2020 Salute to Dairy
Special Section Honoring our West Side Dairy Industry Special Section Honoring our West Side Dairy Industry
6 | CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL DAIRY INDUSTRY THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020TOSTECONTINUED FROM PAGE 5in terms of production,”John stated.For all the technology,however, dairy producersmust also simply knowtheir animals.“You still have to bea cow man, at the end ofthe day. You have to havea passion for the cattle,”said John. “Sometimes youdon’t have to look at a computerto tell when a cow isnot being productive foryou.”The Tostes increasetheir efficiency by growingabout half of the cornand wheat needed on thedairy.“We have purchasedmore ground here in thelast couple of years thatwas next to ours,” Johnsaid.Nine employees help theToste family operate thedairy.While John and John Jr.oversee the operation inthe barns and fields, Sandramanages the accounting,compliance reportsand vast paperwork thatgoes with running a moderndairy.Despite the ups anddowns, the work and commitmentinvolved, theTostes embrace dairy andthe family lifestyle it hasprovided.“You may have had along day, but you haveyour son next to you thewhole time, that makesyou want to go forward,”John said. “We’re all workingfor the same thing.That makes it all worth it.”“You have to love it,”Sandra said of being adairy family.John said he is comfortablewith the current herdsize but nonetheless hasbeen going through theprocess of being permittedto grow larger.“That is for the nextgeneration,” he explained.“If they want to grow, theyGive your homethe protectionit deserves.have the foundation for it.”John Toste Jr., a 2020 graduate of Gustine High, plans to attend Modesto Junior College and join his parents on the family dairy.Michael Passarelli, AgentInsurance Lic#: 0F221491404 Main StreetNewman, CA 95360Bus: 209-862-3200Michael Passarelli, AgentInsurance Lic#: 0F221491404 Main StreetNewman, CA 95360Bus: 209-862-3200Give your homethe protectionit deserves.Your home is where you makesome of your best memories,and that’s worth protecting.I’m here to help.LET’S TALK TODAY.Your home is where you makesome of your best memories,and that’s worth protecting.I’m here to help.LET’S TALK TODAY.State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, ILState Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL1708136State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TXWalnut Grower, Huller and ProcessorServing the West Side with Quality and IntegrityThanks to Our Growers for Your Continued SupportContact Kirk Jensen for Information16801 Highway 33Patterson, CA 95363209/892-3458 • 209/892-5036 FAXkirk@pattersonnut.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020 CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL DAIRY INDUSTRY | 7Dairy upbringing helped shape goals for Toste sistersMakayla workingfor USDA; Adrianaon Oklahoma Statejudging teamNEWMAN - SistersMakayla and AdrianaToste grew up on a WestSide dairy, with a passionfor the industry further instilledthrough their competitionin livestock showrings and as part of dairyjudging teams throughGustine FFA and Newman4-H.Those roots have continuedto influence their pathin college - and in Makayla’scase beyond.Today Makayla is workingfor the USDA’s Merced/MariposaFarm ServiceAgency, helping administerprograms whichbenefit the ag community,including dairies.Adriana, meanwhile, ispreparing for her senioryear at Oklahoma State,where she is on the dairyjudging team and plansa career in dairy-relatedcommunications or marketing.Makayla joined theFarm Services Agency lastAugust, after she completeda California Milk AdvisoryBoard internship inMexico.Her current focus is onhelping producers qualifyfor a new USDA food assistanceprogram, whichprovides aid for those inthe ag community whohave been directly impactedby the coronaviruspandemic.Dairy producers areamong those who qualifyfor the program, Makaylanoted, not only for the impacton milk but for therow crops they grow.Response to the programhas been overwhelming,she said.“We started sign-upson May 26, and we haveover 500 (farmers andranchers) signed up rightnow,” Makayla told MattosNewspapers in earlyJune. “Four individuals,including myself, have appointmentsback to backMakayla Toste, left, and Adriana Toste were each raised with a passion for the dairy industry. Makayla is currently working for the Merced/Mariposa Farm Service Agency, while Adrianais entering her senior year at Oklahoma State, where she is a member of the dairy judging team.for three months. MercedCounty is very diversewhen it comes to the differentcommodities. Wehave been staying busy forall of our producers.”In her role, Makaylasaid, she works with aninterested producer todetermine eligibility andthen helps them throughthe application process.The payments from thenewest program and otherswhich have providedassistance to farmers maynot fully offset the loss toproducers, she reflected,but represent a valuablelifeline to farmers facingtough times.“Even if it is just a littlebit of money, it will helpwith something,” she explained.When not working onassistance programs,Makayla said, she is involvedin compiling cropreports.Working remotely duringthe pandemic has beenfacilitated by technology,but difficult nonetheless.“I can get the workdone. But we enjoy therelationship that we havewith these producers. Nothaving that interactionwith our producers canmake it a little hard. Noteverybody is tech-savvy,because you have producersof all generations,” shepointed out. “We can’t waitto get into the office andbe able to see our producers.Her dairy background,she reflected, has givenher a great understandingof the challenges whichface those in the ag communityand instilled a passionfor the industry.“If my parents had chosena different career pathand we were not in ag,that would definitely havechanged my career path,”Makayla stated. “Anyonein the ag industry is passionateabout what theydo. They put in the hardwork because they enjoywhat they do. I enjoy whatI do because I am helpingsomeone.”Adriana’s junior year atOklahoma State was cutshort by the coronavirus.She is hoping, though,that school - and the collegedairy judging season- resumes in the fall.Adriana said the OklahomaState team did competein one contest thisspring before the pandemicstruck.The primary judgingseason in college ranks isin the fall, she noted, and“right now that is up in theair.”She was on the dairyjudging team at ModestoJunior College before goingto Oklahoma State.While judging in thecollege ranks is moredemanding than in highschool circles, Adrianasaid, her positive experiencesat Gustine High setthe stage for collegiatesuccess.Her coach and teammatesat Gustine Highgave her a strong foundationin judging, Adrianaremarked.“High school is whereyou get that foundation,”she said. “College is whereyou put it to use.”Both sisters envision adairy-related future.And Adriana, likeMakayla, said their dairyroots helped shape theirgoals.“We are all very thankfulthat we have the dairybackground. For us, it reallyinstilled a passion foragriculture,” Adriana reflected.“We are all verythankful that we had thisexperience growing up. Itset the tone for what wewanted to do in terms ofcareers.”
