horizons California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
S P R I N G 2020
CLASS 49 COMMENCEMENT
A LOOK AT THE ROAD AHEAD
We grow leaders who make a difference.
CHAIR MESSAGE
Leadership is about doing the right thing BY JEFF ELDER (35), CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
At the risk of repeating myself from past messages, the Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast was again a stellar event. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the sponsors and the volunteers who make this event possible. The event raised more than $100,000 for the California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF). Keynote speaker Ross Bernstein entertained and inspired the audience. He intertwined wellknown leadership principles with actual case studies from his many years covering sports. He delivered his message by telling moving stories laced with humorous antidotes. The concepts he discussed are simple, but not easy. He encouraged the audience to find what they are passionate about and take stock of their effort to maximize that passion. He also advised us to think hard about our legacy. Think about the fact that your date of birth followed by your date of death will be written on your obituary. In between is a dash. All that matters is that dash. Building trust was also a key point of his presentation. I’ll add my own antidote here: it is not just about doing things right, but more importantly, about doing the right thing. His last point? Just have fun. The best part of his speech was tailored to the audience of agricultural leaders. After spending a day touring the San Joaquin Valley and visiting farming operations, he was able to list the challenges faced by agriculture in California—a list that took almost five minutes to get through. All in all, it was a great start to what I hope was a fun and productive day at World Ag Expo for all in attendance. As for CALF, this is set to be a very busy year. We will have to fill four vacancies of very qualified board members. These board members have devoted their time, treasure and talent to the organization and their terms are now ending. We have begun the process of bringing
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new candidates forward. We have our 50th Anniversary Celebration coming up in October. This will prove to be an event unlike any other in the history of the organization. I am so excited about the program we have put together and thank the 50th Anniversary Celebration committee for the hard work they have done and for the work they will continue to do to put the final touches on the event. We have also begun a search for a new CEO. Barry Bedwell (13) has been competently and enthusiastically leading CALF for the past three and a half years. I can’t thank him enough for his leadership and dedication to the organization. As understood at the time of his hiring, he has announced his intention to retire at the end of this year. A search committee has been formed and Mike Young (35) has accepted my request to lead this effort. He has put together a very qualified committee. CALF has benefited immeasurably with excellent leadership over the past eight years and I am very confident that exceptional leadership will continue well into the future. Yes, it will be a busy year, but a very exciting one for Ag Leadership.
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
SPRING 2020 • www.agleaders.org
COVER STORY 6
Class 49 Commencement
FEATURES 10 12
Leadership Focus 50th Anniversary Celebration
DEPARTMENTS 2 2 3 4 14 16 18 18
Chair Message Calendar of Events Foundation Message Foundation News Alumni Council Update Alumni Events Alumni & Fellows News Donor Recognition
CALENDAR May CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair / Jeff Elder Vice Chair / Jim Maxwell Secretary - Treasurer / Eugene Peterson Immediate Past Chair / Loren Booth Karm Bains Rick Burnes Edwin Camp Karen Caplan Bob Cherenson Michael Hollister Mike Mendes Emily Rooney Andy Thulin Bill Van Skike Mike Young CALF STAFF President / Barry Bedwell 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 Teixeira Robertson CONTRIBUTING WRITER/EDITOR Meredith Rehrman Ritchie DESIGNER TMDcreative
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First Fridays: Persuasive Communications, Live Online Class 50 Seminar Class 51 Phase Two Applications Due
June
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First Fridays, Live Online
July
3 7-8 9-10 13-14 23-24 28-29
First Fridays, Live Online Class 51 Interviews, Chico Class 51 Interviews, Davis Class 51 Interviews, Pomona Class 51 Interviews, Fresno Class 51 Interviews, San Luis Obispo
August
6 7 15
Class 51 Final Selection First Fridays, Live Online NorCal Ag Leadership Sporting Clay Shoot
All in-person events are subject to change due to COVID-19 measures.
