College Honors Arborist at Farm to Table Dinner
Slideshow
This slideshow contains 4 slides that will change every 8 seconds. The first button is to play and pause the slideshow, followed by buttons to go to the previous slide, next slide, or choose individual slides.
The Huntley College of Agriculture honored a longtime arborist and businesswoman in an evening
Rose Epperson received the Jim Hicks Agricultural Achievement Award from the college during the 4th Annual Farm to Table Spring Harvest Dinner at AGRIscapes on April 14.
Epperson is a long-time principal
The Hicks award is given to an individual for his or her work in agriculture. The award is named after businessman Jim Hicks, a longtime supporter of the college and agricultural education.
Provost Sylvia Alva attended the dinner and spoke in place of President Soraya Coley, who was unable to attend.
Five students – one from each department in the college – also spoke at the event and shared how their experience in the college and at Cal Poly Pomona has shaped their lives. They were:
- Sommarani (Mayra) Chan, graduate student, human nutrition and food science
- Christine Eskander, undergraduate, animal and veterinary science
- Ashley Kim, undergraduate, agribusiness and food industry management
- Gabriela Ramirez, undergraduate, apparel merchandising and management
- Joseph Wolf, undergraduate, plant science.
The evening also featured food prepared by three local chefs, using produce grown by Cal Poly Pomona students. Travis Flood of Alexander’s Steakhouse in Pasadena, Christopher Gendreau of Chase’s La Verne, and the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation’s Arnold Zavalza produced a menu that included:
Appetizers
Tataki New York Strip Steak with Spices
California Deviled Eggs with Avocado and Cilantro, Topped with Serrano Chili and Bacon
Spadra Sushini Roll: Zucchini, Goat Cheese, Sundried Tomatoes with Balsamic Reduction
First Course
Spadra Farm Spring Salad Mix with Farro and Cal Poly Pomona Citrus Vinaigrette
Second Course
Lamb Meatballs with Harissa-Infused Mint Pesto and Za’atar-Flavored Yogurt
Ten-herb Green Chorizo over Black Bean Molé with Cumin Crème Fraiche
Whey-Poached Chicken Breast with Succotash and Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce
Vegetarian Option
Creamy Herb Polenta with Cal Poly Pomona Vegetable “Meatballs” with Harissa-Infused Mint Pesto and Za’atar-Flavored Yogurt
Dessert
Avocado Cake topped with Cal Poly Pomona Strawberry Snow and Macadamia Nut Crumble, paired with a Frangelico
Cal Poly Pomona’s own Innovation Brew Works provided beer for the event. Horsehill Vineyards, which uses grapes grown in the campus vineyards, and South Coast winery provided the wine.