| Michael Spiess |
| Mike has a B.S. in Agriculture (agricultural
mechanics) from CSU, Chico, a M.S. in
Plant Science (irrigation) from Fresno State, and a
doctorate from U.C. Davis & CSUF. He is a former vocational agriculture teacher and spent 13
years designing and supporting agricultural accounting software. Previously
he taught in the Plant Science
Department and served as general manager of the Agricultural
Information Technology Network (ATI-Net) which is part of the California
Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI) at Fresno State.
He is retired (2016) but continued to teach part-time in Ag Engineering Technology and Ag Education in the
College of Agriculture
at Chico State until 2020. He
also owns a consulting business specializing in Internet
solutions . He served as a facilitator for the Superior region
California Ag Teacher
Induction Program. Mike initiated the web site for the California Agricultural Teachers' Association and developed the first online system to collect secondary ag teacher and student data in California (2000-2016). He developed the CDE tabulations system used in California (1996 to 2019). It continues to be used by some contests and states. In his free time, he enjoys flying small airplanes and drones, fly fishing, backpacking, caving, working on old cars, cooking, and outdoor photography. He has served on the Boards of the Sierra Foothill Conservancy, University Hope, Northern California Regional Land Trust and the Butte County Habitat for Humanity, and the Siskiyou Habitat for Humanity. He has continuing interests with land trusts and affordable housing organizations. Currently he is a board member and treasurer of the Western Cave Conservancy (a land trust). Mike is a life member of the California Agricultural Teachers' Association, a life member of the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE), a life member of NACTA, life member of the National Speleological Society, and a member of the Cave Research Foundation. Mike has a number of ongoing projects including the National Ag Ed Teacher Supply and Demand study, ag mechanics curriculum development, and the AAAE Poster Submission and Review system. He can be reached by e-mail at mspiess@csuchico.edu. Photo Gallery | Current Car Collection | CV |
 Pluto's Cave Skylight (2022) |
.jpg) Little Glass Mountain from the Air |
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 Canyon De Chelly AZ (2022) |
 Pine Creek Pass (2022)  XC Skiing Avalanche Gulch Mt. Shasta |
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 Fishing on the Clearwater (ID) (2021) |
 Camping at Harris Beach (Brookings, 2021) |
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 Fire near our home (2020) |
 New shop (2020) |
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 Mount Shasta from the Duck Lake Trail (2020) |
 Mount Shasta from Hat Creek Rim (2019) |
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 Pilot Peak (2018) |
 Leaving our home in Paradise (2018) |
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 Flying over the Sutter Buttes |
 Bench Valley (2017) |
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 The Palouse (eastern Washington) |
 Approach to Italy Pass (2016) |
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 Grand Coulee Dam on the way to Idaho with Kate (2016) |
 Crater Lake |
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 Packing in Humphrey's Basin (2015) |
 Fishing at 11,000 feet.... |
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 Hiking on the PCT west of Lake Tahoe (2015) |
 Camping at Medicine Lake |
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 Top of Mt. Agassiz in the Palisades (2014) |
 Camped below the "Pals" on my way to Mt. Sill |
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 Hiking on the north coast with Pat (wife). |
 Solo backpack in the Trinity Alps (2014)  |
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 Lone Pine Lake on the JMT (2013) Daughter Kate and Jenna coming off the JMT -----> |
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 Solo trip to the Trinity Alps Canyon Creek(2013) |
 Between Junction Pass and Mt. Keith (2013) |
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 Scouts building the bridge on a campout |
 Venturing Crew at Inskip Cave |
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 Emigrant to Hetch-Hechy (2012) |
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 Mike and Kate at Boonville International... |
 Summit Lake Hover Wilderness (2011) |
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 Palisades Backpack (2010) |
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 Palisades with Will  |
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  Backpacking at Lassen NP (2010) |
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  Backpacking in Kings Canyon NP (2009) |
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  Hiking at Point Lobos SP (2009) |
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 Backpacking in Ionian Basin (Kings Canyon NP) with Scouts (2008) |
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Caving with Will at Kings Canyon NP (2008), a CRF project |
| Kate and Will and our 1930 Model "A" (2008) |
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Weekend getaway to Surprise Valley (Hot Springs) with Pat (2007) |
| Cycling with the Scouts on the Bizz Johnson trail (2007) |
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Backpacking in the Emigrant Wilderness (2007) |
| Building our shop (2006, Paradise) |
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Hiking the Canadian Rockies (2006) < Mount Coleman from Sunset Pass Athabasca Falls > |
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Backcountry skiing at Mt. Shasta (2006) |
| Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness (2005) |  |
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Family hiking at Darwin Falls (near Death Valley, 2003) |
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Backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail in Lassen Park (2003) | |
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< Will finding shade at Red Rock Canyon State Park (2003) Kate free climbing at Fossil Falls > |
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Mike and Kate caving at Lilburn Cave (2003) |  |
| At Marble Canyon (Grand Canyon). Flew in for breakfast from Kanab, Utah. |  |
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Wildflowers below Silver Peak in the John Muir Wilderness |
| Over Lake Powell after a dawn takeoff from Bullfrog Airport. |  |