Spring 2014 - California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

Transcription

horizons
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
S P R I N G 2014
ADVOCACY AND ACTION
Leading a
County Farm Bureau
We grow leaders who make a difference.
FOUNDATION MESSAGE
PARTNER UNIVERSITIES:
ALLIANCE AND RELIANCE
CALF leadership and alumni had the
privilege of meeting with two partner
university presidents in January. The themes
of both meetings were similar, with a focus
on CALF’s legacy relationship with the
respective campuses. They were also an
opportunity to discuss the memorandum of
understanding that governs the relationship
of CALF and the partner institutions, as well
as the responsibilities of the deans of the
colleges of agriculture in shaping the program
curriculum.
On Jan. 8, Fresno State President Joseph Castro
and Agriculture Dean Charles Boyer met with
CALF chair Loren Booth, vice chair Jeff Elder,
Bob Gray and Dr. Michael Thomas. Castro
is a student of leadership and invited CALF
to hold our fall 2014 L4 event on campus.
On Jan. 10, Cal Poly SLO President Jeffrey
Armstrong and interim Agriculture Dean
Andy Thulin met with Booth, Gray, Thomas,
Dr. Bob Flores, Dr. Charlie Crabb, former
Agriculture Dean Dave Wehner, and George
Soares (4). Armstrong hopes to incorporate
aspects of Ag Leadership into student courses
on his campus.
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
SPRING 2014 • www.agleaders.org
Since the beginning of Ag Leadership, we
have relied on the relationships with our
partner universities. They bring a multicampus framework to the program and
tenured faculty to the classroom. They help
ensure our diversity of perspective and
experience and give us access to senior and
seasoned academics. In many ways, they
are perhaps our most important legacy
contributors. Without their commitment to
this program, the founders would have been
without a platform for delivery or a means for
curriculum development.
Our meetings with presidents Castro and
Armstrong and their deans of agriculture
were to restate and reinforce this connection
and mutual commitment. They continue to
believe in the relevance of Ag Leadership
today, and we are pleased that they will
continue our alliance for years to come.
COVER STORY
4
Leading a County Farm Bureau
FEATURES
8
9
Leadership Focus: Dr. Robert Flores
Alumni Spotlight: Craig Underwood (5)
DEPARTMENTS
2
2
3
7
10
12
13
14
Chair Message
Calendar of Events
Foundation News
Program News
Alumni Events
Alumni & Fellows News
Development
Donor Recognition
Calendar
MARCH
27
28
CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair/ Loren Booth
Vice Chair/ Jeff Elder
Secretary - Treasurer/ Pierre Tada
Edwin Camp
John Colbert
A.G. Kawamura
Ejnar Knudsen
Joe MacIlvaine
Rod Stark
Deanna van Klaveren
Mary-Ann Warmerdam
Dr. Lester Young
Rob Yraceburu
Page 10
2
ALUMNI EVENTS
HORIZONS MAGAZINE SPRING 2014
CALF STAFF
President and CEO / Bob Gray
| [email protected]
Director of Education / Dr. Michael Thomas
| [email protected]
Program Advisor / Dr. Charlie Crabb
| [email protected]
Finance & Human Resources / Teresa Straub
| [email protected]
Program Coordinator / Judy Sparacino
| [email protected]
Enterprise Coordinator / Emily Lazzerini
| [email protected]
WRITER/EDITOR
Meredith Rehrman Ritchie
[email protected]
DESIGNER
TMDcreative
Common Threads ceremony, Fresno
L4 Seminar with Dr. Nan Keohane, Cal Poly SLO
APRIL
3
9
14-16
15 17 24 Region 9 recruitment event, Ventura County
Ag Museum
Region 10 recruitment event, home of Cher and
Tom Angulo
Class 44 seminar, Cal Poly Pomona
Region 8 recruitment event, location TBD
Region 2 recruitment event, location TBD
Common Threads North, UC Davis
MAY
12
15-17
16
16
Class 45 phase one application due
Class 44 seminar, SLO
Region 7 recruitment event, Talley Vineyards
CALF board meeting, San Luis Obispo
JUNE
17-19
Core faculty retreat and Education Team meeting,
Santa Barbara
JULY
7
9-10
16-17 23-24
30-31
Screening committee, Chico
Screening committee, Davis
Screening committee, SLO
Screening committee, Fresno
Screening committee, Pomona
AUGUST
20
Final selection committee, Salinas
FOUNDATION NEWS
CALF SEEKS
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
CALF HAS BEGUN A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR AN ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. THE CREATION OF THIS POSITION
IS A RESULT OF A STAFF TRANSITION WITH DR. CHARLIE
CRABB, CALF’S PROGRAM ADVISOR.
Crabb first joined the foundation in the fall of 2007
as director of education. He eventually took on the
added role of director of operations and then served
as the interim CEO for nine months until the hiring of
Bob Gray in September 2009. To find more balance
in his life, Crabb assumed the position of program
advisor, working for the foundation half time since
the fall of 2010. In addition to part-time work for
CALF, he has worked part-time for the provost at Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo for the past three years.
In January, Crabb returned to a full time position at
Cal Poly, helping with administrative needs in the
College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental
Sciences. In addition to his new position, he has
agreed to continue with CALF in a further reduced
capacity. He will continue to work behind the scenes
on administrative, IT, recruiting, trip planning and
other matters to help ensure program excellence
until a replacement is found.
“Working with Ag Leadership, the Education
Team and the fellows is extremely rewarding
and stimulating,” said Crabb. “I look forward to
continuing my involvement for as long as possible
and as long as it is mutually beneficial. My new role
at Cal Poly will allow me to develop more leadership
experiences and gain insights that I hope can
contribute something new to Ag Leadership.”
Said President and CEO Bob Gray, “We believe this
position will be a critical hire and will no doubt
influence the future of the program. Looking ahead
five or 10 years, many of our key educators will be
nearing retirement, and we hope this person can
develop into the next leader of this program, insuring
a smooth and seamless transition in the future. With
Dr. Crabb’s willingness to serve in a reduced capacity
for an extended period of time, if necessary, we will
take as long as we must to find the right person.”
The new associate director will initially take over
Crabb’s responsibilities in the area of program
support. He/she will work with the CALF president
and CEO and the director of education to deliver the
core leadership development program.
AMONG THE JOB TASKS ARE:
»» Assist the director of
education (DOE) in managing,
delivering, and advancing
CALF’s educational programs.
»» Support curricula
development, delivery and
evaluation in partnership with
the DOE, the Deans Council,
and the core faculty.
»» Assist the DOE in scouting
national and international trips
»» Design, conduct and assess
routine program evaluations.
»» Work with the program
coordinator to ensure that the
logistics necessary to support
the educational mission of
CALF are in place.
»» In coordination with the
CEO and DOE, work with
stakeholders to ensure the
educational programs meet
CALF’s mission, vision and
purpose.
»» Ensure that the appropriate
technology is in place and
functioning appropriately to
support the mission of CALF
and the program.
»» Assist the DOE in the
preparation and monitoring
of the budget for the
educational programs.
»» Remain current in the areas
of adult education and
leadership theory through
professional development.
NEW PARTNER UNIVERSITY DEAN:
Dr. Helene Dillard
The foundation welcomes Dr. Helene Dillard as the
new dean of UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) and as the newest
member of CALF’s Deans Council. She assumed leadership
of the college on Jan. 27. Two days later, she attended
CALF’s Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception.
