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marketing and finance classes. He and Holt advised students to not limit themselves to the chemistry of winemaking. They also urged them to explore brewing and distilling. “Learn the chemistry, but don’t limit yourself,” Holt said. Holt said working with a larger win- ery has enabled him “to do different things.” He graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor’s in chemistry and completed all enology classes and basic viticulture courses. Bagdasarian described challenges from the pandemic that closed his win- ery for a time. The winery went to online sales and added a tent, where smaller outdoor events could be held. (Denni s Pol lock i s a repor t er in F r e s no . He ma y b e c on t a c t e d a t agcompollock@yahoo.com.)
Bob Bagdasarian has provided 20 internships at his Sanger winery and vineyard. He told students at California State University, Fresno, that there is no better experience than turning out barrels of wine.
Bagdasarian said the operation pro- duces 1,500 cases of wine a year, a level that he described as “still a hobby.” Bagdasarian said it is important for students to seek internships with win- eries and to have hands-on experience in turning out barrels of wine. Some 20 interns have worked at his winery. At the conclusion of the discussion, Frank Saviez, a seasoned Fresno County grower whose grapes often wind up in winesmade at the university, askedwhat part of the business a 20-year-old student should pursue. The ensuing discussion suggested many options—fromgrowing the grapes to crushing them to, like Porter, coming out with a line of wines to establishing a winery, as Bagdasarian has done. Many of the panelists said marketing is a key, nomatter which path is chosen. For Porter, it was a matter of working with a winemaker to come out with his own line of wines. He said he found peo- ple in the industry helpful and eager to share information about winemaking. “The wine industry is very welcoming, very collaborative,” he said. Osilla, a Fresno State enology and chemistry major, is working as so- cial director for Bâtonnage Women in Wine, which promotes opportunities for women in the winemaking and vineyard
professions. She also works as a wine cellar worker and hospitality specialist at two wineries and has a goal of creat- ing her own wine label. Osilla said she is “happiest whendown and dirty in the cellar,” a job that is “not for the faint of heart” and requires “lots of cardio and lots of lifting.”
Curtis, who is an assistant winemaker at the Fresno State Winery, plans to ob- tain hermaster’s in business administra- tion while working in wine. “The production side is not always pretty,” she said. Bagdasar ian said ever y s tudent should participate in basic accounting,
Agritourismworkshop set for Santa Rosa Farmers are invited to a field day in SantaRosaon integratingagritourisminto their operations. provide for generating revenue as well as supportingeducationandboostingappre- ciation for agriculture. 3883 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa. Cost is $75.
Theevent isacollaborationbetweenthe University of California, Sonoma County FarmTrails, BeeNBlooms andEcoFarm’s 2022 Conference. For more information, contact Rachael Callahan at rmcallahan@ucanr.edu.
The event wi l l inc l ude a ques - tion-and-answer session and a farm tour during peak lavender bloom. The workshop will be held June 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Bees N Blooms,
Participants can learn about what’s required to bring the public to the farm. Several area agritourism operators and local experts will share their experiences, discussing opportunities that farm visits
MEMBERS ENJOY ACCESS TO FREE PESTICIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS California Farm Bureau presents the Farm Bureau Extension: 2022 CE Series held virtually on Zoom. Join us throughout the year for webinars held February through November featuring content that meet your pesticide continuing education (CE) requirements. Subject matter experts will share information immediately applicable to your business operations and advance your professional development. CE certificates will be sent for each webinar attended after successful completion of a simple quiz on the material.
2022 CE Series REGISTER ONCE FOR ALL CLASSES Cost for the Series: Members: Free Non-Members: $400*
Future Class Dates and Topics (subject to change):
May 5: ............................. "Ask a PCA": Making Smart Choices about Label Selection and Timing of Applications June 9: ............................ Calibration and Nozzle Selection for Effective Spraying July 21: ............................ Respiratory Protection
September 1: ................ Rodent Control October 13: ................... Field Fumigants November 10: .............. Pesticide Use and Bees
*Join Farm Bureau as an Agriculture member and enjoy this series for FREE!
Class Time: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
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8 Ag Alert April 27, 2022
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