Three Fresno State students were honored as the first members of the John Harris Fellowship – a new program to foster leadership, innovative mindsets and professional development at the University Agricultural Laboratory at Fresno State.
This year’s inaugural cohort includes seniors Rafael Chavez (equine unit), Morgan Jackson (sheep unit) and Alyssa Serpa (vegetable unit), who were selected based on their academic majors and credentials and agricultural career paths. Students were also evaluated on their work ethic, passion for sustainability, leadership, innovation and mentorship potential.
Besides working on the campus farm, students in the program will be encouraged to participate in leadership and professional development, research and industry interaction. After their year-long fellowship, they will present highlights of their experience to the Ag Foundation Board.
“John Harris, his family and Harris Farms have always put a premium on the importance of education and creating opportunities for others,” said Darren Filkins, CEO of Harris Ranch. “John would be proud to support students like these who share his values of integrity, responsibility and hard work. This program is an important resource to help Fresno State and our agricultural community continue to develop strong leaders for the future.”
With Fresno State at the heart of the nation’s leading agricultural area, its 1,000-acre campus farm offers students hands-on learning opportunities to prepare them for a host of careers. Its 18 units include livestock, field and vegetable crops, horticulture nursery, orchards, vineyards and food processing units, with many of the student-made products sold at the Gibson Farm Market.
Dr. John C. Harris, who passed away in 2025, earned an honorary doctorate from Fresno State in 2019. He was a pioneer among west side growers, helping to expand his family’s nearly 90-year-old ranch from a cotton and grain operation into a nationally-known beef and cattle, nut, vegetable, wine grape and agritourism operation.
Harris was honored at the 2022 Community Salute, organized by the Ag One Foundation, for his impact on the Central Valley agricultural industry and his philanthropic efforts.
“We are grateful for the 2022 Ag One Community Salute that honored John Harris for his contributions to the agricultural industry,” said Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State. “The funding from that event is now enabling the John Harris Fellowship program to provide Fresno State students with enhanced hands-on training, leadership development and opportunities to cultivate innovation and essential professional skills.”
Each August, farm student candidates can apply to the program. For more information, contact Jordan College associate dean Steven Rocca at srocca@csufresno.edu.
Meet the students in the first cohort:
Rafael Chavez
Besides helping oversee the campus equine unit’s feed operations for the past two years, Chavez helps manage its equipment and facility needs and provides grooming and health care needs that align with his veterinary school ambitions. Before he transferred from Imperial Valley College to Fresno State in 2024, his prior family ranch experience included managing facilities, livestock, orchards and crops. He also worked as a feedyard assistant and on a tractor raking operation before attending Fresno State. The El Centro native’s dedication to learning new skills is also evident from a summer position with the Imperial Irrigation District, where he helped manage data and records for its water flow program.
Morgan Jackson
As a student assistant at the campus sheep unit for the past three years, the Lancaster native has helped oversee all of its animal welfare and facility needs. The unit is actively tied to the community, as it sells young lambs each year to local 4-H and FFA students for their projects and for other public livestock sales. As president of the campus Young Cattleman’s Association chapter, Jackson has also volunteered at the campus beef and equine units and is a member of the livestock judging team and Pre-Veterinary Club.
Alyssa Serpa
An ag education student with an emphasis on plant science, Serpa has served a vital role for the campus vegetable crops unit, which produces fresh produce for the Gibson Farm Market. The Wilton native transferred from Cosumnes River College and has prior experience working with products and the food distribution chain as a Gibson Farm Market and Raley’s supermarket employee. She has also worked as an after-school and preschool teacher in Sacramento, which aligns with her career path of becoming a high school or university ag teacher.
Fresno State’s annual 24-hour, online Day of Giving will be Wednesday, March 18. The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology relies on private financial support, such as funds raised from Day of Giving, to support student success. For questions about how to support Jordan College students, contact Shannon Birkner at sbirkner@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.4266.