Dillard was previously the director of Cornell Cooperative
Extension (CCE) and associate dean and professor of
plant pathology at Cornell University. She had been a
member of Cornell’s faculty since 1984, when she joined
the Department of Plant Pathology at the New York State
Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y. She was
promoted to associate professor at Cornell in 1990 and
to full professor in 1998. Dillard was named associate
director of CCE in 2001 and promoted to director in
2002. As director, she oversaw 1,700 employees and an
annual system budget of approximately $120 million.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dillard
earned a bachelor’s degree (1977) from UC Berkeley, a
master’s degree in soil science (1979) from UC Davis and
her Ph.D. in plant pathology (1984) from UC Davis.
Dillard was appointed CA&ES dean after a monthslong search process that involved an internal (campus)
advisory committee and external (industry) advisory
committee. Several Ag Leadership alumni participated
on the industry committee. As a former board member of
LEAD New York (affiliated with Cornell), Dillard is familiar
with agricultural leadership programs.
The ideal candidate is committed to adult and leadership education. In conducting the search, CALF has
reached out to the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leadership, a consortium of
agricultural leadership programs in the United States and other countries, and to the Association of Leadership
Educators. Depending on the response, a professional recruiter may be hired to assist in this search. The
position is presently located in Salinas. The successful candidate should begin no later than Sept. 1, 2014.
If you or someone you know would be well suited to this assignment, please send a cover letter and CV in
confidence to Bob Gray at the Ag Leadership address.
“UC Davis has a long history of working with the
Ag Leadership Program and the key agricultural and
environmental stakeholders in California,” said Dillard.
“As the new dean of the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, with a strong background in
Cooperative Extension, I’m committed to working with
California’s agricultural leaders to build partnerships
that strengthen California’s critical agricultural industry.
I look forward to meeting with Ag Leadership members,
and getting in the field with agricultural producers to
determine how we can work together.”
—Meredith Ritchie
—Meredith Ritchie
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SPRING 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
COVER STORY
ADVOCACY
& ACTION
Alumni Lead County Farm Bureaus
A TYPICAL JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A COUNTY FARM BUREAU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS RATHER EXTENSIVE:
County Farm Bureau seeks highly motivated, highly organized, dynamic and dedicated leader for the position of executive director. The
executive director is the main point of contact that oversees the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit, membership-driven organization.
Responsibilities include: administering a budget and finances; supervising staff; managing public relations, educational and outreach efforts to various audiences (community, government agencies, elected officials, media, students); acting as a media spokesperson; maintaining and enhancing stakeholder and community partnerships; fostering collaboration with other agricultural organizations; engaging
in political action; retaining and developing members; and cultivating relationships with members, volunteers, business supporters and
donors. The ideal candidate must be knowledgeable about agricultural, legislative and regulatory issues in the county, state and nation.
The executive director will report to and work directly with the board of directors. Outstanding leadership and strong written and verbal
communication skills are a must.
It’s a challenging job, and
one that several Ag Leadership alumni have undertaken
in past years. Currently, five
graduates and one fellow
serve as county Farm Bureau
executive directors. They
include Bruce Blodgett (31),
San Joaquin; Jess Brown (13),
Santa Cruz; Megan Foster
(44), Yuba Sutter; Diane
Friend (15), Kings; Steve Pastor (27), Riverside; and Tricia
Stever Blattler (34), Tulare.
Alumni who have served in
the past include Tara Brocker
(28), Yolo; Jackie Crabb (36),
San Luis Obispo; Michael Delbar (24), Lake; Lauren Grizzle
(23), Imperial; Lex McCorvey
(18), Sonoma; and Julia Berry
Terzakis (32), Madera.*
County Farm Bureaus are
considered the grassroots core
of the California Farm Bureau
Federation. Some represent
several hundred members,
while others represent several
thousand. The organizations
advocate and take action on
behalf of farmers, growers,
ranchers and landowners, as
From left: Jess Brown, Megan Foster, Bruce Blodgett, Tricia Stever Blattler,
Steve Pastor and Diane Friend. Photo: CFBF
4
well as people who merely
want to support agriculture.
County Farm Bureaus deal
with many of the same significant industry issues, but each
county has its own set of challenges, projects and activities.
“Every day I interact with
people from all different
backgrounds, whether they
are high-level government and
agency officials, Farm Bureau
members with questions about
local topics, the media that
need quotes and information, or the general public,”
said Blattler. “Like any other
agricultural advocacy organization, there is no shortage of
local, regional, state and federal issues that command my
attention. County executive
directors cover a lot of ground
and work on dozens of important issues on a daily basis.”
Executive directors are making
a difference to “protect, pre-
serve and promote agriculture.” Per the job description,
outstanding leadership skills
are essential: competency,
vision, effective communications, strong interpersonal
skills, integrity, motivation and
teamwork.
“Working with my board and
committees, I always have to
find opportunities for nurturing leadership and encouraging volunteers to step forward,
while giving them the tools
and resources to lead and be
successful,” said Blattler.
While it is difficult to capture
their comprehensive jobs in a
few pages, our graduates and
current fellow provide a brief
glimpse of their roles as executive directors. —Meredith Ritchie
*We attempted to gather names of
former executive directors, and we
apologize if a name was omitted.
ADVOCACY
& ACTION
31
Bruce Blodgett
Joaquin County FB
Bruce Blodgett (31) San
San Joaquin County FB
COVER STORY
13
Jess Brown
Santa Cruz County FB
Megan Foster
Yuba Sutter FB
44
YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
9 (in June 2014)
37
A little over two and a half years.
MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES:
Water, land use, regulations and labor shortages.
The main challenges are land use, water and
adequate labor supply for farms. The challenge
with Farm Bureau is really an opportunity – to find
creative income sources to fund the organization.
I find that growers are the best people to work
with.
Our main focus over the past two years has
been making sure agriculture has a seat at the
table during the development of the Feather
River Regional Flood Plan. Our regional plan
is one of several in the Central Valley currently
being drafted to fulfill the goals of the Central
Valley Flood Protection Plan, approved in 2012.
Our region is furthest along in the development
process, meaning what’s contained in our final
document will set the precedent for other regional
flood plans. Knowing this, YSFB has been working
diligently to represent the interests of agriculture
through collaboration with local agencies while
advocating against projects that would negatively
impact farming.
LEADERSHIP LESSONS:
In the past, it was not uncommon for the board
of supervisors to ignore the needs of agriculture.
But our relationship with them has changed
dramatically. Two issues help illustrate this. One
was regarding the expansion of a private landfill,
which would have converted prime farmland
into a landfill. SJFB initiated and carried out an
extensive campaign via mainstream and social
media to get the message out. Ultimately, the
supervisors voted to not expand the landfill. It
was the first time they ever sided with agriculture
and public safety interests on this issue. The
second issue relates to the maintenance of the
Williamson Act program. County staff proposed
implementation of a program that would allow
Williamson Act contracts to be reduced by 10%
with a corresponding impact to our members’
property taxes. Working with the board, we were
able to convince them that this money (from the
tax increase) would be better spent reinvesting in
agriculture.
IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS:
Both of these issues required an extensive effort
to coordinate the message between volunteer
leaders, staff, the elected officials and their staff.
For the landfill issue, we brought in the technical
expertise to help set up our media outreach
campaign that made an impact. A key leadership
skill is vision, to work to come up with the best
position to effectively address the issues that arise.
Relationship building – to more effectively carry
out our goal on these issues – is also important.
