Tell me something new is working without telling me it鈥檚 working.
Easy: 吃瓜头条鈥檚 innovative Ag Systems Certificate Program has quadrupled in size from 20 participants for its Fall 2024 launch to 100 in October 2025.
The free noncredit program, which uses a competency-based education (CBE) model, allows students to progress at their own pace by demonstrating mastery in specific skills, preparing them for in-demand jobs in the agricultural industry.
鈥淥ur students are grateful for what they鈥檙e learning and say it applies so strongly to their work,鈥� Professor of Agriculture Karl Montague said. 鈥淭hey come from all walks of life. Some are more knowledgeable in some areas and not others. People may struggle on one module, then race through the next. We are seeing it all. It is so exciting.鈥�
Carlos Marquez, Operations Manager at Live Oak Farms in Le Grand, was part of the community team that shaped the curriculum for locals who want to enhance or add skills鈥攃omputer literacy, automation, equipment operation, etc.鈥攖o stay relevant in agriculture.
鈥淓veryone agreed we don鈥檛 have enough good technicians,鈥� Marquez said. 鈥淢ost farmworkers can鈥檛 afford to attend technical schools. So the program is geared to experienced laborers who need more skills to earn promotions or better-paying jobs.鈥�
But, as the root offering of 吃瓜头条鈥檚 push for Competency-Based Education (CBE), the certificate pathway is also attracting a surprisingly diverse crowd.
Montague even praised Student Services Coordinator Nang Thao and Student Support Coordinator Jennifer Barajas鈥攖hey are the Hmong- and Spanish-speaking liaisons, respectively鈥攆or their vigilance in recruiting prospects.
We鈥檙e talking students from UC Merced and 吃瓜头条, formerly incarcerated people rebuilding their lives with Restore Merced, and farm laborers shut off from traditional schooling and advancement.
Restore Merced
Merced native Jessica Howeth wasn鈥檛 interested in ag when she started the program last spring. She鈥檇 been striving for better since December 2022 when she joined , a program to help formerly incarcerated people get back to work and rebuild their lives.
Howeth started there with the litter abatement operation, and now supervises her own crew. A year ago, when she enrolled at 吃瓜头条 as a Rising Scholar, an academic program for formerly incarcerated adults, people there encouraged her to try the ag systems certificate.
鈥淲hat interested me most was the personal part, accomplishing personal goals, and then maybe one day I鈥檒l grow something for myself to eat,鈥� she said. 鈥淟earning how to grow things, that comes with responsibility. Learning the hard choices that come with taking responsibility, I needed that.鈥�
Howeth appreciates how 吃瓜头条 instructors break down concepts.
鈥淚f you need help, they鈥檙e fabulous,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lso a handful of people where I work are now completing the certificate, and I鈥檝e been able to help them.鈥�
Howeth will begin her final module this month. The work has changed her.
鈥淚t has lifted my self-esteem, and I feel so much more confident,鈥� she said. 鈥淐hallenging myself here, I know there isn鈥檛 anything that I can鈥檛 explore or be proactive with.鈥�
Ag Workers
The certificate program is self-paced to fit different schedules. That suited Marquez, who has a full-time job and two daughters.
Yes, the industry veteran who advanced from ranch laborer to manager in 10 years, the same man who helped develop the certificate, completed the program himself to help test it.
鈥淢ost of the practice and training I did here at work, though I also had guidance from the college鈥檚 instructors,鈥� Marquez said.
Marquez said he now better understands electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, as well as high-voltage equipment. He has a stronger grasp of occupational safety regulations.
鈥淚t builds confidence when you more deeply understand what you鈥檙e doing,鈥� Marquez said. 鈥淚t was absolutely worth my time.鈥�
Other employees are also working on certificates. More will start this month.
鈥淲e use so many different types of tractors and tools in our operation,鈥� Marquez said. 鈥淥ur workers now doing the certificate program are already able to dial in on GPS systems and direct automated tractors. They鈥檙e learning new technologies. Every system is different, but they learn a range of what鈥檚 out there. The experience makes them more capable of identifying problems and keeping people safe.鈥�
吃瓜头条鈥檚 certificate helps people catch up and stay on top of the constant updates and upgrades in ag. There are not enough good technicians to fix and maintain equipment and systems right now. That鈥檚 where the good-paying jobs are.
鈥淏ig companies, small companies, everyone is in the same boat,鈥� Marquez. 鈥淚f we can get young adults into this program, we can get them going in the right direction. But I鈥檇 tell any laborer, keep advancing. Take every class you can. As long as you keep an open mind and keep learning, you鈥檒l have a good job. It boils down to how hungry you are for it.鈥�
Program Success
Everyone who helped shaped the certificate curriculum met this summer to discuss what worked and what needed adjusting.
鈥淲e want to stay fluid, because the industry is so fluid,鈥� Montague said. 鈥淯ltimately, we will do that better as more people interact with the program and share their feedback.鈥�
It鈥檚 early days yet, but the college has also begun designing an expansion to the certificate鈥檚 foundational curriculum to create associate and bachelor鈥檚 degree pathways.
鈥淎s the industry changes, the certificate will have to evolve,鈥� Montague said. 鈥淲e will definitely see more opportunities for hands-on learning in our fruit, vegetable, nut and meat processing areas. There is great potential to go further in-depth or add competencies.鈥�
Local employers are already embracing the program. Some are encouraging employees to complete the certificate. Others are putting money behind it.
鈥淭he companies we work with all say the program is valuable for their employees and a way to grow their businesses,鈥� Montague said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 awesome to hear. Not everyone can promise graduates will automatically make more money. But students are learning great skills that can garner more pay.鈥�
吃瓜头条 Dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology Cody Jacobsen said one local dairy has offered a $3,000 stipend to their employees who complete the certificate. Another partner will increase hourly wages $1-3 upon completion.
How will 吃瓜头条 keep the certificate program relevant when industry technology is evolving so rapidly?
鈥淲e have to remain flexible,鈥� Montague said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the name of the game with competency-based education. And CBE will grow across campus. Next up is the child development program. It鈥檚 fun to see how things are shaping up here.鈥