horizons California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
WI NTE R 2021
LEADERSHIP DURING CRISIS:
Wine Industry Alumni Perspectives
We grow leaders who make a difference.
BOARD MESSAGE
Looking Ahead with Gratitude BY MICHAEL YOUNG (35) California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
CHAIRMAN, CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS As I write this quarter’s chairman’s message, we are about to embark into the 2020 holiday season, but you will be reading this at the start of the new year. I know that we will all be glad that 2020 is behind us, but as an Ag Leadership family, I think we have much to reflect on and be thankful for in the midst of all that happened in 2020. This year, expressing gratitude seems more essential than ever. It’s been difficult lately not to focus on what we’re missing, the people we’re not seeing, the places we’re not going and the things we’re not doing. Articulating what we’re thankful for is a radical act in the midst of a hard time. Turning our attention to the things we do have, rather than what we don’t, is a tough task, but a crucial one. I am thankful for this foundation and the visionaries who knew that without it, agriculture wouldn’t be the essential industry that it has become in California. Thank you to Mr. Boswell, Mr. Brown and Mr. White for their hard work and leadership in the establishment of our foundation. I am thankful for our hardworking staff; they are the glue that keeps our foundation together. Thank you to Judy, Shelli, Emily, Sharon, Deanna, Liza and Meredith. Without their commitment and hard work, we cannot be the premier leadership program in the country. I am thankful for our new executive team. Dwight Ferguson as president/CEO and Abby Taylor-Silva (45) as executive vice president. They bring vision, cohesiveness and excitement that will propel the foundation to new heights for many years to come. I am thankful for the education team, led by Director of Education Shelli Hendricks. Thank you to Drs. Flores, Perry, Ferguson and Alexandrou. They challenge our fellows and give them the tools they need that allow us to “grow leaders who make a difference.” I am thankful for our university deans. Without them, we wouldn’t have access to world class educators and facilities. Thank you, Drs. Nef, Kessler, Thulin and Dillard.
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I am thankful for a dynamic and diverse board of directors. They are thought-leaders in our industry and carry a skill-set unique to lay a blueprint that will propel the foundation into a prosperous future. Thank you also to Cameron Boswell (42), Jeff Elder (35), Loren Booth (27), Yissel Barajas (40), Karen Caplan, Correen Davis (45), Rob Goff (45), Mike Mendes (39), Paul Parreira (44), Gene Peterson, Emily Rooney (39) and Bill Van Skike (32). This group makes my job easy, for that I am thankful. Lastly, I am thankful for our more than 1,300 alumni and their dedication to making our industry, our state, their communities and their families better than they were when they started the program. Your enthusiasm and support for Ag Leadership is essential in carrying our foundation for another 50 years. 2021 will be a shining star for the California Ag Leadership Program. We will embark on a strategic plan that will lay the foundation for the next five years of Ag Leadership. We look forward to incorporating all of our stakeholders in that process. Gratitude is an important quality to nurture. Even in difficult times, gratitude can help us see the good things. I look forward to crossing paths with all of you in 2021. If you have any issues, concerns or gratitudes, please reach out to me at mike@wegisandyoung.com.
WINTER 2021 • www.agleaders.org
COVER STORY 8
FEATURES 6 A Strategic Plan to Expand Impact and Influence 12 14 16
CALF STAFF President & CEO / Dwight Ferguson Executive Vice President / Abby Taylor-Silva Director of Education / Shelli Hendricks Financial Manager / Sharon Harney Program Coordinator / Judy Sparacino Enterprise Coordinator / Emily Lazzerini Alumni Coordinator / Deanna van Klaveren WRITER/EDITOR Liza Robertson CONTRIBUTING WRITER/EDITOR Meredith Rehrman Ritchie DESIGNER TMDcreative
Alumni Council Update Book Recommendations Reflections on Taking a Stand
DEPARTMENTS 2 2 3 4 17 18 19
Board Message Calendar of Events Foundation Message Foundation News In Memoriam Alumni & Fellows News Donor Recognition
CALENDAR February
CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair / Michael Young Vice Chair / Cameron Boswell Secretary - Treasurer / Eugene Peterson Immediate Past Chair / Jeff Elder Past Chair / Loren Booth Yissel Barajas Karen Caplan Correen Davis Rob Goff Mike Mendes Dennis Nef Paul Parreira Emily Rooney Bill Van Skike
Leadership During Crisis: Wine Industry Alumni Perspectives
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March
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April
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Colusa Farm Show Virtual Breakfast Class 50 Seminar First Fridays Webinar Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Virtual Breakfast
First Fridays Webinar
First Fridays Webinar
FOUNDATION MESSAGE
Building Connections Through THE Foundation’s Network BY DWIGHT FERGUSON, CALF PRESIDENT AND CEO Now months into my role as president and CEO, I still could not be happier to have joined the California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF). My belief in the foundation’s mission and vision has strengthened; my appreciation for its history, culture and contributions to California agriculture has grown. When I joined the foundation, I noted how much I looked forward to working with all CALF stakeholders, especially the board, alumni and staff, to build on our rich tradition of success. Little did I know how much I’d come to appreciate this network. The support I have received from alumni, fellows, university faculty and industry friends, plus an outstanding group of former associates and foundation leaders, has been tremendous. The caring and committed CALF network is the best professional ag resource I have ever known; and now that I’ve become part of it, I believe I know why. As many, if not all of you are aware, Dr. Pat Lattore – lifelong scholar, educator, former CALF advisor, consultant and lecturer – is considered by many to be a giant in the field of leadership development. He is known and revered for his “Diamond Model of Leadership” and the fundamental idea that positive leadership is an art form and a process of teaching and serving. He also believes that emotional intelligence (especially self-awareness, empathy, initiative, collaboration and relating skills), coupled with personal competency, is an excellent predictor for career and life success. He argues that emotional intelligence provides an even greater advantage than intelligence or cognitive abilities alone.
The CALF network is a valuable resource and remaining connected to it, even through trying times, is more important now than ever. Despite all the challenges associated with agriculture in California, and the added complications we’ve experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the caring and committed CALF network remains active and engaged. The creativity, resilience and character of those in the network should provide us all with inspiration. It further reinforces a favorite quote of mine from Dr. Lattore, “leadership is a verb.” When we treat “leadership” as a verb, we truly live our mission, vision and values. By the time this issue of Horizons is published, we will have initiated a formal strategic planning process involving many stakeholders and constituents. Through this process, we will identify current and future opportunities and put plans in place to realize them. We will pinpoint priorities for achieving continued success and for finding more ways to impact California agriculture. Read more about the strategic plan on page 6. I know that together we will continue to build on Ag Leadership’s long history of excellence. I can’t wait to see what we create. Together, as CALF’s network, we will act on our desire to grow and build new opportunities to connect.
This belief in the importance of emotional intelligence is proven to me every day by the CALF network. What I have experienced during my time with the foundation is an outpouring of respect and a genuine desire to see Ag Leadership not only succeed, but thrive. This incredible group has embraced the challenges faced by leaders, while continuing to lend a hand at a moment’s notice.
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FOUNDATION NEWS
Thank You to Director Michael
with industry leaders and the USDA to secure trade assistance to help offset losses due to tariffs. She also oversaw the creation of almond industry goals for improvement in the areas of water, pest management, air quality and zero waste.