Finally, teamwork skills are essential to ensure
we have the partners needed to be effective in
implementing the vision.
HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/
PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION:
Simply put, it makes me view things differently.
Ag Leadership gave us all the tools to succeed, but
even more importantly, it taught me to seek out
and view the issues from a broader and more open
perspective.
LEADERSHIP LESSONS:
Early in my career the Farm Bureau board of
directors made a conscientious decision to have
its executive director involved in the community.
During the past three decades we have been
actively involved in arts, social services and
philanthropy organizations. Last year, a poorly
perceived measure was placed on the ballot to
annex prime farmland for urban development.
Since we were involved in many facets of the
community, we were able to quickly build a broad
based coalition to oppose this effort. As a result,
the measure was defeated by almost 75 percent.
Boards and committees are the best ways to solve
problems. The most important skills an executive
director can have to assist boards and committees
are listening and following through.
Ag Leadership helped me broaden my view of
the world and my own community. This broader
perspective shaped me in becoming a better
executive director.
FIVE GRADUATES AND
ONE FELLOW SERVE AS
COUNTY FARM BUREAU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
LEADERSHIP LESSON:
An excellent example of leadership I’ve seen at
YSFB has been the time, passion and persistence
dedicated by one of our younger board directors
in his efforts to represent agriculture during our
regional flood plan development, even though he
is incredibly busy with the responsibilities and
pressures of managing his farming operation. He
is definitely an inspiration.
Whether you’re participating in a contentious
panel discussion, speaking during an event
or publicly addressing elected officials,
communication skills are absolutely key to
be effective at Farm Bureau. The job requires
interaction with a range of groups and interests,
and sometimes navigating the communication
waters effectively can be a challenge.
HOW WILL AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/
Our seminars that focused on conflict
management strategies and public speaking have
been invaluable. I often find myself reviewing
my class notes or re-reading a program book
when I need to participate in an important
discussion. I know future seminars will build our
communication skills even more and I can’t wait
to learn even more.
5
ADVOCACY
& ACTION
COVER STORY
Diane Friend
Kings County FB
15
1 year
Water and high-speed rail. It is a continual
battle to convince state legislators, government
and agencies that agriculture is important to
California’s economy and that hard working
people and communities are affected by policies,
regulations and laws they make.
LEADERSHIP LESSON:
A speaker told my Ag Leadership class, “Never
lose the opportunity to say nothing, but always
take the opportunity to make a point.” That advice
has stuck with me for 28 years. Knowing when
to listen and when it is important to speak up is
the ultimate lesson in leadership. I find that the
farmers I represent need a leader who can be
their voice in critical debates or in times when the
testimony could influence policy shifts. A recent
statement I delivered to a water panel led to a
personal invite to discuss details of the proposed
state water bond with the author (a Southern
California legislator). From our meeting, the
“voice” of Kings County was heard and hopefully
made an impact.
In my experience, the greatest leadership skill
is the ability to connect with people. I spend a
lot of time thinking about how I can make the
work environment better for staff, how to thank
someone in the community who has helped me
or how to best inspire the board I serve. Without
relationships and alliances, leadership is an empty
exercise of power.
As a young farmer at the time, Ag Leadership gave
me permission to be myself and develop my own
unique leadership skills. So many incidents, small
and big, were life changing. Everyone comes to
Ag Leadership with the desire and some natural
ability to be a leader. For me, it was the validation
that I could become a leader. It prepared me
by providing a learning opportunity so that I
could experiment and practice skills that I’d use
throughout my career. Every time I speak in
public, I remember Gene Rapp telling me to “just
breath.” Still to this day, I take a deep breath and
the words and thoughts just flow.
6
Steve Pastor
Riverside County FB
27
13 (includes two years as executive director of
Imperial County FB)
Riverside County is one of the state’s fastest
growing counties. To meet demand, prime
farmland is still being bought by developers
for future expansion. This is always a challenge.
Water issues are at the top of the list. With the
drought situation, groundwater is being used at an
alarming rate. Other water issues include the use
of recycled water and the formation of agricultural
coalitions to help farmers comply with the Clean
Water Act.
LEADERSHIP LESSON:
Riverside County has hundreds of acres of citrus
trees. A local water agency began forcing growers
to use recycled water on their trees. Growers
contacted RCFB for help because they feared that
the recycled water was detrimental to citrus trees.
We began working with various water agencies
and our board of supervisors through the county’s
Water Task Force to resolve the problem. The task
force hired irrigation experts from UC Davis to
review the situation. Their findings confirmed the
growers’ fears that recycled water, combined with
the type of heavy-clay soil found in Riverside and
the lack of rain, would be harmful to citrus trees
in the long run. RCFB is working with the water
agencies and growers to find a solution agreeable
to all parties.
A county executive director must wear several
hats and work with a wide variety of individuals
and groups. Some people and organizations are
very much against agriculture, while others are
extremely friendly to farming and ranching.
As a leader of a farming organization, one must
understand where they’re coming from and learn
to work with each with respect and appreciation.
Ag Leadership taught me to look at both sides
of any situation. Don’t always assume you have
all the answers or your position is correct. Listen
and understand the problem(s) before you come
to a conclusion or make a judgment call. Ag
Leadership was a great experience because it
taught me self-confidence, especially with public
speaking.
34
Tricia Stever Blattler
Tulare County FB
7 (14 years total with CFBF)
I think most all Farm Bureau executives
encounter challenges with membership outreach
and advocacy when the issues we are working on
conflict with local politics or values. Water scarcity,
environmental regulations, labor demands, land
use decisions – they all impact farms and agribusinesses in different ways, and it is very difficult
for Farm Bureau to be that ‘general’ agriculture
organization that tries to be everyone’s advocate.
LEADERSHIP LESSON:
Tulare County Farm Bureau was approached by
walnut growers about nut theft in 2012. The theft
problems were rampant in nuts because they are
shaken and may lie in the orchards for a day or
more until they are swept up by machinery. With
a largely unregulated cash buying market, it was
hard for law enforcement to disrupt the thieves.
We brought together our county’s agriculture
commissioner, district attorney’s office, law
enforcement and growers to address the problem
and discuss solutions. As a result, we were
able to revise our local ordinances to assist law
enforcement in deterring nut theft.
Becoming an effective listener, and really listening
and watching body language and nonverbal
communication is so important in my job. Using
interpersonal skills to open dialogue, develop
constructive conversations, and move issues and
projects forward is critical to my success. Conflict
resolution, communication and negotiation skills
are equally important in my work.
Ag Leadership was one of those life changing
experiences and a journey that has not ended for
me. I was only 26 when I was accepted into Class
34. As a younger member of that class I benefited
greatly from the exposure to my classmates
and their life experiences both personally and
professionally. Conflict resolution, international
exposure to societal issues, and personal
enrichment were all competency areas where I
grew significantly. That, along with an amazing
network of alumni, has made my experience
priceless to me.
COMMENCEMENT
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS 43
CLASS 43 FELLOWS CELEBRATED
A SIGNIFICANT AND REWARDING
ACCOMPLISHMENT ON JAN. 15,
when they graduated from the Ag Leadership
Program in the presence of family, friends,
alumni and other guests. The ceremony included
thoughtful speeches and reflections from fellows
and CALF staff, as well as a video presentation
about the fellows’ journey.
Prior to the commencement ceremony, special
guest speaker Hilda Solis spoke to the audience
about finding common ground. Solis is the former
secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor and now
a scholar-in-residence at Cal Poly Pomona.
