Monday Q&A: New dean talks about MJC ag program

Don Borges is the new ag dean at Modesto Junior College, which has turned out many of the people working in farming and related fields in the region.

Borges succeeded the retired Mark Anglin at the Agriculture and Environmental Science Division. He was a student there before going on to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He taught at Davis and Ceres high schools and was agricultural education and tech prep program manager at the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

Borges reflected on the MJC program a few weeks into his first semester as dean:

Q. How did MJC come to have such a well-regarded ag program?

A. MJC agriculture offers one of the most comprehensive community college agriculture programs in the nation. MJC’s agriculture curriculum encompasses 16 associate of science degrees and 13 technician certificates. Commitment to excellence is evident in the instructional program, which utilizes state-of-the-art technology and practical hands-on approaches to student learning. Industry collaboration has always been a hallmark of the program. Located in the heart of California’s agricultural diversity, industry field trips enable students and staff to experience the latest developments in technological advances in food and fiber production and processing, all within 30 minutes of the campus.

Q. How many students do you have, and where do they come from?

A. MJC agriculture has approximately 1,200 individual students. These students are from local feeder schools, schools throughout the state and some out of state. There are also many opportunities for financial assistance for students attending Modesto Junior College. With over $70,000 in scholarships awarded each year, student internship housing opportunities and the regular state and federal financial aid, MJC offers an education that is available to everyone. While these are based on scholarship, activities and leadership, many students take advantage of this excellent opportunity.

Q. What are the most in-demand careers in ag these days?

A. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in May a wide gap in the number of job openings created annually in the food, agriculture, natural resources and environmental fields in the United States – 57,900 – and the number of graduates in related fields – 35,400. That’s a shortage of 22,500 graduates, according to the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The diversity of jobs matches the diversity of majors in agriculture, which includes agricultural mechanization, agribusiness, animal sciences, biochemistry, food science, genetics, horticulture, packaging science, environmental and natural resources and others.

Q. How are the facilities funded by Measure E working out?

A. The agricultural projects funded by Measure E are the Agricultural Center for Education, student intern housing, beef and sheep laboratory units. These projects are an important portion of the agriculture program’s success, as it relates to everyone in the agriculture department. The Agriculture Pavilion provides additional opportunities for instruction, offers students greater hands-on application in the classroom as well as supplemental labs, and therefore will generate a greater student interest and enrollment. Being able to provide students with the environment and experiences that will help them in the industry is one of the things that the MJC agriculture department prides itself upon. This facility provides an opportunity to host important activities related to animal and plant production, marketing, competitions and many other agriculture activities.

Q. Can non-ag students benefit from taking a class there?

A. MJC Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Division offers many classes for nonagriculture majors. Agricultural literacy can be defined as possessing knowledge and understanding of our food and fiber system. These programs promote the understanding and knowledge necessary to synthesize, analyze and communicate basic information about agriculture with students, producers, consumers and the public. These programs focus on assisting educators and others to effectively incorporate information about agriculture into subjects being taught or examined in public and private forums and to better understand the impact of agriculture on society.

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Monday Q&A: New dean talks about MJC ag program."