Michael Marshall of Lincoln, Calif., is this year’s winner of a new iPad from Western Farm Press’ online CEU program (pentonag.com).

The iPad was the prize in a year-end special promotion for those who signed up for courses between the annual CAPCA meeting in October and Dec. 31, according to CEU Administrator Cheryl Ogle.

“This is just one way in which we can thank those who take the Farm Press/Penton Media CEU courses,” Ogle said. “We want to provide participants with a tool (iPad) they can use in the field.” Winners are selected at random using Randomizer.org.

Marshall is a consultant with Agricultural Advisors Inc., an independent firm consulting on orchard crops throughout Northern California. He advises for more than 10,000 acres of walnuts, almonds, peaches and prunes in eight counties.

Marshall has completed Penton Ag’s continuing education courses for credit for several years and finds them easy to use and an effective tool in meeting his continuing education licensing requirements.

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“I have been using the Farm Press online CEU program for the last three license renewals,” Marshall said. “The online CEUs have been invaluable, allowing me to fulfill the biannual requirement. In addition, I find the various topics to be very informative giving me knowledge in areas that I would not find elsewhere. Most of the meetings I attend are crop specific so this helps give me a much broader knowledge base.”

Marshall said the iPad will make his field work more efficient.

“It will allow me to reference product labels, trap data, weather and any other information I may need while in the field,” he continued.

Marshall has been with Agricultural Advisors Inc. for over 15 years and is a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in fruit science. 

Last year’s iPad recipient was Rick Deckard of Bakersfield, Calif. Deckard is a licensed qualified applicator and farms 4,000 acres of grapes, almonds, walnuts, peaches, nectarines and wine grapes. He is using his iPad to access Agrian’s services as well as Google mapping.

To access the online CEU courses, go to pentonag.com where there are 16 courses accredited for a total of 18 1/2 hours. Most courses are free. Also, follow pentonag.com on Twitter and Facebook.