The 24 fellows first came together in October 2012
at Fresno State for their inaugural, everything-youneed-to-know-about-Ag Leadership seminar. It
may have been overwhelming, but the fellows were
excited and ready to learn.
Class 43 was the first class to have the shorter,
16-month program schedule. In less than a year
and a half, they were exposed to unique and
enlightening educational experiences and travel
opportunities that some might not experience in
a lifetime – or ever. Whether from a university
seminar, a congressman’s office, a women’s shelter,
their class project, San Quentin, Chesapeake Bay
or Brazil…the leadership lessons they learned will
stay with them for years to come. Furthermore,
they gained lifelong friends who will share the
memories.
All of the fellows should be enormously proud for
the hard work and commitment they put forth for
the program. These leaders will continue to learn
and grow and embark on meaningful leadership
paths. CALF is excited about the many ways they
will rise to action and make a difference.
CLASS 43 FELLOWS
Vance Ahlem
Manpreet Bains
Anthony Bozzano
Carson Britz
Danielle Burk
Sona Chilingaryan
Jensen Devaurs
Bailey DiIoia
Danielle Dupree
Leon Etchepare
Stephanie Etcheverria
Eric Genzoli
Tricia Geringer
Heidi Harris
Susan Josue
Scott Klittich
Anthony Laney
Shannon Leigh
Bill Lewis
Jim McGarry
Helen McGrath
Paul Sousa
William “B” VanBeek
Chris White
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
FROM COMMENCEMENT.
7
LEADERSHIP FOCUS
Commentary:
COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP
By Dr. Robert Flores
Effective communication is an
essential skill that is inextricably
tied to leadership. Indeed, being a
highly effective communicator is
a skill that great leaders possess.
Leaders should be clear, concise,
genuine and credible. As Dr. Sara
Daubert wrote, “It is important
to be able to articulate your
mission, vision and goals. Strong
communicators understand the
best way to get their message
across to all stakeholders inside
and outside an organization.”
The California Agricultural Leadership Program
ensures that the fellows get ample opportunities
to practice and hone their communication and
presentation skills. Although elements of public
speaking and the development of communication skills are embedded within all seminars of
the program, the seminars held at Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo remain focused on developing and
perfecting communication skills.
The fear of public speaking is an age-old emotion.
The thought of speaking before a group typically
creates more anxiety than other fears, such as
death and fear of the dark. Yes – the fear of public
speaking is mentioned more often as a major
phobia than the fear of dying! The sentiments of
many fellows are best expressed in a comment
by one of the fellows: “I was nervous about this
seminar because of the public speaking aspect.
However, it was great to step out of my comfort
zone and practice public speaking in this setting.”
The seminars are not meant to strike fear and terror into the minds of the fellows, but the fellows
8
certainly are taken out of their comfort zones.
Since the first seminar in San Luis Obispo follows
the inaugural seminar, it is quite apparent that the
fellows are uneasy about presenting themselves in
front of 23 peers they do not really know. Practicing in close quarters with a group of strangers
doesn’t do much for establishing a comfortable
environment. Hence, the objective is to try and
take the fear out of the uncomfortable environment. Ultimately, the fellows may not be in a
comfort zone, but it will be a safe environment
for practice. It is the intention of every core faculty member to provide for challenging seminars
and safe places for fellows to learn and practice.
The first seminar in San Luis Obispo challenges
the fellows by requiring them to present in front
of their peers multiple times. Each challenge
builds upon another. A major part of the seminar
is devoted to helping the fellows to get to know
each other and getting to know self. The real
learning begins once they realize that the program truly provides for a safe environment. The
fellows start to understand that the internal work
must begin in the form of self-reflection and selfassessment.
The presentations that occur at the first
seminar include:
• Sharing personal stories
• Practicing an introduction of a speaker
• Giving a 5-minute informational speech
• Interviewing with the news media
Although personal coaching has been incorporated as a major component of the Ag Leadership
Program, coaching is not a new concept. Speech
coaches have been a part of the program for
decades. The speech coaches are professionals who
work with fellows in further refining their presentations, as well as providing valuable pointers
during critique sessions. The half-day sessions that
are focused on honing public speaking skills are
worthwhile. Even though fellows may not regularly
deliver a speech in public, the self-confidence and
self-esteem that might be considered by-products
of such practice are worth their weight in gold.
The fellows receive more practice in communicating in public at both seminars in San Luis
Obispo. The second seminar provides them with
an opportunity to deliver a persuasive speech. As
is the case with the informational speeches at the
first seminar, the speech coaches work with the
fellows in small groups.
Communication is not limited to public
speaking. Other important areas of communication include:
• Developing listening skills
• Learning how to assert yourself
• Using a microphone properly
• Team building
• Writing for the print media
• Teaching a lesson via storytelling
Even though many fellows refer to San Luis
Obispo seminars as the “communication seminars,” the integration of speaking opportunities into every campus seminar affords fellows
multiple practice sessions of presenting in public.
Fellows refine their speaking and communication skills throughout the program journey. The
sessions in San Luis Obispo are meant to force
reflection on seeing yourself as others see you.
Clear and effective oral and written communication skills are essential to successful leadership.
Perfecting your presentation skills is also important, but having the confidence to stand before
peers, colleagues, and the general public to share
your expertise is invaluable.
Dr. Flores is
one of CALF’s
four core faculty
members,
representing Cal
Poly San Luis
Obispo.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
CONTINUING A RICH AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
Nestled in a rural valley 45 miles
northwest of Hollywood/Los Angeles
is Underwood Family Farms. More
than 300,000 people – locals, schoolchildren, tourists, celebrities – flock
to this 150-acre farm in Moorpark
annually for not only the fresh fruits
and vegetables, but for the educational, family-oriented farm experience.
Craig Underwood (5), owner of
Underwood Family Farms and
Underwood Ranches, gets great
fulfillment from connecting his farm
with the non-ag public. “Our goal is
to educate and entertain the public
and encourage a healthy lifestyle by
bringing them to the farm,” he said.
Underwood is a fourth generation
Ventura County farmer; his family
has lived and farmed in the area since
1867. For the past 46 years, he has
carried on the family tradition and
created his own legacy as a leader in
agriculture and in the community.
Underwood started farming with
his dad in 1968. In 1980, during a
particularly challenging time in the
produce industry, they decided to
open a roadside produce stand in
Somis. It was the foundation for
Underwood Family Farms.
In 1994, they opened the Moorpark
location. It has a farm market, u-pick,
educational school tours, summer
farm camps and an animal center.
For the past 16 years, huge crowds
have attended the month-long Fall
Harvest Festival, featuring family
activities and live entertainment.
Underwood Family Farms also sells
produce at 16 farmers markets in
Ventura and Los Angeles counties
and participates in Community Supported Agriculture.
Inset photo: Griffin Hammond
“Underwood Family Farms has
evolved in response to public
interest,” said Underwood. “I never
envisioned that the farm itself would
become such a major attraction.”
The family’s other business is
Underwood Ranches, which grows
about 2,500 acres of citrus, avocados,
blueberries and vegetables (specialty
and baby). The star crop is jalapeños.
Since 1988, Underwood has been
the sole supplier of red jalapeños for
Huy Fong Foods, the company that
produces the popular Sriracha sauce
(the red sauce with a green cap and
rooster on the bottle). In 2013, they
grew 48,000 tons of peppers on 1,700
acres in Kern and Ventura counties.