Remembering Dr. Gene Rapp
FOUNDATION MESSAGE
BY BARRY BEDWELL (13), CALF PRESIDENT
The California Ag Leadership family lost a dear member recently when Dr. Gene Rapp passed away at the age of 89. Gene first worked as the executive director of the Council of California Growers (CCG) at a period (1972-1974) when the California Ag Leadership Program (CALP) was just getting started. At that time, at the direction and urging of Dean Brown, one of the founders of Ag Leadership, Gene became the third executive director for the program. Gene’s obituary appeared as follows in early January of this year: Gene Edward Rapp passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19, 2019 after a prolonged illness with Parkinson’s Disease in Roseville, CA. He is deeply missed by his wife, April, and her children, Brian and Heidi, their spouses, 5 grandchildren; and his children (by his late first wife, Marilyn) Steve, Christine and Craig, their spouses, five grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren. Gene was born and raised in San Francisco. He attended UC Berkeley and UC Davis graduating with a BS and later a doctoral degree in ag education. He attended The Ohio State University earning a doctoral degree in ag education. He was a teacher of vocational agriculture and a department head at Escalon High School, as well as an FFA advisor and state leader. He worked for UC Davis in ag practices and UC Berkeley in their international visitors office, division of ag. He was the executive director for the California Agricultural Educational Foundation for 13 years.
I had the honor of being able to be present at Gene’s services on that January day in Davis where I witnessed firsthand the power and connection of Ag Leadership. A number of alumni were in attendance, paying their respects and being grateful for having known Gene and what he meant to the program and California agriculture. At the celebration of his life that day, I heard moving tributes from two distinguished alums, Mike Campbell (3) and Sen. Jim Nielsen (5), who both spoke eloquently and movingly about their relationship with Gene. I too had the privilege of knowing Gene firsthand as a fellow in Class 13 and listening to their remarks only intensified my respect and admiration for what Gene was able to accomplish.
more subtle and sophisticated political skills than farmers and farm organizations have yet demonstrated.” Gene clearly understood that line of thinking and helped develop the program to produce better influencers and advocates on behalf of agriculture. Dr. Gene Rapp was truly a catalyst for a vibrant agricultural community and we will always be forever grateful for his efforts and contributions to professional leadership development for the benefit of California agriculture. Thank you for a job well done, my friend, and rest in peace.
Gene brought much needed stability, focus and direction to our young organization at a critical time in its history. He was able to “lead a group of leaders” year after formative year, which we all can certainly attest to is not always an easy task. Without the leadership and direction of Gene, I am not so sure we would now be on the verge of celebrating 50 years of the California Ag Leadership Program. Part of Gene’s strength was his understanding of our founders’ vision and the need for Ag Leadership. In that regard, and as one of the key points that Dean Brown correctly pointed out over four decades ago, “The political problem will be to make urban voters understand that a resource and environmental policy that cripples agricultural productivity will have detrimental effects on the economic well-being of everyone regardless of how he or she earns a living. Solving that problem will require
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FOUNDATION NEWS
Dr. Crabb - Thank You for Your Commitment to Ag Leadership! In February, Dr. Charlie Crabb announced that he would be stepping down from his role as program advisor for CALF. He has been associated with the foundation since 2007 and has served the foundation and its mission in multiple roles, including director of education, interim CEO and program advisor. Last year, he served an interim role during the search for the program’s current director of education, Shelli Hendricks. Now that the position has been well maintained by Shelli for more than a year, and in accordance with CALF’s ongoing succession planning, Dr. Crabb has announced that he will be stepping back from the day-to-day responsibility of program advisor to become a consultant, as needed, for the foundation. “He has proven to be an invaluable member of the Ag Leadership team,” said CALF President Barry Bedwell (13). “We are very pleased that he has agreed to continue our relationship and to provide his wisdom and institutional knowledge on a continuing basis.” Thank you, Dr. Crabb, for all you have done and for your efforts on behalf of Ag Leadership!