Hollister
Rich Peterson has served in leadership positions for many organizations that support the distribution of food to those in need. He also volunteers at local Stand Downs; events organized to provide vital services, such as food, shelter, clothing and health screenings to homeless and at-risk veterans.
for Service
Learn more about the awardees by watching our video tribute at: youtube.com/user/CalAgLeadership
to CALF Michael Hollister, vice president of corporate human resources for Driscoll’s, began his service on the Ag Leadership Foundation’s board of directors in 2016. He was a member of the board’s governance committee and served on the search committees that worked to fill the director of education and president and CEO positions. “Michael Hollister is the true essence of a servant leader,” said Board Chairman Michael Young (35). “He was not an alumni of the program, but he gave his heart and soul to it. His board acumen is bar none and he served on many important committees of the board.”
2020 Profiles in Leadership Awardees Recognized in Video Tribute
Alumni Council Elections New leadership for the Alumni Council (AC) will be elected during the group’s February meeting. Following those elections, nominations will be opened for directors in Regions 3, 8 and 9. The regional director elections will be held in mid-spring. The new directors will be installed during the AC’s May meeting and they will participate in an onboarding process to prepare them for their new roles.
AlumnA Featured in International Leadership Webinar In November 2020, Tracy Schohr (39) was a panelist during a webinar, “Leadership in Times of Crisis,” hosted by the International Leadership Alumni Conference. As one of two speakers, Schohr was asked to share about her experience during the 2018 Camp Fire. In her role as the University of California’s livestock and natural resources advisor for Butte, Plumas and Sierra counties, she was called upon during the catastrophic fire to create and manage an impromptu shelter for evacuated animals. One of the deadliest and most destructive fires in California history, the Camp Fire was the most expensive natural disaster in the world in 2018. During her presentation, Schohr talked about the actions she took during the fire and what she learned through her involvement in disaster service. “When the Camp Fire struck in Butte County, my focus shifted in a time and place of need,” said Schohr. “What spurred me to take action was that it was right outside my front door.”
WATCH AT youtube.com/user/CalAgLeadership Ag Leadership’s Profiles in Leadership Award, which recognizes Ag Leadership Program alumni for their leadership actions resulting in the betterment of industry, community, business, government, education and/or the environment, was awarded to Craig (5) and Sara Jane Underwood, Holly King (24) and Rich Peterson (25). They were spotlighted in the fall 2020 issue of Horizons.
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Craig and Sara Jane Underwood offer a wide variety of farm-related activities and events designed to educate the public about their sustainable farming practices while cultivating a relationship between customers and farmers. They are known for sharing their love of community through education, outreach and as generous donors. As chair of the Almond Board of California (ABC), Holly King worked
HORIZONS MAGAZINE WINTER 2021
Schohr worked with local partners to create a large animal evacuation center. On its peak day, the center housed 880 animals, including more than 260 horses at one point. Pulling from local resources, including her family’s ranch, she worked to turn a nearby fairground into an improvised shelter. During her presentation, Schohr reflected on her time in Ag Leadership and attributed some of her success during the crisis to the skills she had learned from the program.
FOUNDATION NEWS
First Fridays Webinars BY ABBY TAYLOR-SILVA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CALF AND SHELLI HENDRICKS, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CALF With a mission of “We grow leaders who make a difference,” and an acknowledgement that the core fellowship program is simply the first step in a lifelong leadership journey, alumni learning opportunities are an important component of the education that the foundation is proud to produce and provide. In 2019, CALF reinstated alumni learning opportunities, beginning with First Fridays sessions for alumni and current fellows. These focus on discussion of complex topics that link back to current class curriculum. Below you will find synopses of the November and December First Fridays sessions, both of which were facilitated by Director of Education Shelli Hendricks. Our team is currently working with alumni leadership to build the 2021 alumni learning curriculum. Look for a schedule to be released in February 2021.
November 2020: Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team As follow-up to last year’s discussion of Patrick Lencioni’s book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” which is required reading for current class fellows, this session focused on the behaviors necessary for a team to create a positive environment. According to Lencioni, teamwork is the ultimate competitive advantage because it is so powerful and rare. Attendees discussed Lencioni’s five levels of dysfunction. Those include the absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results. It was the lack of commitment that kept coming up in both the small and large group discussions. One participant noted that without that commitment and care, it doesn’t matter how talented or smart a team member is, they hinder the performance of the team. Key themes in the session also centered around personal stories as a way to encourage understanding and trust building.
December 2020: Leadership Archetypes — How Universal Stories Help Us Navigate Recognizing that self-awareness is fundamental to leadership development, this session focused on understanding the 12 archetypes, all of which emerge from Carl G. Jung’s research and writings. Archetypes are the universal themes and characters that we adopt throughout the phases of our lives. The session’s premise centered on the idea that leaders who are curious about their own behavior and interactions with other people tend to be more effective. Tools used to understand personality types, such as those sourced in the CALF program, are useful as one begins working to understand archetypes. To break the ice, small groups discussed year-end reflection questions. This exercise helped participants identify their learning and growth and demonstrated the importance of storytelling. For many, it is easy to recognize oneself in various descriptions, depending on roles at home or work, season of life and personality type. It is important to emphasize that we have all of the archetypes available as lessons to help us navigate through the various experiences that are universal to the human condition. By being curious and willing to explore the archetypes a leader is relying on in a certain season of life, he or she can leverage the universal truths from others who have previously navigated similar circumstances. With self-awareness and a willingness to learn from our stories and those of others, we can learn how to use archetypes to lead more effectively.
Dean Brown Leadership Foundation Auction The Dean Brown Leadership Foundation hosted a virtual auction in November in lieu of its annual golf tournament. The proceeds from the auction, approximately $10,000, will benefit Ag Leadership. The Dean Brown Golf Tournament, one of Ag Leadership’s largest annual fundraisers, is usually held in Santa Maria in the fall. Over the course of its 30-plus-year history, the event has raised nearly $1 million dollars for the foundation. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success!
Auction Item Donors Ken and Debbie Amaral, T. Amaral & Sons Michael Blaney, Baileyana Stacy Bonnifield, Eberle Winery Cara Crye (39), San Luis Obispo Farm Supply Company Austin Hope and Gretchen Roddick, Treana Winery and Austin Hope Winery Laura Jeffery, 101 Wine Tours Andrew Jones, Field Recordings Jeff Koligian (18), Koligian Viticulture Jerry Lohr, Diane Moreno, Erica Meier, Steve Carter, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines
Justin Perino (44), Scheid Vineyards Matt and Kristi Roberson, United Harvest Dan Rodrigues (41), Castoro Cellars and Vigo Cellars Jim Stollberg (35), Maverick Farming Co. Craig Stoller (31), Sextant Wines Brian Talley (30), Talley Vineyards Mike Testa (42), Zaca Mesa Winery Dan Souza (20) and Susan West, Bovino Vineyards Wonderful Nurseries
Auction Item Buyers Erin Amaral (46), Pacific Coast Farming Leeann Bettencourt (50)
Mark Borba (9) Anthony Bozzano (43) Jerry Diefenderfer (2) Cody Douglas, Coastal Ag Dan Drake Jim Finch (28) Barbie Firebaugh-Miller Victor Fritz Christy and Fernando Holguin, Coastal Ag Ed and Michelle Ishida, Bayer Crop Science Brad Johnson Tim Kensinger, Farm Credit West Scott Klittich (43) Christopher Oliva Peggy Perry (9) Scott Quashnick Dan Rodrigues (41) Jim Stollberg (35) B. Van Beek (43) Dean Wineman (4)
Committee Members Jim McGarry (43), Chair Erin Amaral (46) Carson Britz (43) Mary Cooper Cara Crye (39) George Donati Brenda Estrada (42) Jeff Koligian (18) Cathe Lincoln Michele McGarry Jim Stollberg (35) Sammi Stollberg Mike Testa (42)
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WINTER 2021 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
FEATURE STORY
A Strategic Plan to Expand Impact and Influence BY CALF PRESIDENT AND CEO DWIGHT FERGUSON AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ABBY TAYLOR-SILVA (45)
IN NOVEMBER, THE CALIFORNIA AG LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION’S (CALF) BOARD OF DIRECTORS AGREED TO EMBARK UPON A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO COINCIDE WITH A PERIOD OF REFLECTION AND GROWTH FOR THE FOUNDATION. THE FINAL PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BE READY IN MAY 2021, AND UP TO FIVE CRITICAL ISSUES, OR PRIORITY INITIATIVES, ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT OF THE PROCESS.