The strong and loyal 25-year relationship with Huy Fong Foods is another
aspect of business that Underwood
finds fulfilling. “It is highly unusual
to have the level of trust and support
between processor and farmer,” he
said. “Our affiliation has resulted
in benefits for both of us. We have
developed efficiencies in growing and
harvesting that have produced inexpensive and good quality peppers for
Huy Fong.”
most were reluctant to be interviewed,” he said.
Excellence in Agricultural Stewardship and Sustainability.
One of the topics he has been interviewed about is labor. “Labor is at the
top of the list for challenging issues.
I don’t see the replacement pool for
the aging farm population. Laborintensive crops will need a massive
investment in mechanical harvesting.
We need engineers and tech people
working on the problem. Immigration reform alone won’t solve the
problem. Mexico is urbanizing and
young people growing up off the
farm are not equipped to work on
the farm.”
Through all of his endeavors, he has
witnessed many leadership efforts.
“Our group of local farmers stopped
Kaiser Aetna from developing 10,000
acres of the Las Posas Valley in the
early 1970s. Ten years ago, Somis
residents stopped Cal Trans from
building a disproportionate intersection that would’ve led to a four-lane
highway through the valley. Recently,
a group stopped Edison from building a wasteful $50,000,000 project in
our Tierra Rejada Valley.
Underwood deals with many other
ag problems, threats and risks, but his
love for farming outweighs the challenges. “I love the farm community
and the outdoor life. It’s very satisfying to produce a good crop.”
His passion is also evident in what
he does off the farm – contributing
to and volunteering for many local
organizations.
Thanks to the two local farms, the
Sriracha sauce and his willingness
to talk to media, Underwood is
in the news frequently. An articulate spokesman for agriculture, he
has been interviewed by local and
national media outlets. He also
appeared in “Sriracha,” a documentary about the iconic sauce. Media
outreach (mainstream and social) is
another way for him to connect the
non-ag public with farming.
He is president of Zone Mutual
Water Company, vice president of
Ventura Pacific Lemon Cooperative,
vice president of the Somis Municipal
Advisory Council, and a member of
the Ventura County Fair Foundation
and Ventura County Ag Irrigated
Lands Group steering committee. He
has served on the boards for Mesa
Elementary School, Ventura County
Fair, Farm Credit, Ventura County
Farm Bureau, Ventura County Agricultural Association, Ventura County
Ag Advisory Committee and Las
Posas Citizens Committee.
“I started talking to the press early in
my farm life because I thought they
needed to hear from farmers, and
In 2012, the Ventura County
Resource Conservation District honored Underwood with the Award for
“The odds in all cases seemed long,
but people believed and fought back,”
he said. “In farming, perseverance
is sometimes the most important
quality.”
Indeed, it’s one of many qualities
that have made the Underwoods
successful family farmers for nearly
150 years.
—Meredith Ritchie
AG LEADERSHIP
“My Ag Leadership experience
was deeply enriching. It is an
association I will always value.
My advice to fellows and alumni
is to stay involved in Ag Leadership. Graduates should take
advantage of that experience to
make a difference in their community. It will help their career
and make them proud.”
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
“So many leadership skills are
important, but communication is
my favorite. It takes a lot of effort to keep everyone informed
about what is going on, but it
builds confidence.”
9
ALUMNI EVENTS
3
2
1
3
3
2
3
1
1
3
1
10
2
1
3
1
1
3
ALUMNI EVENTS
ALUMNI EVENTS
DRAW LARGE CROWDS
January and February were jam-packed with
popular alumni events.
AGRICULTURAL AND
GOVERNMENT
LEADERS RECEPTION
1
COLUSA
FARM SHOW
BREAKFAST
2
The year kicked off with the 11th annual Agricultural and
Government Leaders Reception in Sacramento on Jan.
29. It was a wonderful evening, with a large crowd of alumni
and fellows, as well as friends from the agricultural industry,
government and education. California Department of Food
and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, a CALF Honorary
Fellow, spoke to the attendees for several minutes about
agricultural issues and about the importance and impact
of Ag Leadership. Numerous businesses and organizations
donated colorful nursery items and loads of food products
and fresh produce for a beautiful commodity display. After
the reception, 863 pounds were donated to the River City
Food Bank.
The 12th annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast on
Feb. 5 broke an attendance record with nearly 500 guests.
Washington, D.C., attorney Monte Lake addressed the
audience on the topic “Immigration Reform and Agriculture:
Prospects for New Farm Worker Programs in 2014.” The
fundraiser, co-hosted by alumni of Ag Leadership, Chico
State’s College of Agriculture and Alpha Gamma Rho, has
raised nearly $200,000 to support Ag Leadership and Chico
State College of Agriculture.
EVENT VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
AGRICULTURAL AND
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
RECEPTION
WORLD AG EXPO AG
LEADERSHIP ALUMNI
RECEPTION
Jan. 29 – Sacramento
Feb. 12 – Visalia
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
VOLUNTEERS
Dennis Albiani (32)
Mike Campbell (3)
Noelle Cremers (35)
Sue DiTomaso (32)
Missy Gable (40)
Mica Heilmann (40)
Emily Lazzerini
Ron Macedo (32)
Garry Pearson (38)
Deanna Van Klaveren (32)
3
WORLD AG EXPO
AG LEADERSHIP
ALUMNI RECEPTION
4
This year marked the momentous 20th anniversary of the
highly successful World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni
Breakfast, which continues to be a sold-out affair with
more than 600 attendees. Keynote speaker Ramon Resa,
M.D., a Central Valley native, shared his moving story about
his journey from a poor child farmworker to successful
pediatrician and the countless struggles he overcame
along the way. Resa’s powerful message of determination
and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles was
inspirational. The event raised $87,000 for Ag Leadership,
bringing the total raised over the past 20 years to more than
$1 million. Thank you to major sponsors Zenith Insurance
and State Compensation Insurance Fund.
The evening before the breakfast, alumni hosted the World
Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni Reception at the
Chinese Cultural Center in Visalia. The reception was for
alumni and industry friends to network and to give thanks to
the major sponsors of the breakfast.
—Meredith Ritchie
WORLD AG EXPO AG
LEADERSHIP ALUMNI
BREAKFAST
EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Feb. 13 – Tulare
Manpreet Bains (43)
Darlene Din (35)
Megan Foster (44)
Ashley Gill (42)
Gail Gray (22)
Heidi Harris (43)
Jessica Light (44)
Brandon Souza (44)
Luke Wilson (44)
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
VOLUNTEERS
COLUSA FARM SHOW
BREAKFAST
Feb. 5 – Colusa
WORLD AG EXPO
AG LEADERSHIP
ALUMNI BREAKFAST
Julie Allen (27)
Soapy Mulholland (25)
Fred Lagomarsino (19)
Gus Collin (3)
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Les Heringer (13) –
committee chair
Karm Bains (40)
Lewis Bair (33)
Ashley Bocast
Terry Bressler (30)
Christie Capik
Bill Carriere (27)
Colleen Cecil
Charlie Crabb
Jack Coots (27)
Holly Dawley (38)
Sarah DeForest (39)
Jennifer Ryder Fox
Mark Kimmelshue (28)
Emily Lazzerini
Tom Martin
Sam Nevis (32)
Justin Nunes
Ryan Schohr (33)
Doug Phillips (40) –
committee chair
Julie Allen (27)
Randy Asadoor (40)
Russ Bassett (16)
Hugh Bello (31)
Fred Berry (20)
Tricia Stever Blattler (34)
Jeff Boldt (40)
Steve Chrisman (10)
Gus Collin (3)
Mandy Critchley (37)
Cliff Dunbar –
Buckman-Mitchell, Inc.