Colusa Farm Show Rabobank Breakfast
Barry Bedwell is joined by Craig Thomson and Scott Schoenborn, both from Zenith, at the annual breakfast in Colusa.
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A sunny and crisp morning greeted the approximate 450 attendees of the 18th annual Colusa Farm Show Rabobank Breakfast on Feb. 5. This popular event creates contributions for the benefit of Ag Leadership, Chico State College of Agriculture and Alpha Gamma Rho. The enthusiastic crowd heard an economic update from Roland Fumasi, vice president, senior analyst and manager of RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness at Rabobank, as well as a report from keynote speaker, Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). CALF President Barry Bedwell (13) was also in attendance to thank the breakfast committee members, particularly Les Heringer (13), Terry Bressler (30), Christie Capik, Bill Carriere (27), Colleen Cecil, Dr. Charlie Crabb, Jack Coots (27), Holly Dawley (38), Sarah DeForest (39), Robin Flournoy (29), Mark Kimmelshue (28), Emily Lazzerini, Tom Martin, Sam Nevis (32), Justin Nunes and John Weiler (22), plus all of the many alumni in the audience who attended and contributed to these worthy causes.
FOUNDATION NEWS
Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception On March 2, the annual Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception was held at the Sutter Club in Sacramento. The important social and networking event brought together more than 100 California government leaders, agricultural industry leaders, Ag Leadership alumni and current program fellows. The reception connects CALF to influential decision makers to further the goal of a strong and viable future for California agriculture.
Barry Bedwell (13) and Jeff Elder (35) spoke to the group about the importance of leadership development and the California Ag Leadership Program. As part of the event, several hundred pounds of California agricultural products were donated to a local food bank. The food was contributed by CALF alumni from across the state. The donated goods were displayed at the event
Class 51 Applications Applications for Class 51 are available at AgLeaders.org. Phase one applications are due April 27. Phase two applications are due May 25. We need your help identifying, recruiting and mentoring candidates for the program. Please start thinking about and talking with friends and colleagues who would be ideal candidates for Ag Leadership.
along with educational information about the importance of California agriculture. After the event, the food was made available for immediate distribution to individuals and families who do not have access to healthy food.
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COVER STORY
Class 49 COMMENCEMENT A LOOK AT THE ROAD AHEAD BY LIZA TEIXEIRA ROBERTSON On Feb. 8 the 24 fellows of Class 49 celebrated the completion of their advanced leadership development experience at a commencement ceremony held at Fresno State. Commencement is a time for reflections by the fellows about what they learned during the intensive 17-month program, which included studying leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical and strategic thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and complex social and cultural issues.
Fresno State President Joseph Castro commended the fellows for their commitment to leadership development and work ethic for the betterment of California’s agriculture industry.
Class 49’s seminars were delivered by four partner universities—Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis. To reach their commencement, the fellows participated in more than 50 seminar days, including an eight-day national travel seminar to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia and a 15-day international travel seminar to Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Castro also encouraged the graduates to make the right decisions, even in the most difficult situations.
The program began with opening remarks by Brean Bettencourt, who reflected on what the fellows of Class 49 had accomplished together. “These are the skills of a lifetime,” said Bettencourt. “As we think of the road ahead, we look back at where we’ve been. Over the course of the program we learned together and challenged each other to grow. We celebrated the birth of three babies and one marriage—in other words, we became a family.”
“The timing of your decision to partake in the California Agricultural Leadership Program is perfect,” said Castro. “We need talented and diverse leaders who can advocate for agriculture. We need leaders who can navigate the complex issues of the day.”
“I know you will continue to find yourselves in complex situations where you will feel pressure to do something that does not feel right to you,” said Castro. “But if you are emotionally intelligent and focus on the mission and goals of your organization, you will always find the right solution.” California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) President Barry Bedwell (13) talked about self awareness, self regulation, motivation and empathy in leadership. “You’ve been given a great gift of being leaders and influencers,” said Bedwell. “What strikes me the most is the idea of emotional intelligence and how that impacts our lives.”
