Fresno State Focus Radio 10/25/25
Announcer 0:02
Fresno State radio presents Fresno State Focus radio edition, featuring stories of people of the valley provided by media, communications and journalism students at Fresno State.
Victor Fontes 0:12
Good morning and welcome to Fresno State Focus radio edition. I’m Victor Fontes,
Sara Ohler 0:20
I’m Sarah Ohler
Adriana Franco 0:21
and I’m Adriana Franco.
Victor Fontes 0:22
Fresno State Focus radio Edition starts now.
Adriana Franco 0:22
Today we’re exploring a few places around Fresno State that students may not know about, as well as informing people about an event that is beneficial to water conservation.
Victor Fontes 0:32
Plus Halloween is right around the corner. So we look at a few places around the Fresno area that you can happily haunt this spooky season.
Adriana Franco 0:38
To kick off today’s show, we dive head first into the importance of water conservation in the valley. On October 18, Fresno State held a water wise plant exchange, bringing out local gardeners, students and community members, organized by the Jordan College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology.
Wendy Cornelius 0:51
Wendy Cornelius, I am the supervisor of water conservation and the director of this event. The water wise plant exchange is a collaboration co hosted with Fresno State. Want to promote their plant sale for the horticulture unit, and then also to educate our city of Fresno customers, city of Clovis the outlying areas of how to take advantage of free information resources that we have here at the event. From recycling to different outreach groups, Sequoia, Native Plant Society, tree Fresno, nurseries that have water wise plants, that they have other services that they can offer, and also to put our rebate programs and the services that the city of Fresno offers to all the water customers in Fresno.
Adriana Franco 1:37
It’s been seven years since the last water rice plant exchange.
Wendy Cornelius 1:40
We relaunched it. The last one was in 2018 and then we were planning for 19, and it just didn’t work with Fresno State that year, and then covid. So we are relaunching and looking to do this every year about this timeframe.
Adriana Franco 1:56
If you are interested in attending next year’s event, there are a few things you have to know about before starting a water wise garden.
Wendy Cornelius 2:01
It’s a lot of planning, getting to know that you have your plants in the same water classification. Each one has a different water rating, and you want to try to do what’s called hydro zones. So you’re watering the plants that have the same watering requirements on a separate irrigation system. And then if you have higher water users, you adjust the irrigation to fit that. It’s different staggering of plants, different blooming periods, some evergreen plants with some deciduous plants. So you have, if something’s not in bloom, something else has some really nice leaf texture, structure that really pops in the garden.
Adriana Franco 2:36
While managing a garden, the importance of conserving water becomes clear art.
Arturo Mares 2:40
I am a water conservation rep for the city of Fresno. It’s especially important because a lot of people like to make the argument that they should be able to water as much as they can.
Speaker 1 2:50
Attendees came for all sorts of reasons, some to trade, others just to learn. One first time gardener shared what brought her out to the event and what she took away from the experience.
Deja Sharp 2:57
My name is deja sharp. A friend of mine told me about this event, she sent me kind of a post describing what was going to go on, and I was definitely interested. I do have a garden, but I just started, so I’m just seeing little seedlings. So I didn’t have anything to trade, but I picked up such a huge variety, I love it. Just walking through today, I learned so much about local plants, what’s available, what I can pick, how to plant, and also other resources of where I can learn more about gardening. So I would 100% recommend it. This is my first year. Yeah, and I will be back.
Adriana Franco 3:28
Well, there you have it. The relaunch of the water rise pack exchange of Fresno State was success. The event will be happening again October 2026, for Fresno State Radio. I’m Adriana Franco in Fresno, California.
Sara Ohler 3:37
Thank you, Adriana. Now if you’re thirsty after that story, quench that thirst with this feature on Fresno State’s campus. Come with our reporter Sophia Morales while she visits the university winery, where the grapes are grown and harvested by our very own agriculture students.
Tom Montgomery 3:52
On the north side of the Fresno State campus, you’ll find 120 acres of campus vineyard, founded in 1997 Fresno State’s winery was the first commercial winery on a university campus in the nation where teaching and production go hand in hand.
Tom Montgomery 4:05
I’ve never heard a wine maker say that they don’t like their job.
Sophia Morales 4:09
This is program director Tom Montgomery. He joined the program eight years ago with decades of experience in the field as a winemaker.
Tom Montgomery 4:16
So this is the real deal. They’re doing it all from inception, from growing the grapes to traveling to different vineyard appellations.