Adin Hester (3)
Nomie Kautz (30)
Beth Knudsen (37)
Lynn Knudson (20)
Fred Lagomarsino (19)
Bill Lewis (43)
Richard Moss (20)
Soapy Mulholland (25)
Tom Mulholland (18)
Cindy Myers (22)
James Neeley (26)
Richard Nunes (37)
Steve Rothenberg (30)
Todd Snider (41)
Jim Sullins (19)
Ray Van Beek (37)
Volunteers for winter/spring recruitment events will be recognized in
the spring/summer issue.
11
ALUMNI & FELLOWS NEWS
CLASSES 1-9
Jeff Thomson (3) was featured
on the cover of Bakersfield Life
magazine, posing in full hunting
gear with his dog, Zinfandel. In an
article titled “Men and the Great
Outdoors,” Thomson spoke about
being an avid duck hunter and his
longtime membership in a local
duck hunting club.
Jim Nielsen (5) was named
Legislator of the Year by the
California Association of Regional
Occupational Centers and
Programs for his efforts on behalf
of career technical education.
Nielsen was also inducted into the
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in
November 2013, as a member of
the track and field team that won
the 1964 NCAA championship.
CLASSES 10-19
Kelly Olds (10) was named
chief executive officer of the
San Joaquin County Fair in
January. He was hired to help
restore, rebrand and revitalize
the struggling fair. Olds has
an extensive management
background in agribusiness,
produce and food processing
companies.
CLASSES 20-29
Jeff Merwin (20) was elected
president of the Yolo County
Farm Bureau for 2014. A fourth
generation farmer, he previously
served as first vice president
in 2012-2013 and second vice
president in 2011. He has been a
Farm Bureau director since 1992.
Ben Carter (24) joined the
board of directors of the Center
for Land Based Learning. He
also is a founding member and
president of the Colusa County
Fair Foundation.
Chris Darway (25) was
appointed to the 16th District
Agricultural Association,
California Mid-State Fair board
of directors. He has served on the
board since 2005.
CLASSES 30-39
Mary Kimball (32) was one of 20
recipients of the U.S. Department
of Interior’s 2013 Partners in
Conservation Award. She accepted
12
the award in Washington, D.C.
on behalf of the Center for
Land-Based Learning, for which
she is the executive director.
The award recognizes publicprivate partnerships that have
achieved exemplary conservation
results through cooperation and
community engagement.
Tyler Christensen (32) was
named 2014 Member of the Year
for the Tehama County Farm
Bureau. He has been a member
of the local Farm Bureau board of
directors for 13 years.
Ryan Schohr (33) is running
for state Assembly district 3
(northern and eastern Sacramento
Valley) in 2014. Schohr is a sixth
generation farmer whose family
has been farming in Butte County
for more than 150 years. www.
ryanschohr.com.
Greg Wegis (39) served as a
panel speaker for the USDA 2014
Agricultural Outlook Forum, held
Feb. 20-21 in Arlington, Va. The
panel discussion was titled “Future
of Agriculture: Young Farmers–
Unlimited Opportunities.”
Lisa Bodrogi (39) was named
president-elect for California
Women for Agriculture.
CLASSES 40-43
Bailey DiIoia (43) has joined
Index Fresh Inc. in a field staff
position, where he’ll be working
with Ventura County growers.
Index Fresh distributes avocados
from California, Mexico, Chile
and Peru under the AvoTerra
brand.
MULTIPLE CLASSES
The San Luis Obispo County
Farm Bureau elected its 2013-15
executive board in December
2013, including Carlos
Castañeda (36) as president
and Dan Sutton (40) as vice
president. They will serve a twoyear term. Tom Ikeda (26) serves
as a district director on the board.
ALUMNI AND STAFF
Rachelle Antinetti (42) and
CALF Director of Education Dr.
Michael Thomas represented Ag
Leadership for a half-hour live (in
studio) interview on PowerTalk’s
Ag Life Weekend radio show on
Feb.1.
IN MEMORIAM
James Newton Powell (2)
Jim Powell passed away on Jan.
3 at the age of 74. As a child, he
worked with his father on the
Limoneira Ranch in the Santa
Paula area. Jim was a farmer his
entire life. After he graduated
from Cal Poly Pomona with a
degree in citrus production, he
spent a good part of his working
years on S & J Ranch in Madera
County. In 1980, he started his
own farm management enterprise,
El Oso Farming Company. In
his community, Jim served in
leadership roles with Madera
County Farm Bureau, Madera
Sunrise Rotary, Madera-Joppa
Masonic Lodge, Madera Eastern
Star and Camarena Health Center.
He was active with his children in
Boys Scouts of America, Indian
Guides, soccer and Rotary’s
Interact program. Jim loved
sailing and traveling. With Ag
Leadership he visited Russia,
Israel, Iran, Central America and
other countries. Jim and his wife,
Janet, traveled to many historical
spots in the United States, to
Costa Rica to deliver wheel chairs
to people in depressed areas, and
to the British Virgin Islands for a
sailing trip. Jim is survived by his
wife, two sons and a daughter, five
grandchildren, and a brother.
Lionel Joseph Brazil (10)
Lionel Joseph Brazil passed away
on Jan. 2 at Mercy Medical Center
in Merced. Lionel was a native
and lifelong resident of Gustine.
He was a real estate developer for
20 years and a dairyman for many
years. Lionel graduated from
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and
Gustine High School. While in
high school, he belonged to FFA
and 4-H. Lionel was an executive
member of the California Milk
Advisory Board and a member
of the Gustine Gun Club and
the Real Estate Association. He
enjoyed traveling, duck and deer
hunting and deep-sea fishing.
He is survived by two sons and
a daughter, two brothers and a
sister, and eight grandchildren.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN YOUR
LIFE?
PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS
OR NEWS TO:
[email protected]
DEVELOPMENT
CALF
CHALLENGE
GRANT
LOREN BOOTH
ISSUES
$1 MILLION
CHALLENGE GRANT
In January, the foundation
received a $1 million challenge
grant from board chair Loren
Booth to help grow the
foundation’s endowment and to
support operations. The grant
will provide a dollar-for-dollar
match up to $1 million for all
new gifts donated.
CALF is currently in the
middle of a major endowment
fundraising campaign, which
began in late 2012.
“I have said many times that I
cannot possibly give back to Ag
Leadership what it has given
to me,” said Booth, chair of the
CALF board since July 2009 and
a Class 27 alumna. “With this
grant, I hope to inspire others
to join me on Ag Leadership’s
journey toward financial
independence, so that we can
perpetuate this one-of-a-kind
program for generations to
come.”
To encourage broad
participation, the match will
be valid until met – by new
pledges or increased gifts from
current donors – so that people
can manage their philanthropy
over a period of time and not
against a deadline. Booth said
she encourages anyone who is
considering a gift to act now
and double the donation while
the matching grant is in place.
“Loren is one of our most
passionate supporters and we
are enormously grateful for
her longtime commitment and
breathtaking generosity,” said
Bob Gray, CALF president and
chief executive officer. “Her gift
will effectively help us raise $2
million new dollars, which will
have a tremendous impact on
our endowment and operations
and will be instrumental in
sustaining Ag Leadership.”
DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS SEE PROGRESS
The number of donors
contributing to the foundation is on the rise, and
that momentum can be
directly linked to the efforts of CALF’s regional
development officers.
During the past six
months, the five alumni
officers have been hitting
the road, making calls
and meeting with alumni
and industry friends as
part of their outreach
goals. Their promotional
and fundraising efforts
were further energized
when CALF chair Loren
Booth announced the
challenge grant in January.
“The breadth of support
is definitely increasing
and I attribute it to the
personal outreach of the
officers,” said Bob Gray.
“The alumni contact is
very powerful. They have
a special connection
to and strong feelings
for the Ag Leadership
Program – and it comes
across in their outreach
efforts. We have good
momentum right now.”
The participation rate
among alumni went up
by a significant amount
(27%) in 2013 compared
to 2012. Currently, CALF
has about a 28% alumni
participation rate, but
the goal is to achieve as
much as 35% alumni
participation.
The regional development officers typically
devote one day per week
(or one week total per
month) to their duties. In addition to the
outreach, they engage in
periodic conference calls
to provide updates and
feedback.
“One of the uplifting
aspects of our job is
talking with alumni and
hearing their stories.
People are excited to
share and give back to
the organization,” said
Lauren Grizzle.
IF YOU OR YOUR CLASS IS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING AN
ENDOWMENT OR CONTRIBUTING TO AG LEADERSHIP,
CONTACT ONE OF CALF’S REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.
Northern Region:
John Weiler (22),
[email protected]
Central/San Joaquin Valley:
Gail Gray (22),
[email protected]
Coastal Region:
Darlene Din (35),
[email protected]
Southern Region:
Lauren Grizzle (23),
[email protected]
Tim Vaux (31),
[email protected]
CLASS 23 CREATES ENDOWMENT FUND
Class 23 recently established an endowment fund, becoming the fifth class to
establish a fund to support Ag Leadership. Other classes with funds are 12, 17, 30
and 33.
CALF Development Officer Lauren Grizzle (23) said that class members were motivated to create the
endowment fund when they realized that the minimum contribution amount of $10,000 was attainable.
“There were six or seven lead gifts, a combination of cash and pledges, to get it rolling,” said Grizzle.
“Additional class members have indicated that they will also contribute. With this endowment fund,
Class 23 will forever be commemorated. It is a wonderful way for us to acknowledge our experiences in
Ag Leadership and give back financially to the foundation.”
—Meredith Ritchie
13
THANK YOU
DONOR SUPPORT
Prior-year Pledge
Payments Received
Boswell Family Foundation:
$25,000
Charlie Mathews: $2,000
Rick Vorpe and Evelyn
Matteucci: $1,500
John and Edyth Ledbetter
Peggy Perry
Vina Quest (Dan Rodrigues)
Christopher Woolf
$25,000
Thomas Mulholland
(Mulholland Citrus)
$1,000-$1,499
Agland Engineering, Inc.
(Steve Hackett)
James Ahlem Dairy
( James and Carol Ahlem)
Anonymous
Beardsley & Son, Inc.
(Tom Beardsley)
Hugh and Debbie Bello
Bengard Ranch
Jeff and April Bitter
Art Bliss
Franklin Otis Booth III
Ben and Denise Carter
Christensen & Giannini
Darrell and Norma Cordova
Costa Family Farms
(David and Kerri Costa)
Rick and Lynne Cosyns
Doug and Alison DeGroff
John and Antoinette Draxler
Tom Dungan Farming Co.
Jeff and Mori Elder
Roberta Firoved
Edwin Fisher
Fresh Innovations, LLC
(Vic Smith)
Fresno Equipment Co.
(Marsha Vucovich)
John and Jane Gibson
Bob Graham
Jim Hansen
George and Janice Higashi
Ikeda Bros. (Tom Ikeda)
J.D. Heiskell & Co., Inc.
(Scot Hillman)
Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP
(George Soares)
Charles Kosmont
Stan Lester (Lester Farms)
Catarino Martinez
(Val-Mar Farming, Inc.)
Soapy Mulholland
Jon Munger
Nelson Irrigation
Corporation
Donald Norene
$15,000-$15,500
Class 43
The Norton Foundation
$10,000
Farm Credit: American
AgCredit, CoBank,
Farm Credit West
John and Betsy Grether
Kevin and Kim Grizzle
International Paper
Ladera Foundation
(George Myers)
Lagomarsino Group
(Fred Lagomarsino)
$8,500
AGR Partners (Ejnar
Knudsen)
$5,000
Margaret Duflock
Hidden Villa Ranch
(Mike Sencer)
Beth and Andrew Pandol
Craig and Kris Pedersen
$3,000
John Colbert
The McClarty Family
Foundation
Richard Pidduck
$2,500
The Philip E. and Jamie N.
Bowles Fund
Rose Marie Burroughs
Gary and Diana Cusumano
Benina Montes
Rolling Ridge Ranch
Rod and Carol Stark
14
$2,000
Jeana and Larry Hultquist
King and Gardiner Farms
(Keith Gardiner and
Holly King)
$1,500
Sarbjit Bohl
December 1, 2013 – January 31, 2014
Oji Bros. Farms, Inc.
Peter Peterson
Sherm Railsback
Kevin Riddle (Riddle Farms)
Leland Ruiz
Frank and Alice Saviez
Richard and Claudia Smith
Brian Talley
Rosemary Talley
The Craig Underwood
Family Trust (Craig
Underwood)
John Weiler
$750
Beth Knudsen
Mark McKean/Mark
McKean Farms
Ed McLaughlin/EMAC
Farms
$500
Bill and Chris Adams
Art Barrientos
Barry and Kim Bedwell
Caroline Berry
Rick Burnes
Lori Cardoza
Tom and Katie Chandler
Bill Coit
Richard Collins
Noelle Cremers
Double E Farms (Russell
Efird)
Duda Farm Fresh Foods
(Sammy Duda)
Mike and Jeanette Fitch
Mark Gilles
John Giovannetti
Bruce Hall
Todd Hansen
Stephen and Donna Heringer
Julia Inestroza
Mark Jacobs
Leo and Mary Ellen Marihart
Leo McGuire
Steve and Kim McIntyre
Kent and Kathryn McKenzie
McKenzie Farms, Inc.
Steve Murray (Murray Family
Farms, Inc.)
Tony Oliveira
Ben and Kappy Olson
Mona and Pete Pankey
Jean Phillimore
Pucheu Bros. ( John Pucheu)
Charles Sherrill
Elisabeth Silva
6th Generation Farming
(Ryan Schohr and Tracy
Schohr)
Barbara Smith
The Growers Company, Inc.
(Sonny Rodriguez)
Dana Thomas
Raymond and Deborah
Tonella
Ulash Turkhan
Raymond and Katie Van Beek
Scott and Susan Van Der Kar
David Warter
Ellen and Mike Way
$400
Victor Yamamoto
$300-$399
Joey Fernandes
Rob Goodwin
Janis Jones
Michael Maciel
Audrey and Lance Tennis
$250
Dick and Nina Carriere
Carlos Castaneda
Michele Clark
Ned Coe
Steve and Kelly Danna
Scott Deardorff
Jerry DiBuduo
Nat and Marilyn DiBuduo
Merlin Fagan
Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli
Joseph Ferrara
Bryan Foley/Toro Micro
Irrigation
Freeman Farms (Loren
Freeman)
Frieda’s Finest (Karen
Caplan)
John and Mary Ann Frye
Ashley Gill
George Gough
Grimmway Farms
( Jeff Meger)
Debbie Hurley
Nomie Kautz
Keithly-Williams Seeds, Inc.