Brean Bettencourt • Adam Borchard • Luis Calderon • John Dmytriw • Steven Dodge • Miranda Driver • Lesa Eidman • Kathryn Elmore James Ewart • Brittany Fagundes • Steven Filter • Cherie France • Daniel Hartwig • Alyssa Houtby • Betty Lindeman • Melissa Macfarlane
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Adam Martinez • Daryn Miller • Sara Neagu-Reed • Laura Pires • Jared Plumlee • Taylor Serres • Mark Unruh • Jake Wenger
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COVER STORY
“THESE ARE THE SKILLS OF A LIFETIME. AS WE THINK OF THE ROAD AHEAD, WE LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE’VE BEEN. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM WE LEARNED TOGETHER AND CHALLENGED EACH OTHER TO GROW.” -Brean Bettencourt
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COVER STORY
Bedwell also spoke about the importance of continued participation in CALF as an alumni.
Borchard focused on the unique opportunities the fellows had been afforded throughout the program.
“As alumni, I encourage you to be excited, engaged and stay in contact with your class while expanding your network by connecting with other alumni,” said Bedwell. “We need alumni who understand how to benefit California agriculture and who know it doesn’t always have to be showy. You have tools you didn’t have 17 months ago and I know that this class has taken all those lessons learned to heart.”
“We discussed the experiences we accumulate over a lifetime and what to do with the privilege we have,” said Borchard.
The program continued with Steven Filter, who talked about how important his classmates were to his leadership journey. “They made an impact on my life,” said Filter. “I gained role models, countless friends and made memories.” He also spoke about gaining confidence, appreciation and awareness through his time in the program. “I know I’m meant to be a part of this group—I know I’m meant to be a leader,” said Filter. “I became aware of my skills, my strengths and my weaknesses. This program has taught me how my emotions affect me so I can go out into the world and make a difference.” The next three fellows to speak, Laura Pires, Jared Plumlee and Adam Borchard, discussed some of the lessons they learned during the seminars. “Each seminar was filled with valuable lessons inspired by listening to speakers who challenged us,” said Pires. “We gained insights into our own personalities and reflected on the leaders we want to aspire to become. I was truly moved by the vulnerability and openness of my classmates.”
The next fellow to share a personal story was Betty Lindeman. She shared that at the beginning of the program she was encouraged to tell her classmates about herself, but only gave an abridged version. As the program continued and the fellows became closer, she asked herself, “Was this the true Betty?” By finally opening up and telling her own story, she had learned to empathize with others in a way that made her a better leader. “I realized that my very real and very true story had emerged,” said Lindeman. “Be the best possible servant leader and remember that everyone has a story.” Several fellows took to the stage to recognize family, employers, the CALF Education Team and staff for their contributions to the leadership success of the fellows of Class 49. “The short-term pain will result in a long-term benefit,” said Cherie France. “You afforded us the time to improve ourselves. We are extremely fortunate to have this group and to have a bond. We are stronger and ready to take everything on as a group.” CALF Director of Education Shelli Hendricks addressed the group and congratulated them on their accomplishments and challenged them to continue growing their skills. “What you have received is just a seed planted in your heart and in your mind,” said Hendricks. “We’re all watching with anticipation to see what that seed brings forward in you.”
Plumlee talked about how learning about emotional intelligence impacted his life.
The final personal story of the event was told by Luis Calderon. He spoke about how the program challenged him to be vulnerable.
“I improved myself, my home life, personal life and work life,” said Plumlee. “I also learned how to tell my personal story and to always look for a microphone and control the narrative.”
