , guava melon , Canary melon , orange honeydew , green honeydew , Kadota figs , and Black Mission figs . Throughout the years , I have been able to help establish new irrigation techniques that will allow for higher efficiency . The operation , since the beginning , has grown and marketed 100 % of the harvested crop .
Paul Barcellos • tulare
My SAE project is working at Cain Trucking as a foreman in their Composting and Air Pollution Control Operations . In the composting operation we recycle cow manure into effective compost providing the option to mix in special nutrients requested by farmers , based on their soil test , to provide a product that best suits their needs . In the Air Pollution Control Operation , oil is sprayed on asphalt and dirt roads to keep dust from reducing the air quality , helping farming operations prevent fines and pollution . Since this is a family operation I have had the opportunity to work a lot of hours where I have gained a knowledge and appreciation for both recycling agriculture products and preventing air pollution . To gain the knowledge of the company ’ s compost operation and to perform basic duties was not enough for me so I began working my way up the ladder of the success . I was not allowed more responsibility until I could demonstrate my mastery of my current duties . My goal is to manage and gain the necessary knowledge and skill to be successful at making compost and managing the operations . Each day I work I look forward to solving the management challenges that present themselves .
Gus Macy • tulelake
My SAE project is working for my family ’ s company , “ Macy ’ s Flying Service ”. Macy ’ s was founded by my grandparents in 1965 and services the needs of the growers by providing a full line of agricultural chemicals and fertilizers to be applied by air or ground , depending on the grower ’ s preference . Since my employment in 2013 my mornings start before sunrise at the shop where I organize and prepare the chemicals the crop dusters will need for the spraying . I am ready and prepared to quickly refuel the aircrafts because the longer that the aircraft sits on the ground the less chemical we are applying . Another responsibility I have is delivering fertilizer tanks to fields to be used to apply fertilizer through a process called chemigation . There is a lot of pre-checking with these tanks because a leaking tank is not good for the environment or the production farm ground and leaked chemicals are lost money that cannot be recovered . My experience working with Macy ’ s Flying Service has led me to pursue a career in the agricultural aviation industry . I have currently logged over ten hours of flight time towards obtaining my pilot ’ s license and expect to have my license by the time I graduate high school . •
California FFANEWS • Page 15 • Summer 2016