As a first step in the strategic planning process, we gathered input from all of our stakeholders in January. Maura Mitchell, principal with Brandology, led our team through this process of formulating surveys and conducting phone interviews. Primary stakeholder groups included alumni, the education team and partner university deans, CALF’s board of directors, donors, industry and non-industry representatives. Survey questions were created specifically to align with the needs and perspectives of these distinct stakeholder groups. In these surveys and conversations, we were looking for answers to the questions within these overarching themes: understanding what our stakeholders see as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to California Ag Leadership; gauging how the program should evolve to maintain its status as the premier agricultural leadership program in the country; understanding whether the current program is adequate to support our evolution and growth; inquiring as to whether we should bring additional collaborators/partners into the program and understanding what additional support each group might need. A steering committee (see sidebar) has been established to oversee and provide critical input on the process. We plan to meet in early February and establish strategy teams made up of additional stakeholders. These groups will focus on the critical issues defined by the steering committee, informed by the surveys. Together, we will create a powerful, practical plan for the foundation that will expand its impact and influence. This strategic planning process will include a full review and ratification of our mission, vision and values, and establishment of clear objectives complete with measurements and metrics to gauge continuous improvement (see sidebar for current versions). The process will clarify critical issues and opportunities and identify initiatives and strategies for proceeding with the plan that comes from this process. We will also update our previous SWOT analysis to align constituents and identify priorities.
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As we know, the process of building the plan is only the first step. Following the plan, making amendments based upon what we learn as we go along and reviewing our progress while assessing whether we’re meeting our established metrics, on at least an annual basis, will be critical in the coming three to five years. Your input and guidance are very appreciated as we assess our opportunities to improve and incorporate changes where needed. If you have any questions, please contact Dwight or Abby at 831-585-1030.
FEATURE STORY
Steering Committee Includes:
Our last strategic plan was finalized
Loren Booth (27)
in April 2010 under previous
Past Board Chair
Cameron Boswell (42)
President and CEO Bob Gray. At the time, the board ratified a plan that
Board Vice Chair
included the following:
Jeff Elder (35)
Core values to guide us:
Immediate Past Board Chair
Dwight Ferguson
CALF President and Chief Executive Officer
Dennis Nef, Ph.D.
Board Member and Dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Fresno State
Gene Petersen
Board Secretary/Treasurer
• Integrity • Vision • Excellence • Unity • Diversity Shared vision to reach our next aspiration: California agricultural leaders united as a catalyst for a vibrant industry Mission to articulate a deeper purpose: We grow leaders who make a difference
Abby Taylor-Silva (45)
CALF Executive Vice President
Bill Van Skike (32)
Board Member and Alumni Council Board Liaison
Mike Young (35)
Board Chair
Core strategies to describe our unique value and provide a road map to the future: • Enhance and leverage our priceless program • Build the California ag network • Create a culture of volunteerism In this 10-year review, we will consider whether these still accurately reflect our values, vision, mission and core strategies. A final recommendation will be presented to CALF’s board of directors for approval in May 2021.
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COVER STORY
Leadership During Crisis Wine Industry Alumni Provide PERspectiveS on Challenging Year BY LIZA TEIXEIRA ROBERTSON
Jeff Bitter (32) President Allied Grape Growers Wine Grape Grower Madera
How has COVID-19 affected your organization? Shutdowns caused an overnight shift in how and where consumers accessed wine. While initial 2020 wine shipment data points toward no real change in the amount of wine people are drinking, the shift is actually in dollar value. Much more wine is being purchased for “off-premise” consumption, which is generally much lower priced than wines purchased for consumption on-premise. What have you done to adapt your organization? We have changed our marketing emphasis to respond to the rapidly changing demands. Part of that is positioning and strategy with regard to grape supply, and part of that is education of our growers and the industry with regard to market dynamics. If we were to have had “all our eggs in one basket,” the effects of the government response to the pandemic could have been devastating on us. How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? Allied Grape Growers missed out on millions of dollars in potential grape sales revenue as a result of rejections and refusals by grape buyers. While some of our growers may be eligible for insurance and/or disaster assistance, our company does not receive any portion of such benefits. Overall revenues will be down for the year due to these situations, and our response will be to perform budget cuts to address the unanticipated revenue reduction.
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What did you do to respond to these industry challenges? Short term, we increased our communications and contract negotiations to work through the issues with growers and grape buyers. Many wineries are struggling to maintain sales and profitability. Partnering with them with regard to pricing and terms, to help see them through, has been of paramount importance. Longer term, we initiated efforts to address smoke exposure issues within the industry. Allied Grape Growers was very successful in taking advantage of market opportunities to help offset losses. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? Change is inevitable; it’s important to always be ready for it and even embrace it. Diplomacy is a major quality that Ag Leadership helped me to develop personally. Confrontation arises much easier during challenging times; diplomacy is essential to defuse confrontation. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Take things one day at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed by the totality of the situation; address problems and process solutions one at a time.
Jim Stollberg (35) Maverick and Hampton Farming Companies Santa Maria
How has COVID-19 affected your business? Protecting our employees is always our No. 1 priority, but it took on an additional focus this year. Not only the physical protocols we have trained for and implemented, but staying up-to-date on the ever-changing regulations.
What have you done to adapt your business? The wine grape business was in oversupply prior to COVID-19, so in many ways we approached the year with low revenue expectations. Tight cost controls and strategic spending decisions have been important all year. We made employee shift changes to limit interactions, made adjustments to increase distancing and minimized common touch areas. How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? We had a number of contracts cancelled due to real or potential smoke impacts. A few were replaced with lower priced contracts and some fruit was simply not harvested. Ultimately, I feel the unharvested tonnage across California this season may benefit us in the near-term by beginning to balance the oversupply situation. What did you do to manage these industry challenges? My conversations with other growers, current grape buyers and potential secondary buyers went on hyper-speed as we all tried to get our fruit a home. We literally had two to three weeks to get it figured out before the fruit was overripe and unharvestable. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? Preparation was a saving attribute this season. Our team was prepared for the planned events this farming season and that allowed the additionally needed time to be available for the COVID-19 workload increase and harvest smoke impacts. Rarely is good preparation superfluous, but this year it paid dividends for our farms and clients. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Many times leadership roles come on unexpectedly and sometimes we don’t even realize it is a leadership opportunity until it has passed. Be prepared in your personal, professional and social lives as much as possible. This year was difficult dealing with family challenges, kid’s schooling and work issues. A deep breath and a day-ending glass of wine can do wonders!
