jul-aug-2020

GROWING THE GOODNESS BDG Foundation Announces Scholarship Awards The future of agriculture requires the dedication of a new generation to evolve and meet the needs of the growing global population. The Blue Diamond Growers Foundation selected 20 young men and women to receive a scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Foundation assists students whose goal is to be a positive influence on the future of agriculture and want to make a difference in the community. Here are the profiles of this year’s Blue Diamond Growers Foundation scholarship recipients, with an excerpt from their essay in which they were asked to describe future goals. Libby Adriaansen – Visalia Fall 2020 School: U.C. Davis Major: Environmental Science and Management Studying environmental science will allow me a better understanding into the agricultural community and gain me more effective solutions for the future of sustainability. I will return to the valley to give back to my community creating new solutions through sustainability. I feel I will be an asset to the community as a Water Resource Specialist. It is a way I can do my part to ensure more families, like mine, have the same opportunities for work and an education. Alissa Amaral – Visalia Fall 2020 School: Fresno State Major: Agricultural Business (Marketing) With my dedication and persistence, my future goals of earning my bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and becoming employed in the agricultural industry are within reach. It is only a matter of time until I will have the opportunity to use my education to begin my career, contributing to better our community through political advocacy. Emily Ehrke – Arbuckle Fall 2020 School: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Major: Agricultural Science I plan to research and learn as much as I can about land and water management as it pertains to agriculture. Water is one of the most important components to farming, and I hope to be part of new and more efficient ways to use and store it. Also, land use management and practices are crucial to the future of farming. Water and land will always be hurdles in agriculture, and that is why I hope to do everything I can to advocate for and better the future of farming in California. Joshua Heupel – Merced Fall 2020 School: Fresno State Major: Agricultural Business I would like to use my degree in hopes of affecting legislation in favor of America’s farmers, but more specifically water legislation. I would like to specialize in water law because I have seen first-hand how legislation has affected the farmers who are feeding the world. I hope to be a pivotal part of the change in order to bring power back to the Central Valley and bring together both sides so we can make all Californians happy. 2 6 A L M O N D F A C T S