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
Pluto's Cave Skylight (2022)
  Little Glass Mtn
Little Glass Mountain from the Air
Canyon DeChelly
Canyon De Chelly AZ (2022)
  Pine Creek Pass
Pine Creek Pass (2022)

Mt Shasta
XC Skiing Avalanche Gulch Mt. Shasta
     
  
Fishing on the Clearwater (ID) (2021)
   
Camping at Harris Beach (Brookings, 2021)
 
Fire near our home (2020)
   
New shop (2020)

Mount Shasta from the Duck Lake Trail (2020)
   
Mount Shasta from Hat Creek Rim (2019)

Pilot Peak (2018)
   
Leaving our home in Paradise (2018)

Flying over the Sutter Buttes
 
Bench Valley (2017)
 
The Palouse (eastern Washington)
   
Approach to Italy Pass (2016)
 
Grand Coulee Dam on the way to Idaho with Kate (2016)
   
Crater Lake
     
 
Packing in Humphrey's Basin (2015)
   
Fishing at 11,000 feet....
 
Hiking on the PCT west of Lake Tahoe (2015)
 
Camping at Medicine Lake
On Top of Agassiz 
Top of Mt. Agassiz in the Palisades (2014)
  Camped below the "Pals" 
Camped below the "Pals" on my way to Mt. Sill
Hiking NC
Hiking on the north coast with Pat (wife).
  Granite Lake 
Solo backpack in the Trinity Alps (2014)
Fish
Lone Pine Lake 
Lone Pine Lake on the JMT (2013)

Daughter Kate and Jenna
 coming off the JMT ----->
  Kate & Jenna off the JMT 
Canyon Creek
Solo trip to the Trinity Alps Canyon Creek(2013)
  Jct Pass 
Between Junction Pass and Mt. Keith (2013)
Scouts
Scouts building the bridge on a campout 
  VC 462
Venturing Crew at Inskip Cave 
Wild Flower    Emigrant to Hetch-Hetchy 
Emigrant to Hetch-Hechy (2012)
Mike & Kate at Boonville
Mike and Kate at Boonville International... 
  Summit Lake 
Summit Lake Hover Wilderness (2011)
 

Brook Trout

Palisades Backpack (2010)
 
Palisades 
Palisades with Will

Temple Crag
     
Widow Lake 

Cooling off at Juiniper Lake
  Flowers 

Camp at Snag Lake
Backpacking at Lassen NP (2010)

 


Backpacking in Kings Canyon NP (2009)

 

Hiking at Point Lobos SP (2009)
KCNP Ionian Basin Camp
KCNP Muir Pass
The Hermit (KCNP)
  Moon over Ionian Basin (KCNP) 

Backpacking in Ionian Basin (Kings Canyon NP) with Scouts (2008)
Caving in King Canyon Park Caving with Will at Kings Canyon NP (2008), a CRF project
Kate and Will and our 1930 Model "A" (2008)
Weekend getaway to Surprise Valley (Hot Springs) with Pat (2007)
Cycling with the Scouts on the Bizz Johnson trail (2007)
Backpacking in the Emigrant Wilderness (2007)
Building our shop (2006, Paradise)
Hiking the Canadian Rockies (2006)
< Mount Coleman from Sunset Pass
Athabasca Falls >
Backcountry skiing at Mt. Shasta (2006)
Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness (2005)  
 

 

Family hiking at Darwin Falls (near Death Valley, 2003)
Backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail in Lassen Park (2003)
 < Will finding shade at Red Rock Canyon State Park (2003)

Kate free climbing at Fossil Falls  >

Mike and  Kate caving at Lilburn Cave  (2003)
At Marble Canyon (Grand Canyon).  Flew in for breakfast from Kanab, Utah.  
flower.jpg (30760 bytes) Wildflowers below Silver Peak in the John Muir Wilderness
Over Lake Powell after a dawn takeoff from Bullfrog Airport.