Sophia Morales 4:25
From the vineyard to the tasting room. Students are the ones doing the work, learning how to turn agriculture into opportunity. It’s one of the few wineries built on a university and operated on a university campus. Students handle harvesting, production and even sales at the Gibson Farm Market, gaining experience few other programs can offer. Montgomery says the goal is to give students the full picture of what the wine industry demands, including the timing of harvesting. Students drive hundreds of miles to the California vineyards to pick up tons of grapes. Usually happens at midnight to ensure that the grapes stay cool and in the best condition.
Tom Montgomery 4:58
We source from. All over the place. So it’s a big endeavor for them, because they’ve never done anything like this before. So they’re driving a truck and a trailer hundreds of miles to pick up grapes in the middle of the night. Sometimes, this will be our last pick, and it’s eight tons, which is a pretty fair amount for us, especially, they meet people. They’re meeting vineyard owners, vineyard managers, winery owners, wine makers.
Sophia Morales 5:26
The winery produces more than 20 different wines a year, including its popular Dean’s List series. Each bottle reflects a different grape variety and a different lesson from viticulture and analogy to business and marketing. For one student, the experience connects every part of their degree.
Winery Student 5:42
Half of my classes are, AG, business classes, so everything from accounting, finance, economics and marketing, and then my other half are analogy. So it’s all wine making, how to run a winery, wine making equipment, and then some biochemistry, knowing how the wine is made up of. The knowledge from working here and the classroom and use it in real world and like manage it.
Sophia Morales 6:01
And it’s not just ag or science majors getting involved. Students from across campus volunteer to help with bottling events and marketing, gaining firsthand experience in teamwork, safety and the business side of production. Montgomery adds that the program opens doors for graduates in every corner of the wine industry.
Tom Montgomery 6:19
Well, it’s an industry that’s kind of attractive to everybody. We have accountants and we have media people, and it’s a major too that encompasses a lot. We do more events than anybody on campus.
Sophia Morales 6:33
That collaboration reaches far beyond campus. Students travel statewide for events and tastings, representing Fresno State at wine walks, festivals and fundraisers, helping to grow the reputation of Central Valley wine and showcasing what student hands can create. Even students outside the wine majors say the experience gives them new perspective.
Winery Student 6:52
Being an ag education major, I always wanted to get a broad understanding of everything in the agriculture field, and my boss, Tom Montgomery has done a great job of teaching me everything, business wise, wine making wise, out in the cellar, helping the wine crew, yeah, driving trucks, forklifts. It’s really working as a team.
Sophia Morales 7:13
From late night grape runs to weekend wine events. Fresno State students are learning to lead an industry that never stops evolving. The winery shows that education meets experience. The results can be bottled, shared and celebrated for Fresno State Focus. I’m Sophia Sandoval in Fresno, California,
Adriana Franco 7:30
Now shifting our focus from thirst to hunger. If you’ve ever wondered where you can find farm fresh food while supporting local students at the same time, look no further.
Victor Fontes 7:38
Reporter summer Miller stopped by the Gibson farm market to find out what makes this store so special. I’ve actually been to the Gibson farm market. They have like, Slim Jims there. They’re like Slim Jims. They’re like, these meat sticks that they make, and they’re really good. They have sausages from the farms, and they have their Creamery there. Have you guys ever been there?
Adriana Franco 7:56
I’ve actually never been to the Gibson farm market, but I’ve heard everything there is locally grown, and I think that’s really cool, because the students also get an opportunity to learn about what we have here locally.
Victor Fontes 8:04
I love their ice cream, and I guess we can’t forget to mention the corn. Of course,
Summer Miller 8:10
As you walk into the Gibson farm market, you will find many items, including produce, wine, cheese, nuts and ice cream. I spoke with store employee, Maya Marillo, a student at Fresno State, and she told me about some of the popular items available.
Maya Marillo 8:26
So some of our really popular items, obviously, is going to be whatever produce we have in season. So now, since it is fall, kind of transitioning into winter, we have grapes, we have some citrus, like our oranges, we have pomegranates as well as plums. Some of our other popular items are our olive oil, our wine.
Summer Miller 8:44
In front of the wine section, you will see a table featuring the wine of the month.
