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Learn by Doing Endowment

Giving in Support of Learn by Doing

In 2009, 11 innovative agriculture leaders who recognize the distinct advantage of a hands-on education came together to form the Learn by Doing Endowment to support the college’s renowned tradition of excellence. These generous philanthropists are committed to supporting the next generation of students and ensuring the future for Learn by Doing in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Each founding member donated a gift of $100,000 to create a fund of $1.1 million that is used to multiply the impact of their original gifts through matching endowments.

The matching funds donated by the founding donors have allowed many others to support the Learn by Doing Endowment program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences .

Learn by Doing

Every day in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, students are inspired by what they experience in labs, enterprise classes, senior projects, special problems courses and more.


Thank you to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Learn by Doing Endowment Founding Members:

Steve Barnard
Steve Barnard
(Agricultural Business, ’75)
Mission Produce, Inc.
Mitchell Metzler
Mitchell W. Metzler
RCO Ag Credit, Inc/Glenn N Janzen
Charles Harrington
Charles and Diane Harrington
(Agricultural Engineering, ’81;
Ornamental Horticulture, ’81,
MS Agriculture, '83)
John Lake
John and Sheila Lake
Rain for Rent
Richard and Kathleen Zacky
Richard and Kathleen Zacky 
(Poultry Industry, ’79;
Food Science, ’80)
Bob and Leslie Taylor
Bob and Leslie Taylor
The Oreggia Family Foundation
Foundation Trustee
Al and Gail Montna
Al and Gail Montna
(Farm Management, ’67;
Home Economics, ’67)
Montna Farms
John and Carol Salmonson
John and Carol Salmonson
(Crop Science, ’67)
Monterey Ag Resources
Rick and Tonya Antle
Rick and Tonya Antle
(Crop Science, ’79)
Tanimura and Antle, Inc.
Ed and Rosa Boutonnet
Ed and Rosa Boutonnet
(Crop Science, ’62)
Ocean Mist Farms
A grey graphic with the words James G. Boswell Foundation
The James G. Boswell Foundation    

We’d like to say a special thanks to the following who have taken the challenge and created Learn by Doing Endowments through this program. 

Donald R. Maas
Kirk and Mary Messick
Charles M. Burkner
Jerome Case
The Bannon Family
The ABM/NAMA Club
Susan and Robert Brown
Lark P. Carter
Anthony J. Florentine
Paul F. Burkner
A. Lynn and Ruth D. French
Timothy E. and Lisa York
SunWest Foods
The Errecarte Family
Peter and Mary Oppenheimer
The Pease Family
Merle and Sharon Jensen
Rich Krizo
Sonya Woods Anderson
Lynn White and Mary Bradford-White
Arlene Bernstein
Orange County Farm Bureau
Pamela Stark
Roy Harris and Ralph Borchard Memorial
The Trexler Family 
The Bengard Family 
The Cilker Family
The Deane Family