COVER STORY What have you done to adapt your business? We have put our employees first, making sure the safety of each member of our team is respected. How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? While we were very fortunate that our wine grapes were not directly affected, it still created a lot of uncertainty during harvest as many of our winery customers were nervous about all grapes. The biggest concern is that the 2020 vintage gets written off entirely due to smoke damage within specific regions. What did you do to respond to these industry challenges? Recognizing early on that the world wasn’t going to return to what it was in February, we quickly shifted sales strategies to where we saw the industry was heading. We focused our efforts on direct to consumer (DTC) sales and off-premise retail chains. In DTC, we launched a new subscription based wine club solely online called The Punchdown Club by the Miller Family Wine Company. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? Two of the greatest lessons from Ag Leadership I used this year were: 1) Remain centered in your life. Crisis happens and you respond, but remain centered, and 2) Every business is dying unless it is reinvented. The ostrich head in the sand strategy in March and April “waiting for the other side of COVID” was not an option. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Lean on your team. Spend more time in meetings, not less. Check in with face-to-face or video calls with more frequency than you think is necessary. Over communicate; your team wants to know there is a vision and goal. There is opportunity, look for it.
Mike Testa (42) Board Chair, California Association of Winegrape Growers
Nicholas Miller (36) Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Partner, Coastal Vineyard Care Santa Maria
Miller Family Wine Company Santa Barbara
How has COVID-19 affected your business? We are all hyper-aware of the pain and downside that COVID-19 brought to our industry. However, one of the greatest upsides has been the alignment within our organization. The collaboration across functions and departments has been incredible.
How has COVID-19 affected your business? As an industry, we innovated to do the same amount of work with less people. We had to keep our crews small and only focus on critical tasks for the health of the vineyard. When we felt like we had good protocols in place and wanted to staff up again, we couldn’t get the labor. The unemployment incentive really hurt us. What have you done to adapt your business? We did three to four times more mechanization in our company than before. We got the work done and we got the grapes picked. Who I sell my product to has also changed drastically. I have pivoted
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COVER STORY myself to wineries that are making themselves successful via online sales and grocery delivery. How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? We didn’t have any fires, but we had smoke and haze in the area. So that created a lot of concern. We still went through the testing protocols and were at the mercy of the wineries. We did have some reject our grapes, so we changed how we’re looking at contracts for 2021 to mitigate our risk. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? I had dozens of crucial conversations and tried to make sure to keep emotions under control to keep long-term relationships in mind. It was imperative for me to exercise my emotional intelligence to recognize how I can support my employees, keeping their well-being and safety paramount in this uncharted and stressful environment. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Regularly dialogue with colleagues and business owners to make sure collaboratively you are making the best decisions for your industries and communities. Ag Leadership really taught me how valuable getting feedback from peers can be when you’re trying to navigate through a crisis. We are stronger united, certainly.
How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? Several of our vineyards were in proximity to both the River Fire and Dolan Fire, which created significant smoke across our farm. As a result, we began testing our grapes across all vineyards. We continue to monitor our wines and have tools at our disposal to address any smoke taint issues that may arise as wines mature. One positive impact was the surge in demand for bulk wines, which helped deplete inventories and stabilize, and in some cases increase pricing. How do you use what you learned during Ag Leadership? With any challenge, it requires self-awareness, deployment of sound reasoning, problem-solving skills and clear communication; all attributes I gained or refined while in Ag Leadership. I have often reflected on something Dr. Thomas told us: “pack your flexibility.” Skills developed through Ag Leadership helped me work with others who struggle with rapid change, helping them to adapt and remain productive. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Surround yourself with other leaders, fellow classmates or mentors who can serve as a sounding board during difficult times. Reflect on the experiences and skills Ag Leadership provided to solve the most difficult challenges. Do not be afraid to experiment with solutions by creating a “safe to fail” environment.
Justin Perino (44) General Manager Finished Goods Operations
Yvonne Sams (45) Senior Director of California Logistics
Scheid Vineyards
G3 Enterprises
Monterey
How has COVID-19 affected your business? With the initial shutdown, we allowed only essential personnel to work on-site. For our sales team, it presented the greatest challenge due to the inability to meet with distributors and buyers in person. However, we discovered that buyers working from home are more relaxed and receptive. This created an opportunity to share our story and products; under normal conditions, that may not have occurred. Our restaurant and travel wine sales have been decimated, but the increase in retail sales has more than offset these losses.
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What have you done to adapt your business? We analyzed each department for risk levels of COVID transmission. We adjusted to accommodate social distancing, mask adoption and sanitation regimens. We implemented a split shift in our bottling operations to reduce total headcount. We conduct daily COVID briefings before each shift and use a questionnaire that allows us to contact trace and tabulate any potential exposure risks.
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How has COVID-19 affected your business? Our team continued to come into the office, but started wearing masks, social distancing, limiting the number of people who were in our workspace and meeting outside. We brought in portable buildings to give people enough space to work safely. What have you done to adapt your business? We have done a lot more virtual meetings and trainings and figured out that you can do some work from home. We learned that you can wear masks at work and work comfortably. We have increased our cleaning procedures and started using less paper and integrated more automation. How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? There were wildfires in every wine region and we haul grapes in every region. As a result of the fires, there was a smoke layer that slowed the growth of the grapes and reduced outside temperatures. We transport
COVER STORY 45% of the wine grapes in California, so this was a big deal because we were ready, the wineries were ready, but the grapes weren’t ready; harvest decisions were changing from one moment to the next. What did you do to manage these industry challenges? We worked to identify areas that needed more support and worked together as a team to communicate with customers almost daily so that we could try to anticipate and adjust our resources. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? Through feedback that I was given as part of Ag Leadership’s executive coaching, there are things that I know I need to focus on as an individual. I made sure I was aware of those areas in a way that provided a calm and structured environment—focusing on staying agile and flexible and leading the team through the craziest harvest we’ve ever had without creating a lot of chaos. Ag Leadership gave me the perspective and selfawareness I needed to become a stronger leader. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? I would say listen, act with intention and have a plan. It really is about leaning on the Ag Leadership principles. Our weaknesses can come out in a crisis, but it’s also an opportunity to lean on your strengths. Take the lessons you learned and apply them during difficult times.
How did smoke-exposed grapes resulting from the 2020 wildfires impact your business? The Glass Fire did have an impact on our grapes. We had two wineries reject fruit. We are in negotiations with three wineries who accepted and processed the fruit, but we won’t get paid until there’s a clean test. That’s a really hard one since we have already incurred the farming and harvesting costs. What did you do to respond to these industry challenges? We just rolled with the punches. The beauty of farming is that it’s a very resilient industry and you just figure it out. It’s not always the best option, but that’s just what has to be done. How do you use what you learned in Ag Leadership? Not being super reactive and really thinking about the bigger picture and taking a step back. Just having patience and realizing that with hard work, you may not end up on top, but hopefully it doesn’t take a huge toll. What advice do you have for fellow alumni who find themselves in leadership roles during times of crisis? Think about the big picture. It may not be a situation where you’re going to be the one on top, but if the entire industry is going to succeed, then that’s a win. Have patience and stand up for what you believe in.