Maya Marillo 8:48
The wine of the month is our Pinot Noir, which is an earthy, florally wine that pairs well with fish and light meats. And with both of those items, the olive oil and the wine, students and faculty actually get 10% off some of our other popular products are our packaged products, so our almonds, pistachios, anything of that sort, as well as our ice cream, which is popular year round. We sell it, not only at our ice cream counter, but in our packaged products, in our freezers.
Summer Miller 9:14
And with such a large selection of ice cream, I asked Maya for some recommendations.
Maya Marillo 9:18
So the most popular, I would say, is our Bulldog tracks. It is a vanilla base with chocolate syrup and chocolate peanut butter cups. But my personal favorite is the raspberry romance. That one’s a vanilla base with raspberry syrup and little chocolate cups with raspberry stem inside of those as well.
Summer Miller 9:33
You can visit the Gibson Farm Market on Chestnut, just northeast of the Fresno State campus. They’re open year round and always worth the trip. For Fresno State Radio, I’m Summer Miller in Fresno, California.
Victor Fontes 9:44
All horror and Halloween lovers listen closely while I tell you a terrifying tale of spooky sights, dreadful drinks and fun for everyone. There are many creepy events in and around the Fresno area. Many of these events can range from thrills and chills to fun for the whole family on the. Hearted side of things. You can watch the movie Coco tonight at inspiration Park in Fresno at 7pm I’d say, along with Nightmare Before Christmas, that is one of the best movies to watch during this time of year with the family. Wouldn’t you guys agree?
Adriana Franco 10:12
I’ve seen Coco so many times. My nieces and nephews play all the time, especially around October. So yeah, I definitely recommend Coco.
Sara Ohler 10:19
I do love Coco this time of the year, but I cry every time.
Victor Fontes 10:22
I’ve never cried to any movies, but I do agree with the sentiment. Now, getting into the Halloween spirit with movies is always nice, but what’s Halloween without some classic pumpkin themed activities? You can catch the pumpkin painting Palooza on the 31st at Dickey Youth Development Center in Fresno, starting at 5pm I will admit I haven’t carved many pumpkins in my day, but it’s always been fun to decorate them when I did. Is that something you guys usually do this time of year?
Adriana Franco 10:49
I also haven’t carved any pumpkins in my day, but I do enjoy pumpkin painting. I always think that’s pretty fun, especially if it’s like Halloween theme and characters and stuff like that.
Sara Ohler 10:58
I didn’t know people did not carve pumpkins during Halloween, but it is kind of an awful texture that is the worst part, but it is fun to carve into it and see a cool face that’s lit up.
Victor Fontes 11:09
Out of the few times I have carved pumpkins, my favorite face was I did the half smirk Roblox face on a pumpkin, and it turned out really well, and I really like that. Now, for those looking for scares, drinks and costume flares. Look no further with these happy haunts. First off, we have sanger’s own Hobbs Grove, if you have not been already, probably one of the most infamous horror attractions in the area, although I have to admit, I’ve never been even so just from why I’ve heard and seen, is sure to be a frightful experience. They offer a walk through of their haunted house forest and a spooky hayride. However, if people don’t want to drive so far, they can always visit madera’s own spooky thrill Raisin Hell Ranch, a personal favorite of mine. They offer different themed attractions in the 10 foot tall corn field that they operate in, and they have different nights depending on when you buy your tickets. You can buy tickets online or in person for these attractions while they last, as they end on the 31st and they are open in the evening of every day of the week except Monday and Tuesday. So attend while you can the scares do not last forever. Like I said, I’ve never been to Hobbs grove. I have been a raisin hell ranch, and I had a lot of fun there. Have you guys ever been to either of these?
Adriana Franco 12:18
I’ve never been to Hobbs Grove myself, but I have been to raisin Hill Ranch, and I 100% recommend it, especially for big group. I mean, where else would you get scared by a whole bunch of strangers and get chased around a corn maze?
Sara Ohler 12:27
I’ve never been to Raisin Hell Ranch, but I’ve been to Hobbs Grove a few times. The house is definitely the scariest if you’d plan to attend.
Victor Fontes 12:34
I’m kind of curious what’s the forest like, because I’ve seen pictures of it. It looks it looks errie.
Sara Ohler 12:39
Every year, it’s a little bit different, but a lot of fog and a really loud chainsaw that you hear from the beginning while you wait in line to the very end. So it’s pretty scary.
