Friends of the Fair Foundation officials presented CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani with a $25,467 check for the CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies Department at the Stanislaus County Fair Board of Directors meeting on Monday.
The proceeds came from the 9th annual Tastes of the Valley Wine and Cheese event held on Oct. 6 at the fairgrounds. Tickets to the event were sold for $35 each with proceeds benefitting the agricultural studies program at CSU Stanislaus and the Stanislaus County Friends of the Fair Foundation.
"This event was a great collaboration between the CSU Stanislaus Ag department and the fairgrounds," said Chris Borovansky, chief executive officer for the Stanislaus County Fair. "This event will continue to grow for next year and the proceeds will help bring agriculture and educational programs that are beneficial to the fair and the community."
The evening included wine, cheese, hors d'oeuvres as well as silent and live auctions.
"CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies was excited about the partnership with the Stanislaus County Friends of the Fair Foundation," said Mark Bender, professor and endowed chair at the CSU Stanislaus Agricultural Studies Department. "We see this opportunity as one that will not only solidify future funding for our Stanislaus agriculture students, but begin a long relationship that will support youth and agriculture activities at the Stanislaus County Fair."
The mission of the Agricultural Studies Program is to provide students with an understanding of basic economic principles governing the production and distribution of agricultural resources; agricultural and environmental resource management; pre- and post- production business and marketing practices; physical, chemical, and biological principles of agro ecosystems; global perspectives on food issues; restorative and sustainable agricultural practices; spatial and quantitative techniques; the social context of agricultural production; and public policy, regulatory, and land use issues.
In pursuing this mission, the program encourages students to critically assess agricultural issues and trends; provides students with opportunities to systematically develop the communicative, analytical, quantitative, and critical thinking skills; exposes students to diverse teaching and learning strategies in a number of academic disciplines; and delivers a high quality academic program that prepares students for emerging professional opportunities.