Taylor Serres (49) Serres Ranch Sonoma
How has COVID-19 affected your business? We are very fortunate in the sense that we have employees that live on our property year-round, so we were able to continue to work together since we have a smaller crew. Thankfully, agriculture is considered essential, so we were able to carry on farming with all our normal practices. In regards to the selling of wine, it was definitely more difficult. Due to the increased use of personal shoppers, there were a lot fewer impulse purchases being made. What have you done to adapt your business? We really haven’t, other than for the sales side. I would say we’re doing more promotions and we did a closeout sale to help reduce inventory. We made sure we supplied the basic personal protective equipment to ensure the health of our employes. All our sanitization steps are the same, above what’s required from the state, so we just didn’t change that much due to COVID.
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ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE
Staying Connected During COVID RACHELLE ANTINETTI (42), ALUMNI COUNCIL VICE CHAIR
OF THE COUNTLESS LESSONS AG LEADERSHIP TAUGHT ME, THE MOST VALUABLE HAS TO BE THE GIFT OF SELFLESSNESS. MAKING THE TIME TO GIVE AND SHARE WITH OTHERS IN THE WORKPLACE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR HOMES, IS THE ULTIMATE REWARD FOR ME. IN 2020, I FOUND THAT THE MOMENTS REALLY COUNTED. ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WAS SHARING IN THE JOY OF MEETING RICH PETERSON (25) AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, DOTTIE. RICH WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE 2020 PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SAFELY DELIVERING HIM HIS AWARD. RICH IS A SERVANT LEADER AND HAS COMMITTED MANY YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO SERVING HIS COMMUNITY.
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Rich Peterson (25)
HORIZONS MAGAZINE WINTER 2021
2020 has brought about circumstances many of us thought would only have occurred in history or in the movie business. Many of us have really had to dig deep this year and put some of those Ag Leadership lessons to use. We have been challenged to think outside the box on ways to stay engaged with our teams, families and friends. I miss the last-minute dinner invites, date nights with my husband, cups of coffee with friends and summer baseball games with my kids. I miss in-person Ag Leadership Alumni Council meetings, hosting recruiting events and interviewing candidates for the next “best” class. Staying connected During COVID has been a gift. I appreciate text messages from Ag Leadership classmates in our group chats, phone calls to alumni who were fellows in the early years of the program and meeting new alumni on First Fridays webinars with Director of Education Shelli Hendricks. I am thankful for this Horizons magazine that comes in the mail and the emails from Liza Robertson and Deanna van Klaveren (32) with updates and activities in our regions. I am so thankful for our new president and CEO, Dwight Ferguson and executive vice president, Abby TaylorSilva (45), who have big plans, big ideas and big goals on taking CALF to a whole new level that all alumni and future fellows will appreciate and enjoy. Here are some updates from CALF alumni throughout the state. My positive thoughts and prayers for you and your family are a healthy and prosperous 2021!
ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE we are on “Team Cranberry” or “Team Stuffing,” we all agreed that we are blessed beyond measure to be involved in California agriculture.
Kelly Mora (48) Kelly Mora, Region 1 director, hosted a virtual Thanksgiving for her region. Here’s what she shared about staying connected during COVID in 2020. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, even if it was spent differently than holiday gatherings of the past. The Region 1 Virtual Thanksgathering was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the company of fellow alumni while celebrating the gifts of our leadership journeys. My thanks to Mitchell Yerxa for representing Region 1 and Class 48 in appreciating Barry Bedwell (13) and his contributions to CALF. Barry led a mini “meet and greet” after expertly introducing Dwight Ferguson and Abby Taylor-Silva (45). Barry truly is the master of introductions. However, as he passed the torch, it was abundantly clear that Dwight and Abby will be upholding the standard he so well established. After brief introductions and sharing important personal details, such as our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, our discussion shifted to counting our blessings and we shared our gratitude for the many reasons we appreciate California agriculture. Carissa Rystrom (48) prompted great conversation by asking each participant to answer two questions: “What motivated you to take up a vocation in the agriculture industry?” and “What are you thankful for that California agriculture offers?” Regardless of the path that guided us into our industry or whether
As our evening concluded, the alumni team presented the Region 1 CALP Donation Drive which was introduced on Giving Tuesday. Correen Davis (45) said it well: “Wouldn’t it be great if Region 1 was known for our generosity of spirit and desire to give back to the program that gave us all so much?”
Steve Dodge (49) Steve Dodge, Region 2 director, is working to reconnect with alumni. Getting together in 2020 took creativity and patience. We have all had to postpone big events and vacations. Society has become accustomed to meeting through our computers and creating the best backdrops for our peers. When trying to come up with ways to interact with fellow alumni and friends of Region 2, we knew a Zoom “meet and greet” was the ideal setting.
Theresa Becchetti (35) Theresa Becchetti is Class 35’s liaison. She implemented regular virtual social hours for her class. Class 35 has done an outstanding job of staying connected over the years. This year, they have gone virtual! A virtual social hour was launched to keep everyone in touch since the class is not physically able to get together. COVID has impacted all of us in different ways, but it has also opened up opportunities to stay connected. The ability to catch up with classmates, some of whom we have not seen since graduation a few years ago, is great. We have only recently started this virtual connection and hope to keep gaining classmates when they have a chance to pop on, even if only for a few minutes to say hello. Class 35’s virtual social hour is set for every other Monday from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. For the link, contact Theresa at tabecchetti@ucanr.edu.
On Nov. 17 we had an alumni meeting for the region that included the new Ag Leadership executive team. It allowed us to get a better understanding of where they hope to take the program in this next chapter and it also allowed us to catchup and check-in with everyone during these uncertain times. The meeting made me proud to be a California Ag Leadership Program alumni because it was all about the future and how we can continue to make the world a better place.
James Ewart (49) James Ewart, Region 5 director, shared top-line take-aways from the survey his region participated in. As a new alum and regional director, I was keen to understand what folks have done in the past and also most importantly, get an insight as to what folks wanted to do in the future. Initially, I had wanted to get out and meet folks in their communities to get a better sense. Unfortunately, with COVID-19, this didn’t go to plan and so we adapted with the help of Darlene Din (35), Deanna van Klaveren (32) and Judy Sparacino, sending out a survey to our region. We got a response of 29 surveys out of a total of 76. While there are some tactical things that people would like to see, such as establishing a social media presence, I think the general sense is that folks would like to connect in person. With Region 5 being large, and balancing everyone’s busy schedules, it’s my hope that postCOVID, we can connect at a local restaurant or pub for lunch and build networks from there. With many folks on Zoom calls all day under COVID restrictions, the general feeling in our region has been to wait to connect in-person. We did, however, have a virtual meeting in December to check-in and introduce Dwight Ferguson and Abby Taylor-Silva (45) to our region. We hope this will springboard us into creating closer connections in 2021! continued on page 6
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WINTER 2021 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
FEATURE STORY
RECOMMENDED BY... WE ASKED AG LEADERSHIP FELLOWS, ALUMNI AND STAFF TO
“The Alchemist”
- by Paulo Coelho
“The Alchemist is my favorite; just a story about a shepherd boy in search of his personal destiny.”