Victor Fontes 12:50
All right. Now, last but not least, for all those 21 and over the Halloween bar crawl has come to downtown Fresno. Crawl with us, from the 31st to the first starting at 4pm until 12am when the moon shines full. Attendees can buy their tickets online with the promise of deals and vouchers for drinks, an after party, food specials and more. Being someone who has just turned 21 this past summer, I hope to attend this one, and I will expect everyone to be dressed up in all sorts of costumes. I’m very excited.
Sara Ohler 13:21
With the mention of Halloween. Adriana explores the holidays history and what it’s supposed to be and what it really means to us.
Adriana Franco 13:27
Well, Halloween began as an ancient Celtic festival called Solomon, which marked the end of the harvest season and a time when people believe spirits across into the world of the living. Later, the Romans in the Catholic Church added their own traditions leading into Hallows Eve, now known as Halloween. Irish immigrants brought these customs to America, where they grew it into the holiday we know today with pumpkins, costumes and trick or treating. Do you guys Trick or treat?
Sara Ohler 13:48
The last time I went trick or treating, I was 17. I do miss trick or treating. I miss all the free candy, but now I’m an adult and I have to buy my own candy.
Victor Fontes 13:57
I never really went trick or treating that much, but the few times I did go trick or treating, it was very, very fun. And I got to dress up. I dressed up with a scream mask every single time, and it was very fun experience. What was Halloween for you guys growing up in your childhood?
Sara Ohler 14:12
Halloween for me was probably one of the best holidays. My mom is really into making it a whole thing. We got to go trick or treating every year. She cooked every year, and our family would come over and hang out. And I started watching horror movies from a young age, probably too young, so I watched horror movies all month long, and like the fun, cute, Disney Halloween movies. But yeah, that, and then eating a lot of candy and making sure my brother didn’t steal my candy.
Victor Fontes 14:41
Thats very important.
Adriana Franco 14:43
What’s your guys’ favorite horror movie?
Victor Fontes 14:43
I don’t watch that many horror movies because I’m too scared. Unless I watch them with friends, then they become comedies.
Sara Ohler 14:49
That is a really hard question, but every time someone has asked me this question, at least this month, Pan’s Labyrinth comes to mind because it has like the fantasy aspect. But visually, it’s a really cool movie, and the storyline goes pretty in depth I think. I enjoy all aspects of that movie, so I probably say that’s my favorite.
Adriana Franco 15:08
Well, my favorite is movie IT. Pennywise the clown. I just really enjoy that movie for some reason. I think it may be because it’s not only horror, but also comedy. So, yeah.
Victor Fontes 15:17
Okay, if I had to choose, there is one movie that’s always stuck with me, because I saw it when I really shouldn’t have at like, a really young age, and that would be insidious two. That is a really good movie, and that’s when I could watch purely for nostalgia, because I watched it so long ago. But that one’s a really good one. Tell me if this is a hot take, but I believe that Halloween, out of all the holidays in the holiday season is the most community oriented holiday. I say that because, like, Look, you got Thanksgiving, you got Christmas. Yes, you have a lot of family over. You can have a good gathering, but Halloween is like people from all around different neighborhoods. Go to people’s houses like you see people that you don’t usually see in your community. You have big events like the bar crawls, or people have big Halloween parties where you meet people that you probably haven’t met before, or, like, the haunted houses and stuff. I feel like all of that puts a bigger drive in the community. I think Halloween is like number one for, like, community driven events, though, I don’t know. Do you guys agree?Disagree with that?
Sara Ohler 16:05
I wouldn’t say I disagree. I think it depends on the people you hang around and your neighborhood. My neighborhood used to have a lot more trick or treaters than it does now, and I think everyone just grew up. But as far as my community, where I like to go, it is definitely the most popular. And it’s also fun, like how Adriana was talking about the history and salon, and how they say the veil thins. And I think it’s one day that kids, of course, but also adults can have fun, and it’s not so serious of a holiday, so it’s less stressful, and it’s over in a night, and then you have candy.
Adriana Franco 16:50
I agree with you. I think Halloween brings the community together, but I think that’s changing now. I don’t really see a lot of kids come to my neighborhood anymore trick or treating. I think everything changed when the whole trunk or treating thing came about.
Adriana Franco 17:02
Oh, I’ve completely forgot to mention, yeah, like, trunk or treats and stuff.
Adriana Franco 17:10
I don’t know. I just think that’s a little sad to see, because people aren’t knocking on people’s doors anymore and stuff like that. What do you guys think about trick or treating?
