Lunstand goes into CATA Hall of Fame
Longtime Hanford High teacher and Porterville native Jamie Lunstad was recently inducted into the California Agriculture Teachers Association Hall of Fame.
May 4 was the 20th anniversary of Lunstad’s death.
Lunstad taught at Hanford High for 27 years, teaching agricultural mechanics 3 and 4. He also supervised dairy cattle projects and coached the cotton, dairy cattle, poultry and farm power teams.
He required all students to know and understand every aspect of designing and fabricating their agricultural mechanics projects. His projects are still being used today on farms, ranches and dairies in Hanford.
“Personally my brothers had Mr. Lunstand in his Ag Mech 4 class and we still use the items my brothers built some 35 years ago,” said Lilly Pimentel, who nominated Lundstad for the honor. Pimentel is a former student of Lunstand and was a member of the Hanford FFA.
Lunstad helped students with the dairy cattle projects whether it was selecting show type cows for the State Faire or Kings County Fair Dairy Replacement Heifers. Many of those would go on to win champion ribbons.
Lunstad always went the extra mile to ensure every student had supplies they needed even if it was just the small things like a blower at the State Fair. He also had patience with those who gave him a hard time.
He was known as a teacher who had a heart of gold for his students, exhibitors, parents, friends and Hanford FFA.
Lunstad holds the record with 25 state champion teams: 18 cotton state champion judging teams; two dairy cattle state champion judging teams; four farm power state champion judging teams; and one poultry state champion judging team. He also had numerous teams that finished second in the state.
He required 100 percent from his students at his judging team practices. Students would have to do reasons multiple times just to come up with the right phrase or to smooth out a transition. Lunstad was known for his unique cottom reasons where he had team members state the scientific name for upland cotton.
Lunstad was encouraging and would spend time teaching students how to be successful with a work ethic matched by few others. He believed in students even when they didn’t believe in themselves.
“He was my dairy cattle advisor and dairy cattle coach, but it was special for me that I could become his colleague as well,” Pimentel said. “I was able to be both and I will never forget those moments we shared talking about our students.
“Mr. Lunstad left a lasting positive influence on all those he touched. He taught his students not just to be good FFA students but to be great people.”
Lunstad was recognized as the star advisor by the region and was recognized as one of the outstanding dairy cattle judges in California. He dedicated countless hours that weren’t required. He would never say no to a student in need.
Lunstad will never be forgotten and is loved by all the families who were touched by his compassion, dedication and drive for student success.
Those who accepted his award on his behalf were his widow, Robyn Lunstad, his two daughters, Kara Lunstad Teschner and Kimberly Lunstad Sandlin, their children and spouses, Tom, Tommy and Jenna Teschner and Chase, Jaymee and Jack Sandlin, Jamie’s sister, Carri and husband Greg Brinkley and their children Jennifer, Trevor and Grant Brinkley.
Jackie Lunstad, Jamie’s twin brother, was killed in a farm accident on Nov. 12, 1966. Both were in Porterville FFA and 4A. Both have scholarships in their honor at College of the Sequoias and Hanford High.