The October 14 edition of the AgNet News Hour showcased two powerful voices shaping the future of California agriculture — Priscilla Koepke, CEO of F3 Innovate, and Mando Perez, Southern…
The Roots of 4-H: Jessie Shambaugh and the Birth of American Agricultural Youth
…America’s formal agricultural education system. The program helped train new generations of leaders who balanced innovation with respect for tradition—key elements in building the nation’s agricultural strength. A Lasting Legacy…
Celebrating the Valley’s Bounty: The Whole Vine Festival Returns to Fresno State
…Festival, taking place Saturday, November 1st at Fresno State. The celebration honors the region’s grape, raisin, and wine industries — three cornerstones of California agriculture that define the valley’s economy…
Karen Ross on Water, Workforce, and the Future of California Agriculture
A Visit to Reedley: California’s Ag Secretary Engages with the Valley California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross joined The Ag Meter host Nick Papagni at Reedley…
Karen Ross Talks Water, Regulation, and Prop 50 Silence on AgNet News Hour
…technology, and efficiency. Ross praised programs like the new competency-based certificate programs at community colleges such as Reedley, which train farmworkers for jobs in automation and ag tech. She said…
Elaine Culotti: Fighting for California’s Farmers and Future
A Passionate Voice for California Agriculture Elaine Culotti Nick Papagni opened his show with unmistakable enthusiasm, welcoming a guest who’s become a household name in California and beyond—Elaine Culotti, known…
Elaine Culotti, the “Lipstick Farmer,” Warns Farmers on Prop 50 and California’s Mismanagement
…Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed her back for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, farming, and California’s future. Culotti, who farms in Fallbrook, has become a national voice on agricultural and…
How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America
A Turning Point in Agricultural Education In 1914, the United States Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, establishing the Cooperative Extension Service—a transformative program that reshaped how Americans learned about farming,…
David Tangipa: Fighting for California Farmers and Rejecting Proposition 50
…Behind California’s Wildfires Tangipa began by challenging the familiar narrative that California’s wildfires are primarily caused by climate change. “Those communities in the Palisades and Eaton area didn’t burn down…
Why Prop 50 Threatens Rural Representation: California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass
Shannon Douglass Why Prop 50 Threatens Rural Representation: As Californians prepare to cast their ballots, Proposition 50 has emerged as one of the most controversial measures on the docket. At…
David Tangipa Slams Insurance Commissioner and Prop 50 on AgNet News Hour
…already pay the highest taxes, gas prices, and utility bills in the nation. Giving these leaders more power is the last thing California needs.” Tangipa also took aim at California’s…
Shannon Douglass Doubles Down on Prop 50 Opposition
…alarm about Proposition 50 and its potential consequences for rural California . Douglass explained that Prop 50 would suspend California’s Independent Redistricting Commission, a system created to ensure fair representation…
Mando Perez: Innovation & Leadership in California Ag
…PCAs, Perez explained. “It helps with day-to-day operations, especially when you’re looking at your spray program,” he said. Spraying for pests such as the navel orange worm or California red…
Mando Perez of Semios Named CAPCA Member of the Year
The October 7 edition of the AgNet News Hour celebrated a big win for California agriculture as Mando Perez, Southern California Territory PCA and president of the Kern County CAPCA…


