Victor Fontes 17:12
True, I’ve seen videos online of people like, there’s no kids in this neighborhood. All these houses are decorated. There’s candy out, but no one’s trick or treating. No one’s going out. And that could be because of the pandemic as well, but like downtown or like in Tower district, where I’m at, I still see a lot of it as well. Grown people usually trick or treating, which, you know what good for you. I want to do that. Probably wear a mask so no one can see my face when I do that. But there’s still a community in certain pockets.
Sara Ohler 17:35
Yeah that makes sense for tower district too, because that’s a very community driven area in general. And I feel like a lot of people who live down there know each other already, and a lot of the establishments throw some fun Halloween events and or parties. Speaking of Halloween costumes and outfits, what is one of the best ones that you’ve seen over the years?
Victor Fontes 17:56
I didn’t see in person, but I saw this social media influencer that I follow him and his friends dressed up as paparazzi, and they went up to a Chewbacca and they, like, started taking pictures and stuff, and they’re like, Chewbacca. Chewbacca. Can you answer some questions for us? And then they had like, a fourth friend act as, like a bouncer for the people they were taking. He’s like, No, he’s not accepting questions right now. Like, you got to move you got to move along. They did a guy dressed up as Jesus and like, Pikachu and just all these different people. And I thought that was really creative. I thought that was pretty cool. As for something I’ve seen in person, though this past year. You guys familiar with Five Nights at Freddy’s, the horror game? I saw someone dressed up as a really good Spring Trap, like it was a very, very in depth costume of the rotted animatronic, and they were like walking around, like they were limping and stuff. They were like robotic in nature, and it was that was that was really cool. I saw that, and I like that.
Adriana Franco 18:43
For me, my favorite costumes, they’ve always been like the restaurant mascots, like Wendy Ronald McDonald, some kid last year actually came knocking on my door wearing a Colonel Sanders costume, and he used a trick or treat bucket as the KFC bucket. That was very creative. But yeah, those are always fun to see.
Sara Ohler 18:59
I have a couple that come to mind. I love funny halloween costumes. I have thrown a Halloween party every year the last few years, and some of my friends are really creative. Specifically, one of them came as a sexy grandpa that was really fun to watch, especially as the night went on on Saturday night at Goldstiens for their zombie crawl that they just had, I saw someone with an insane Mothman costume, and it was a giant Mothman Head hat thing, and the eyes were glowing red. So stuff that obviously looks like there’s been effort put into
Victor Fontes 19:39
All right, but we need to ask, are you guys dressing up? Because I’m dressing up.
Sara Ohler 19:43
I am dressing up. I do every year. I usually go as some form of vampire, because it’s fun and easy. But this year I have red and black hair, so I’m going to be thorn from hex girls from Scooby Doo if anyone’s familiar with that. So I’m really excited. But I usually. Don’t put, like, a ton of effort into my costumes, admittedly, but yeah, that’s what I’m gonna be. What are you gonna be?
Victor Fontes 20:05
I didn’t do it last year. I did the year before that, but I still have the stuff for it. I have these jeans that I covered in fake blood, and it never washed out, so I just saved them for another costume. So I’m gonna wear those with I have a purge mask. And my dad, he loves Dracula. He’s been doing Dracula literally ever since he was like seven years old. He never has done a different costume ever. He loves Dracula, so he has this really cool felt Dracula robe. And so I’m aware that, and be like, a purge cultist type thing. I’ve done that before, and I like it, and I also have, like, props to go with it. So yeah, that’s what I have planned.
Sara Ohler 20:40
I love Halloween. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope I’m going to see some really cool costumes.
Adriana Franco 20:45
Well, that wraps up our show. For more content, visit Fresno statefocus.com
Victor Fontes 20:50
Join us next week for another episode of Fresno State Focus radio edition.
Adriana Franco 20:53
Today’s episode of Fresno State Focus radio edition was produced by Professor Hana yo Oya from the Department of media, communications and journalism at Fresno State
Sara Ohler 21:02
Our stories are produced and edited by Sarah oler in collaboration with Fresno State radio.
Unknown Speaker 21:07
For Fresno State Focus radio edition, I’m Adriana Franco,
Sara Ohler 21:10
I’m Sarah oler
Victor Fontes 21:11
and I’m Victor Fontes. Hope you have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week.
Announcer 21:20
Fresno State radio presents Fresno State Focus radio edition Saturday mornings at five. More information is available at kfsr.org and at FSR underground.org.