MILKulture is a multi-disciplinary hub throughout the PCC region, led by PCC Director Dr. Carmen Licon. It serves as a space where science, technology, and art intersect with industry and academia to drive product innovation, consumer engagement, applied research, and education.
Objectives
- Expand awareness and training in the production of traditional and specialty dairy products
- Inspire innovation rooted in time-honored dairy traditions
- Highlight career pathways in dairy food sciences and related fields
- Attract students to pursue careers within the dairy industry
- Integrate arts and humanities with dairy processing science to explore and expand the role of dairy in food and agriculture
- Support entrepreneurship by facilitating new product development in traditional and specialty dairy products, providing access to university pilot-plant equipment for private enterprise
- Strengthen university capacity to conduct research, outreach, and training that supports regional dairy processing businesses through a multi-disciplinary approach
- Contribute to regional economic growth
Kids' Ag Camp 2025: Hands-On Agriculture Experience
A sensory activity was prepared to introduce participants to the science of taste and texture. They explored the variety of dairy milks on the market and put their palate to the test as “heat detectives,” sampling milks treated at different temperatures. Next, they stepped into the shoes of real consumers, rating two yogurt options and presenting their findings professionally. Finally, the kids participated in a cheese-matching challenge, using touch and taste to identify identical products.
Give your children ages 7-12 a unique agricultural adventure at Fresno State's Kids' Ag Camp! Hosted by the Jordan College's Institute for Food and Agriculture, this immersive experience offers 20 hours of hands-on learning across our 1,000-acre farm campus.
Three Sessions Available
- Session 1 (ages 10-12): June 9-13, 2025
- Session 2 (ages 10-12): June 16-20, 2025
- Session 3 (ages 7-9): June 23-27, 2025
All sessions run 8:00AM-12:00PM
Lessons on
- Food science
- Entomology (study of insects)
- Agriculture mechanics
- Animal Science
- And More
Science of Agriculture
Food Science Unit
Registration Details
$150 per youth includes all instruction, materials, healthy snacks, and a true Fresno State agriculture experience.
Only 30 spots available per session.
Registration opens May 1 at 9:00 AM.
Scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/fsu-agcamp
Get in touch with us at ifa.demeter@mail.fresnostate.edu
MILKulture Events
Hispanic Cheese Short Course
Part of MILKulture’s mission—to explore dairy through a multi-disciplinary lens—is reflected in ongoing workshops that highlight traditional dairy-making techniques and industry knowledge. In June 2023, PCC hosted a Hispanic Cheese Short Course at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, featuring bilingual recipe distribution in Spanish and English, courtesy of the California Milk Advisory Board. The short course was sponsored by Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the Universidad Panamericana Aguascalientes.
Kids’ Ag Camp
Students attending Fresno State’s Kids’ Ag Camp on August 4 participated in a cheesemaking and cheese tasting workshop led by PCC Director Carmen Licon. Hosted by the Jordan College’s Institute for Food and Agriculture, the week-long camp provides hands-on learning experiences across Fresno State’s 1,000-acre farm, introducing students to various aspects of agriculture and food production.
MILKulture Research
Assessing the Educational and Training Needs of U.S. Dairy Processors
Authors: Kaylin Prayitno, Jamie Levitt
Institution: California State University, Fresno
The U.S. dairy processing industry relies on a skilled workforce to navigate today’s increasingly complex production systems and market dynamics. While various educational and training programs exist to support dairy processors, their effectiveness in addressing current workforce needs remains unclear. This study assessed the educational and training needs of U.S. dairy processors to inform the development of more targeted programs.
Download the Complete Assessment (PDF)
MILKulture and Media, Communication, and Journalism (MCJ) at Fresno State
Examples of How Humanities Classes Benefit from Studying Dairy Issues
As part of MILKulture’s goal to engage students in dairy studies through interdisciplinary efforts, several courses in the MCJ Department at Fresno State have explored research topics related to dairy industry messaging and media literacy. Students also studied creative strategies, such as how social media posts can reach new dairy audiences.
Student Research about Dairy Workplaces
Students examined corporate messaging in the dairy industry and beyond, analyzing how businesses communicate workplace values. Research included a review of online messaging from major corporations and dairy associations, highlighting how companies approach outreach, branding, and engagement with farming communities.
Media Literacy in Food and Dairy
The Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust is working to improve media literacy, helping people become more informed consumers of news. This includes understanding how media narratives shape public perception of different industries, including agriculture.
A growing field of study examines how farming and dairy-related professions are often categorized by media narratives. Agricultural communication increasingly recognizes the impact of misinformation on the industry, including how farming research and events can be disrupted by the amplification of controversial topics. Research has also explored cybersecurity risks in agriculture as farms rely more on digital technology. External threats, including unauthorized recordings and misinformation campaigns, have led to legislative responses in various farming states. Meanwhile, initiatives like “Agrespect” aim to counteract misleading portrayals by promoting accurate and constructive narratives about the agricultural industry.
Strategic Communication in Dairy
Students in an introductory public relations and advertising class analyzed advertising campaigns from dairy organizations, corporations, and nonprofits. They then created their own sample posts, incorporating graphics and messaging to promote the dairy industry, National Milk Day, and the nutritional benefits of dairy products.
MILKulture Webinars
Latin American Flavors: Exploring Cheese Traditions
Enjoy the Latin American Flavors: Exploring Cheese Traditions webinar series, where Dr. Licon dives into the rich and diverse cheese-making cultures of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Ecuador. Each session features experts from across Latin America, and we’ll offer translation in both English and Spanish.
December 12, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Cheeses of Ecuador (on Vimeo)
November 14, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Cheeses of Uruguay (on Vimeo)
November 7, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Cheeses of Chile (on Vimeo)
October 31, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Argentinian Cheeses (on Vimeo)
October 17, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Brazilian Artisan Cheeses (on Vimeo)
October 10, 2024
Exploring Cheese Traditions - Mexican Artisan Cheeses with Jessica Fernandez (on Vimeo)