Edward and Tisha Kurtz
Craig McNamara
Dina Moore
James Neeley
New Hope Dairy, LLC
(Arlan Van Leeuwen)
Oro Del Norte LLC
( John Orr)
Steve and Mary Pastor
Garrett Patricio
Doug and Ann Phillips
Jeff and Gina Rasmussen
Todd Rehrman
Don Roberts
Karen and Barry Ross
San Miguel Produce, Inc.
(Roy Nishimori)
John Schaap
Squires Ag Consulting, Inc.
(Paul Squires)
Storm Ranch (Terrell Storm)
Joe Turkovich
Woody Yerxa
$200
William Bennett
Kiran Black
Doug Dickson
Susan Diefenderfer
Patricia Johannessen
Lynnel and Herb Pollock
Alan and Patricia Reynolds
Michael Sarabian
Jerry and Ann Spencer
Ann Thrupp
$125-$199
Nina and David Ames
Lisa Bodrogi
Sue DiTomaso
Ali Elhassan
Fred and Susan Ferro
Gary Kaprielian
Paul and Jill Martin
Sam Nevis
Cliff Sadoian
Paul Violett
Stuart Yamamoto
$100
Erin Andersen
David Arakelian
Emily and Tony Ayala
Arnold and Terry Barcellos
Paul and Sheryl Betancourt
Bruce Blodgett
Ralph De Leon
THANK YOU
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS
Linda Etcheverria
Don Gordon
Jared Gross
Erin Hamm
Josh and Jana Huntsinger
Ralph Lucchetti
Stacy Miller
Mitch Millwee
Rob Moser
Kevin and Bea Olsen
Tim Panziera
Robert Kasavan Marketing
William Scott
David and Charmaine Silva
Julie Spezia
Eta Takele
Melissa Varcak
July 1, 2011- January 30, 2014
FOUNDERS’ LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
$1,000,000 and above
James G. Boswell Foundation
Otis Booth Foundation
LEGACY LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
$500,000 and above
Boswell Family Foundation
PIONEER LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California
Darlene Din
Farm Credit: American AgCredit,
CoBank, Farm Credit West
Foster Farms
Harden Foundation
Lagomarsino Group
George and Kathleen Myers
The Norton Foundation
Syngenta Corporation
TMD Creative
$250,000 and above
THE 1970 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Up to $100
Lynn Martindale
Peggy McNutt
Nick Pasculli
Leo and Barbara Lynch
Susan Dulin (in memory of J.G.
Boswell II)
Justina Borba
$10,000 and above
In Memory of Dean and
Katherine Brown
Mark and Peggy Borba: $5,000
$100,000 and above
In Memory of Kathy Brown
Peter Scaroni: $100
Sally Scaroni: $100
Suzanne Scaroni: $100
In Memory of Tom McGrath (4)
Roz McGrath: $500
In Memory of Jim Powell (2)
Adin Hester: $100
Dempel Farming Company: $40
In-Kind
Darlene Din: $15,150
TMD Creative: $1,800
Lodi Winegrape Commission
(Camron King): $591
Robin Flournoy: $549.19
Lisa Bodrogi: $200
Alumni Fundraising Events
Region 9 Golf Tournament:
$45,000
Dean Brown Golf Tournament
(Dean Brown Leadership
Foundation): $35,000
CHAIRMAN’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
John and Betsy Grether
John and Sheila Lake
Taylor Farms California
Wells Fargo
ALUMNI LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
$50,000 and above
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc.
Growers Express
J.F. Maddox Foundation (in memory
of J.G. Boswell II)
Mission Produce, Inc.
Mulholland Citrus
Reiter Affiliated Companies
Western Growers Association
PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP
CIRCLE
$25,000 and above
Azzule Systems
The Borba Families – Mark and
Sharon Borba
Bowles Farming Company /
Philip E. and Jamie N. Bowles
Capital Insurance Group
C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Booth Ranches
Rose Marie Burroughs
Charles Buchinger Memorial
Endowment Fund
Class 39
Class 43
Denise Godfrey Family /
Olive Hill, LLC
Melissa Duflock
E. & J. Gallo Winery
Jim and Betsy Hansen
Hayashi & Wayland
International Paper Company
The Johannessen Trust
Kevin Grizzle Farms, LLC
The Klassen Corporation
Charlie and Sheila Mathews
Monsanto Company
Benina Montes
Paul and Yvonne Murai
Vernon and Carol Peterson /
Abundant Harvest Organics
Richard Pidduck
R. Gorrill Ranch Enterprises
Rabobank, N.A.
Rick Vorpe and Evelyn Matteucci
Sally Hughes Church Foundation
Saticoy Lemon Association
Wegis and Young / Mike Young,
Rick Wegis, Greg Wegis
Tim York
FELLOWS LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
$5,000 and above
AGR Partners
Bank of the West
Blue Diamond Growers
Magaret Duflock
Craton Capital
Gary Cusumano
Errotabere Ranches
Finch Farms
Gail Gray
Greenleaf Farms, Inc.
Hidden Villa Ranch
The James R. Moffett Family
Foundation
Bradford and Randall Lange /
LangeTwins Winery & Vineyards
Limoneira Fund at VCCF
McClarty Family Foundation
Mann Packing Company
David and Melissa Martella
Tom and Brianne McGrath
Craig Pedersen
Person & Son Cattle Co.
Peter Peterson
Prudential Ag Investments
Rain for Rent
Rolling Ridge Ranch
Janette Smith
Rod and Carol Stark
Supima Cotton
Union Bank of California Foundation
Ventura County Community
Foundation
FUNDRAISING AND
SPECIAL EVENTS
World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni
Breakfast
>>Major sponsors ($15,000 and
above): Zenith Insurance Company/
Zenith Ag and State Compensation
Insurance Fund
Dean Brown Golf Tournament
>>Special thanks to Hampton
Farming Company
Region 9 Golf Tournament
>>Major sponsors: Calavo Growers
and Paramount Citrus
Colusa Farm Show Breakfast
Common Threads, Fresno
15
This issue of
Horizons is
brought to you in
part by a generous
grant from
AGR Partners.
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Salinas, CA
Permit No.61
P.O. BOX 479
SALINAS, CA 93902
Return Service Requested
HORIZONS MAGAZINE
is published by the
California Agricultural
Leadership Foundation for
alumni, donors, supporters
and friends.
Phone: 831-585-1030
www.agleaders.org
GROWTH CAPITAL
FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION
AGR recently invested $56mm for a
20% equity stake in Ridley.
AGR’s team has brought strategic value and a
depth of experience in addition to their capital,
making them a great long term equity partner.
Tim Hart CEO, Ridley Corporation Limited
Download
Thought Pieces.
Scan, Read, Grow.
TEAM Ejnar Knudsen | Jake Sill | Dan Masters | Justin Birch | Karen Whaley | Ryan Gregg
ADVISORS Ronald Blok, former CEO of Rabobank NA | Duane Fischer, former CEO of JD Heiskell
Walter Locher, former CEO of Anderson Clayton | Tony Oliveira | Jon Hillen | John McHugh
David Sasaki | Dirk Winkelmann
www.AGRpartners.com | 1.559.677.7850

Spring 2014 - California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

Transcription

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