RECOMMENDED BY
Erin Gorter (50)
“Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People”
GIVE US THEIR TOP PICKS. HERE’S WHAT THEY SHARED. WE HOPE
- by Mahzarin R. Banaji
YOU’LL READ A RECOMMENDED
“Blind Spot is written by the people who helped develop the implicit association tests (implicit.Harvard.edu) and shows the research behind how our brains have blind spots and how this impacts our own biases.”
BOOK AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. SEND YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO LROBERTSON@AGLEADERS.ORG
RECOMMENDED BY
Erin Gorter (50)
“The Four Agreements” - by Miguel Ruiz “This book is a little different than the typical ones you may find on self- and leadership-development shelves, but it’s a good one for grounding principles that can be used as a sounding board in all situations. It is a short read, inspired by “the happiest culture in the world,” the Toltecs. Learn what the four agreements mean to you and how to use them to free yourself and live your best life.” RECOMMENDED BY
Sarah Hovinga (46)
Chairman’s Top 10 Recommendations from CALF Board Chairman Mike Young (35). “The saying ‘leaders are readers’ is for me a living term. Reading opens doors to new skills and worlds beyond my own. A lifelong reader’s learning never stops. Just as the program taught us about ourselves and how we can take our skills to be better leaders of our families, industries and communities, reading can greatly enhance those skills and take us all to a new level.” -Mike Young
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1 “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James
Brown. Nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
6 “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson. Murder, magic and madness at the fair that changed America.
2 “Love Does” by Bob Goff. Discover a secretly
7 “Tattoos on the Heart” by Gregory Boyle. The power of boundless compassion.
3 “Leadership and Self-Deception” by the
8 “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. A World War II story of survival, resilience and redemption.
4 “The River of Doubt” by Candice Millard.
9 “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. A philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.
incredible life in an ordinary world.
Arbinger Institute. The key to leadership lays not in what we do, but in who we are. Theodore Roosevelt’s darkest journey.
5 “Educated” by Tara Westover. A memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, goes on to earn a Ph.D.
10 “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi. A powerful look at a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis through the eyes of a neurosurgeon.
FEATURE STORY
“These Truths, a History of the United States”
- by Jill Lepore
“I spent a good part of the summer reading this book. It’s a great deep dive into why we are where we are in our great country, beginning with its very discovery in 1492. It also provides great insight into why we’re facing some of the challenges we are with political equality, natural rights and sovereignty. I found it to be an excellent and timely read.” RECOMMENDED BY
RECOMMENDED BY
CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson
“The Power of Habit” - by Charles Duhigg “This book was compelling because it discusses the science behind how habits are formed. The author argues that if we understand how habits are created, we can be more effective in breaking harmful patterns and building new ones; the goal being to create transformation in our lives and businesses.” RECOMMENDED BY
CALF Writer/Editor Liza Robertson
“Undaunted Courage” - by Stephen E. Ambrose
“‘Undaunted Courage’ is the tale of the epic expedition to explore the greatest real estate deal in the history of the United States. It is the American Odyssey. Anyone who enjoys history or adventure will find ‘Undaunted Courage’ a great read. It is also a great way to pass some time while socially isolating.”
RECOMMENDED BY
CALF Executive Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva (45)
“Daring Greatly” - by Brené Brown “Our class (45) discovered Brené Brown by way of one of our classmates who shared with us her TED talk on vulnerability. Her message resonated, as it reflected many of the things we were learning in our sessions. Of her books, “Daring Greatly” is one of my favorites. She references Theodore Roosevelt’s speech from 1910 in Paris, where he spoke about the man in the arena, ‘Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes short again and again…who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…’ She teaches us about criticism and critics and tells us it is the feedback from those who share our values, who also stand in the arena or have done so, and who don’t shame us, but strive to lift us higher, that we should listen to. Those are also the people we should confide in, and their words should be what we use to guide our self-awareness and growth.”
John Weiler (18)
SHOP CALF MERCHANDISE Although we cannot gather to celebrate Ag Leadership’s 50th anniversary, you can still show your support by purchasing CALF “swag” commemorating the program’s milestone. Customize hats, shirts, bags and more by adding your class number, the special 50th anniversary edition logo or the regular Ag Leadership logo to any item. The foundation will receive a percentage of all sales.
Shop for CALF merchandise at https://agleaders.store
15 WINTER 2021 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
FEATURE STORY
REFLECTIONS ON TAKING A STAND BY LOUISE FERGUSON, PH.D., CORE FACULTY, UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES AND UC ANR
AS I REFLECT ON THE MANY THINGS I LEARNED BEING IN CLASS 30, ONE EXPERIENCE STANDS OUT. READING “MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING” BY VIKTOR FRANKEL CHANGED MY LIFE. AN AUSTRIAN PSYCHIATRIST WHO LOST MOST OF HIS FAMILY IN THE HOLOCAUST, HE SURVIVED TO WRITE ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. HE NOTED SURVIVORS WERE NOT THOSE WHO DENIED THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, BUT THOSE WHO WERE REALISTIC, HAD PERSONAL MORAL GUIDEPOSTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, KNEW THEY HAD A PURPOSE IN LIFE. Postwar, Viktor Frankl refined his observations into a theory of psychotherapy. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia profile: Frankl identified three main ways of realizing meaning in life. First, by making a difference in the world through our actions, our work or our creations—referred to as “creative values.” Second, by experiencing something (such as truth, beauty) or encountering someone (love)— “experiential values.” Third, by adopting a courageous and exemplary attitude in situations of unavoidable suffering—“attitudinal values.” Over the decades, I felt I understood and tried to implement the first and second values; making a difference through actions and having
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experiences, but never totally understood or felt I was implementing the third, “adopting a courageous and exemplary attitude.” My logic was that I was never “in situations of unavoidable suffering.” Later, when I became a core faculty member for the program, I heard Carolyn Penny, JD, present, “Why conversations go sideways and what we can do about it.” During her presentation, she shared a video of a TED talk by Ash Beckham about the art of taking a stand. I realized I had daily opportunities to implement Frankl’s “attitudinal values.” Although my situations were not “situations of unavoidable suffering,” they were still situations in which I could display a somewhat “exemplary attitude.” By personally taking a stand in important situations, and more importantly, attempting to understand the situations of others, this is the attitudinal value I now try to implement, especially in the current times. Louise Ferguson, Ph.D. coordinates and leads the University of California Cooperative Extension (CE) statewide programs for pistachios, table olives and figs. Working with CE farm advisors throughout California, the team coordinates statewide meetings, short courses and field days with strong industry support, including overseas participants. Ferguson is also acclaimed for her international agricultural development work in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. She is recognized as an international leader in knowledge extension related to fruit tree crop production in many countries around the world. She also mentors numerous students, postdocs, visiting scientists and colleagues in California, the U.S., and internationally.
