Ag One Foundation
Moller family gift transforms mechanized ag lab
In 2017, the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology unveiled the first phase of renovations to its Mechanized Agriculture Laboratory — renovations made possible by a transformative $250,000 gift from Dr. James Moller and his wife, Carol. Today, this gift continues to revolutionize the program and laboratory at Fresno State, impacting generations of students.
The Mollers’ donation was made in honor of Jim’s father, Leonard Moller, who operated the Acme Machine Shop in Fresno until 1973. Originally founded by Jim’s grandfather Herman Moller in the 1920s, the shop embodied a legacy of craftsmanship that Jim never forgot, even through a successful career as a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Minnesota. This act of remembrance has grown into a powerful catalyst for innovation and learning for generations of agriculture students at Fresno State.
During a visit in 2016, Jim toured the mechanized agriculture lab with faculty member Ken Heupel. The space, filled with traditional but outdated tools, instantly transported him back to his father’s shop.
“Educational institutions, especially state universities and colleges, have pressing financial concerns, and Ken quietly expressed the program’s obvious needs,” Moller said. “The surroundings reminded me so much of my father’s machine shop that I could visualize him there, and it really touched me. Even though I moved away 60 years ago, I wanted to express my appreciation for the educational opportunities that I was afforded as a third-generation Fresnan while helping to create better opportunities for future students, many of whom are training to be educators and key members of the Central Valley ag industry.”
Since the donation, the lab has undergone a dramatic transformation. A revamped welding area now includes state-of-the-art multi-processing booths, CNC plasma cutting tables, new gas line manifolds, and a freshly painted interior. Today, additional upgrades are in progress, including new TIG welders, hydraulic equipment, engine stands, and storage units.
The impact goes far beyond new tools. The once small program led by a single instructor has demonstrated tremendous growth, now staffed by two full-time professors and one part-time instructor. Serving over 200 students each year, the program prepares future leaders in agriculture through practical, real-world training.
Dr. John Williams, a 2008 Fresno State graduate and former student of Heupel’s, now leads the program alongside Chris McKenna. In 2024, their work was honored with the Outstanding Post-Secondary Program Award at the California Ag Teachers Conference — recognition of the program’s significant development and lasting impact.
Partnerships with industry leaders like N&S Tractor, Quinn CAT, Fresno Equipment Company, and Garton Tractor have further elevated the program, giving students direct access to cutting-edge machinery, corporate visits, and on-site training. Working with these local businesses ensures that graduates enter the workforce not just ready to contribute, but ready to lead.
Looking to the future, Fresno State plans to launch a Mechanized Agriculture Minor in 2026, further expanding opportunities for students. An endowment partnership with Wilke Industries and ongoing support from the Ag One Foundation are helping secure the program’s long-term support – which you can be a part of too.