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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020 CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL DAIRY INDUSTRY | 7
Dairy upbringing helped shape goals for Toste sisters
Makayla working
for USDA; Adriana
on Oklahoma State
judging team
NEWMAN - Sisters
Makayla and Adriana
Toste grew up on a West
Side dairy, with a passion
for the industry further instilled
through their competition
in livestock show
rings and as part of dairy
judging teams through
Gustine FFA and Newman
4-H.
Those roots have continued
to influence their path
in college - and in Makayla’s
case beyond.
Today Makayla is working
for the USDA’s Merced/Mariposa
Farm Service
Agency, helping administer
programs which
benefit the ag community,
including dairies.
Adriana, meanwhile, is
preparing for her senior
year at Oklahoma State,
where she is on the dairy
judging team and plans
a career in dairy-related
communications or marketing.
Makayla joined the
Farm Services Agency last
August, after she completed
a California Milk Advisory
Board internship in
Mexico.
Her current focus is on
helping producers qualify
for a new USDA food assistance
program, which
provides aid for those in
the ag community who
have been directly impacted
by the coronavirus
pandemic.
Dairy producers are
among those who qualify
for the program, Makayla
noted, not only for the impact
on milk but for the
row crops they grow.
Response to the program
has been overwhelming,
she said.
“We started sign-ups
on May 26, and we have
over 500 (farmers and
ranchers) signed up right
now,” Makayla told Mattos
Newspapers in early
June. “Four individuals,
including myself, have appointments
back to back
Makayla Toste, left, and Adriana Toste were each raised with a passion for the dairy industry. Makayla is currently working for the Merced/Mariposa Farm Service Agency, while Adriana
is entering her senior year at Oklahoma State, where she is a member of the dairy judging team.
for three months. Merced
County is very diverse
when it comes to the different
commodities. We
have been staying busy for
all of our producers.”
In her role, Makayla
said, she works with an
interested producer to
determine eligibility and
then helps them through
the application process.
The payments from the
newest program and others
which have provided
assistance to farmers may
not fully offset the loss to
producers, she reflected,
but represent a valuable
lifeline to farmers facing
tough times.
“Even if it is just a little
bit of money, it will help
with something,” she explained.
When not working on
assistance programs,
Makayla said, she is involved
in compiling crop
reports.
Working remotely during
the pandemic has been
facilitated by technology,
but difficult nonetheless.
“I can get the work
done. But we enjoy the
relationship that we have
with these producers. Not
having that interaction
with our producers can
make it a little hard. Not
everybody is tech-savvy,
because you have producers
of all generations,” she
pointed out. “We can’t wait
to get into the office and
be able to see our producers.
Her dairy background,
she reflected, has given
her a great understanding
of the challenges which
face those in the ag community
and instilled a passion
for the industry.
“If my parents had chosen
a different career path
and we were not in ag,
that would definitely have
changed my career path,”
Makayla stated. “Anyone
in the ag industry is passionate
about what they
do. They put in the hard
work because they enjoy
what they do. I enjoy what
I do because I am helping
someone.”
Adriana’s junior year at
Oklahoma State was cut
short by the coronavirus.
She is hoping, though,
that school - and the college
dairy judging season
- resumes in the fall.
Adriana said the Oklahoma
State team did compete
in one contest this
spring before the pandemic
struck.
The primary judging
season in college ranks is
in the fall, she noted, and
“right now that is up in the
air.”
She was on the dairy
judging team at Modesto
Junior College before going
to Oklahoma State.
While judging in the
college ranks is more
demanding than in high
school circles, Adriana
said, her positive experiences
at Gustine High set
the stage for collegiate
success.
Her coach and teammates
at Gustine High
gave her a strong foundation
in judging, Adriana
remarked.
“High school is where
you get that foundation,”
she said. “College is where
you put it to use.”
Both sisters envision a
dairy-related future.
And Adriana, like
Makayla, said their dairy
roots helped shape their
goals.
“We are all very thankful
that we have the dairy
background. For us, it really
instilled a passion for
agriculture,” Adriana reflected.
“We are all very
thankful that we had this
experience growing up. It
set the tone for what we
wanted to do in terms of
careers.”
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