In Memoriam: A tribute to Ag Leadership alumni and friends we lost in 2020 Leo Lynch (1)
Leo Lynch passed away on Aug. 31, 2020 at the age of 86. Originally from Phoenix, he lived in Waterford and ranched in Tassajara, where his family grew almonds, walnuts and raised beef cattle. As a member of Class 1, he traveled internationally to Mexico, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Italy. He served his community, loved the outdoors and was a leader in many educational endeavors. He worked as a postal carrier in his neighborhood for 20 years. He was a talented woodworker and at Christmas would leave a handmade decoration at every home he delivered mail.
Adin Hester (3)
Adin Hester passed away in Cloverdale on Oct. 5, 2020 at the age of 81. Throughout his life, Adin resided in Modesto and Visalia. He was born and raised in Oregon. As a member of Class 3, he traveled internationally to Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. Adin was an active supporter of the California Ag Leadership Foundation’s alumni activities, including Ag Leadership Alumni (ALA), the International Leadership Alumni Conference (ILAC) and D.C. Exchange.
Don Nelson (4)
Don Nelson passed away in Red Bluff on July 5, 2020 at the age of 82. His early life was filled with ranching and he built upon that experience when he served as the extension beef specialist at Washington State University. He earned his Ph.D. in animal nutrition from The Ohio State University and was a highly regarded professor at Fresno State. His obituary highlighted his extraordinary life as an innovator, visionary, leader, collaborator, contrarian, sage, mover, shaker and educator.
John DeRuiter (11)
John DeRuiter passed away on Aug. 29, 2020 at the age of 68. Born in Hanford, he was active in the banking and finance industry for more than 40 years. As a member of Class 11, John traveled internationally to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. He will be remembered for his integrity and knowledge of agriculture, as well as the relationships he built as a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor and friend.
Michael McDowell (34)
Michael McDowell passed away on Dec. 06, 2020. Michael, his wife and their two children lived on their multi-generational family farm in Walnut Grove. As a member of Class 34, he traveled internationally to Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. An avid sportsman, Michael operated a pheasant hunt club in addition to running his family’s fruit tree farm with his parents and wife, Amber. He was an active member of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. Over the past decade, Michael and his family had expanded the direct-to-consumer options from their farm, building a farm stand and a youpick business.
FRIEND OF CALF: Grace Flannery
Grace Flannery passed away on Oct. 3, 2020 at the age of 69. She was born in Michigan, raised in New York and eventually settled in California. Grace was a longtime friend and contributor to the Ag Leadership Program. She began her work with CALF in 2008, with Class 38. She eventually became one of the program’s integrating presenters, meeting with classes several times throughout the 17-month fellowship; starting with the inaugural seminar and finishing up at the seminar right before commencement. In her curriculum, she focused on understanding ourselves through awareness of our heroes, identifying where our power comes from and how that affects our opportunities to influence and prioritization methods to meet productivity goals.
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ALUMNI & FELLOWS NEWS Classes 10-19
Randall (14) and Brad (17) Lange, founders
of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, were nominated for the 2020 Social Visionary of the Year award, one of Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards. The nomination recognized their commitment to being conscientious stewards of the land and their dedication to sustainable farming practices.
Classes 20-29
Cheríe Watte Angulo (25) was named
executive director of the Buy California Marketing Agreement. She previously served as president and director of the California Asparagus Commission.
Charley Mathews (26) was featured in two California Rice Commission videos, “Tundra Swan Headquarters” (about the swans that migrate to rice country in the fall) and “Maintaining the Tradition” (about the traditions and history of rice farming and bird migration in the valley). https://calrice.org/rice-news/
Classes 30-39
Cannon Michael (39) and California Exchange Program alumi Ann Hayden co-authored a Nov. 30 guest commentary – “We can find common ground to solve challenging water issues” – for the CalMatters website.
Classes 40-49
Karm Bains (40) was elected to the Sutter
County Board of Supervisors District 4 seat, making him the first Sikh American to serve on a U.S. county board of supervisors.
Melissa Duflock (40) is a member of the 2020-21 board of directors for the GrowerShipper Association of Central California, which represents over 325 members in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Rachelle Antinetti (42) was named vice
president of operations for Dave Wilson Nursery.
Paul Parreira (44) was featured in a Nov. 17
Western Farm Press article – “RPAC Almonds expanding capacity amid record yields” – about his multi-generational farming business. It highlights the company’s history, expansion plans and co-products.
John Dmytriw (49) was named vice president of business development for Index Fresh. He was previously a senior business specialist. Dmytriw has been with the avocado marketer since 2008.
Multiple Classes The Fresno Chamber of Commerce and Moss Adams honored Dan Errotabere (21) with the 2020 Agriculturalist of the Year Award and Chandler Farms/Bill Chandler (6) with the 2020 Agricultural Business Award. Errotabere was recognized for his vital contributions to valley ag, specifically his advocacy in the area of water for valley farmers. Chandler Farms was recognized for its positive leadership and entrepreneurship, and support of the community that have made a positive impact on the ag industry. The awards were presented during a Dec. 3 KSEE 24 program titled “Fresno County: Today and Tomorrow.”
Stasi Seay (30) and Jeff Bitter (32) were speakers for the virtual 2020 Central Coast Grape Expo on Nov. 6.
Jeff Bitter (32), Casey Creamer (47) and Ian LeMay (48) were speakers for the virtual
2020 Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on Nov. 13. The Fresno County Farm Bureau elected and installed its 2020-2021 board officers and directors on Oct. 22. Daniel Hartwig (49) was elected president. John Chandler (44),
Matthew Efird (45), Jon Reelhorn (38), Alfreda Sebasto (35), Mark Sorensen (23) and Rick Stark (39) were elected as directors.
The Produce Business 35th anniversary issue paid tribute to nearly 50 vanguards who have helped build a better industry. Included on The 35 Vanguards list: Joe Pezzini (28), Tim Vaux (31) and Karen Caplan (CALF board of directors). Included on the Vanguard Heroes list: Jack Pandol (12).
Glenda Humiston (25), vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) led California legislators, their staff members and other policymakers on a virtual tour of UC ANR on Nov. 20. Missy Gable (40) director of the UC Master Gardener Program, discussed the contributions of volunteers and how the program has changed during COVID-19, noting a surge in gardening.
Rosie Burroughs (30), along with her husband, Ward, and the Burroughs Family of Farms, which includes Benina Montes (36), have been selected as the recipient of the 2020 California Leopold Conservation Award.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE? PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OR NEWS TO: lrobertson@agleaders.org
18 HORIZONS MAGAZINE WINTER 2021
THANK YOU
DONOR SUPPORT Mike and Jakki Sencer The Wonderful Company Jan Smith / Resnick Foundation (Stewart and Lynda Resnick) $2,000 John Chandler $250,000 Leavens Ranches LLC The Otis Booth Foundation Nelson Irrigation Corporation Ravi and Sureena Thiara
$500,000
$65,000
Boswell Family Foundation
$1,500
Harden Foundation
Russel Efird John and Jane Gibson Brian Gill J. Link and Sally Leavens Justin and Emilee Morehead Brian Talley
$10,000
$1,233
$25,000
California Cotton Alliance
$20,000
Bayer Doug and Jan Circle / Circle Vision LLC Bob and Pat Gray Ladera Foundation Lagomarsino Group Tom Mulholland
Todd Snider
$1,000
Yissel Barajas James Beecher Jeff Bitter Arthur Bliss Ed Boutonnet California Fresh Fruit $7,500 Association Michael and Jennifer Young Blake and Lisa Carlson Benjamin and Denise Carter $6,000 Chino Valley Ranchers Paul Parreira Jim and Ellen Clare Clauss Dairy Farms $5,000 William Coit Jeff and Mori Elder Bill Colace Granite Peak Partners / John and Nan Colbert Pierre Tada Jason Cole John and Betsy Grether Ed Kuykendall / Creek Rock Rick and Lynne Cosyns Bill and Janet Cramer Ventures LLC Fred Douma Peggy Sears Perry Roberta Firoved Michael Frantz $3,000 Fresno Equipment Company Mica Heilmann Frieda’s Specialty Produce Raymond Tonella John and Sharon Garner Nicole Hayden $2,500 Kevin and Diane Herman Philip Bowles Julia and Jorge Inestroza Anthony Bozzano J.D. Heiskell & Co. Ward and Rose Marie Mark and Isabella Jacobs Burroughs Holly King Edwin Camp Charles Kosmont Anthony Costa & Sons Kimberly Clauss Jorritsma Gary and Diana Cusumano Dwight and Nancy Ferguson Anthony and Melissa Laney Mr. & Mrs. Larry Lemke James Finch Mark and Megan McKean Gail and John Gray Justin Micheli Frank and Cindy Hilliker Mixtec Group Hilliker’s Egg Ranch Heather Mulholland John and Edyth Ledbetter Heriberto and Benina Montes Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss Paul and Yvonne Murai Beth Pandol Karen and Tom Pecht Ty and Sheri Parkinson Bill and Jean Phillimore Rick Rhody Gary and Karen Robinson Gerald and Elaine Rominger Leland Ruiz Schramm Williams and Sanders Family Almond Ranch / Ellen and Mike Way Associates Inc.
OCTOBER 1, 2020 - DECEMBER 31, 2020
Bill Van Skike Kevin and Lori Steward Rosemary Talley David and Judy Theodore Triple C Farms Val Mar Farming LLC / Catalino Martinez Mary-Ann Warmerdam and Robert Falconer John Weiler Luke and Margaret Wilson / NorCal Hemp Devon and Rachel Yurosek Joe and Glenda Zanger
$900
Gene Peterson
$750
Kelley and Tom Parsons
$600
Dennis and Beth Albiani Sandy Fiack
$525
Rick and Michelle Schellenberg
$500
Celeste Alonzo Gregg Avilla Aaron Barcellos Blazer Wilkinson LP Lucinda Chipponeri Jonnalee Dunn E.M. Tharp Inc. Fanciful Company Donna Caston Farmer William Carriere Bill and Carol Chandler Crown Nursery Les and Cindy Crutcher John Ellis Mike and Jeanette Fitch Rick and Bonnie (Fernandez) Fenaroli Joey and Tawni Fernandes Joseph Ferrara Filice Farms LP Robert Flores John and Mary Frye John Giovannetti Bill and Kathy Gisvold Rob and Joyel Goff Jonathan Graves Ted Grether Ed Grossi Henry Avocado Corporation Bernell Harlan Les and Janet Heringer Stephen and Donna Heringer Huntington Farms Dale and Mary Jane Huss Nadav Ichaki Ronald Kruse Link and Leslie Leavens
Bob Lilley Linder Equipment Company Adam Lovgren Jarrett Martin Stuart and Dolores Mast Steve and Kim McIntyre Kathryn and Kent McKenzie Danielle and Steve McShane Midland Tractor Stephen and Wendy Murrill The Nunes Company Ben and Kappy Olson Garry Pearson Vernon Peterson Sherm Railsback Renaissance Charitable Foundation Patricia and Alan Reynolds Karen Ross Yvonne and Brad Sams John Taylor Matthew Toste Craig Underwood Scott and Susan Van Der Kar The Wonderful Company Foundation Inc. ChiChi and Roger Wood Stuart and Pilar Yamamoto Norm Yenni
$400
Bob and Anne Atkins Nina and David Ames Roger and Deanna van Klaveren
$300
Anonymous Nomie Kautz Petrea Marchand Lori Ann Thrupp Bryan and Denise Wilson
$250
Julie Allen David Arakelian Steven and Deborah Arnold Tony and Emily Ayala Bill and Katie Bennett Mike Bennett Tom and Kathryn Chandler Mike and Barbara Chrisman Ned Coe Vernon Crowder Mark Dalrymple Correen Davis Doug DeVaney Peter DeGroot Steven Dennis Michael Dimock Tom and Rose Ann Ellis Peter and Patricia Fallini Fred and Susan Ferro Micky George Janet and Glen Goto George Gough Layci Gragnani
Jared Gross The Gualco Group, Inc. Less and Claudia Guthrie Hal Robertson Farms Gayle Holman Glenda Humiston J & J O’Banion Ranch Janis Jones Vic Lanini Dennis and Kathleen Leonardi Ralph and Denene Lucchetti Melissa and B.J. Macfarlane Mark Sorensen Farms Jeff and Lori Merwin Curtis Miller Mark and Dina Moore Kelly Mora Soapy Mulholland Steve and Cathryn Nation James Neeley Steve Olson Brenda and Gary Ouwerkerk Lane and Joyce Parker Dave and Jane Roberti Don Roberts Paul Sousa and Family Jerry and Anne Spencer Audrey and Lance Tennis Michael Turnipseed Joe Turkovich Ken van Loben Sels Paul Violett C. David Viviani David Warter Woody and Mitchell Yerxa
$249
Bryan and Jerri Foley
$200
Linda Ballentine Tyler Christensen James Ewart Joe Garcia Michael Kuehn Leo McGuire Robert Roumiguiere
$150
Mark and Lorraine Edsall Christy Fischer Ben Goodwin Benjamin Henry Bob Longatti Tom and Kim Lucas Dexter and Lynda McDonald Matthew McInerney Daryn Miller Nicholas Miller Alejandra Navarrete Cindy Noble Maxwell and Diane Norton Oro Del Norte LLC Chuck and Fran Pritchard Julie Rentner Kevin and Liza Robertson John and Cristel Tufenkjian
$77.66
Amazon Smile
$50
Sarah DeForest Rich and Dorothy Peterson
$45
Julie Johnson
In-Kind
TMD Creative: $2,000
In Memory of John DeRuiter (11) Ron Caird: $200
In Memory of Paul Diener
Clay Groefsema: $1,000
In Memory of Grace Flannery
Theresa Becchetti: $500 Bob and Shirley Dempel: $100
In Memory of Robert Hartzell
Bob and Shirley Dempel: $100
Kristen Bennett Marc Faye Cathie Joughin Kathryn McCutcheon Jenny Moffitt Libby Ouellette Robert and Patricia Rathbone Robert and Verna Steinhauer
In Memory of Adin Hester (3)
$100
In Memory of Michael McDowell (34)
Rick and Nancy Barnes Leeann Bettencourt Bob and Nancy Cadenazzi Heidi Carpenter-Harris Jacquie and Tom Courtright Charlie and Jackie Crabb John and Antoinette Draxler
Jan and Paul Newton: $2,000 Jerry Diefenderfer: $200 Bob and Shirley Dempel: $100 Steve Olson: $100 Ruben and Nancy Rueda: $100 Santa Paula Creek Ranch: $100
Jonathan Munger: $500
19
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