“I knew I would be challenged, but I didn’t realize how much,” said Calderon. “Being vulnerable was key. As the program progressed I would share more things and the more I could share, the more I
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COVER STORY
could understand myself. Being vulnerable has helped me see that we all need to understand each other for the benefit of California agriculture.” The fellows also shared about the philanthropic efforts they made as a class to address the issue of hunger and food security. As a group, they raised $30,000 to establish a school food pantry. Among other donations, they sent aid to victims of the 2018 Northern California wildfires and distributed socks and gloves to homeless individuals. “We have the power to build bridges but also ladders for the benefit of our communities,” said Alyssa Houtby of the charitable work done by Class 49 fellows.
Jeff Elder (35), CALF’s board chairman, congratulated the fellows on their achievement and encouraged them to continue to grow by joining the alumni community. “You are now part of a bigger family of alumni,” said Elder. “We are so happy to have you as part of a group of over 1,300 peers. I hope you will continue to see the value of Ag Leadership and pay it forward with time, talent and treasure.” After the presentation of certificates, Jake Wenger closed the program with his thoughts for the future of the fellows of Class 49. “This is a commencement, not a graduation because it’s not the end, but the beginning,” said Wenger. “Our challenge begins now— go out and make a difference.”
“YOU ARE NOW PART OF A BIGGER FAMILY OF ALUMNI. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF A GROUP OF OVER 1,300 PEERS. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE VALUE OF AG LEADERSHIP AND PAY IT FORWARD WITH TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE.” - Jeff Elder (35), CALF board chairman
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LEADERSHIP FOCUS
LEADERSHIP FOCUS: Human Energy for High Performance BY SHELLI HENDRICKS, CALF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of working with Class 45 on the subject of human energy for high performance. During this session, we explored what it takes to perform consistently with the highest levels of energy when it matters most, based on decades of research conducted with elite athletes and military special ops teams. Sports psychologist Jack Groppel and his colleague, exercise physiologist Jim Loehr, were seeking to understand how these high performing professional athletes, who were at the top of their game, could rise to even higher levels of achievement. What these researchers discovered was that regardless how much time, energy, effort and training these athletes put into their preparation, their performance was limited until they were able to tap into what mattered most to them: their ultimate mission.
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When you compare these professional athletes to professional leaders, it is easy to see the similarities. Leaders are like “corporate athletes,” in that they are required to perform consistently under intense pressure, measured by their numbers and held to sometimes brutal accountability. Last year’s record becomes the new standard or baseline for this year’s performance. Taking care of one’s body is taking care of the business. Laser-focus in the moment is required for success. Lastly, the right energy is required for high performance in both of these types of professionals. Professional athletes work four to six hours per day, 90 percent of that time is spent training and preparing for game time. They endure a career span of seven to 10 years. By contrast, professional leaders typically spend eight to 12 hours per day, 10 percent training for a 30+ year career span. In agriculture, these numbers are likely even more extreme. The key difference here is that elite performers invest in training, whereas our professional leaders are up against more demands over a longer period of time with limited resources and training. So how can we train for life? The reality is we only have 24 hours in a day. However, we can change the energy we bring to those moments that matter most to ourselves, stakeholders or loved ones. Energy is a personal resource that can be expanded and managed. Proper motivation changes our mindset and changes our energy. The more engaged we are, the greater our ability to perform at higher levels. Managing our energy, not time, is key to unlocking extraordinary results.
LEADERSHIP FOCUS Energy is four-dimensional: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. These dimensions are connected to, and create impact on each other. For example, when someone is physically exhausted or hungry, it is normal to observe a heightened emotional sensitivity. In fact, we might say they are “hangry.” Similarly, when emotions are heightened, such as worry, fear, anger, we know this may impact rational thinking and decision making in the mental dimension. Furthermore, when we allow these other dimensions to rule us indiscriminately, it is unlikely we are fulfilling our greatest purpose, functioning as our best self, or operating with emotional intelligence. The spiritual dimension refers to having a clear sense of one’s personal ultimate mission, rather than any specific religious or faith-based traditions, although these might inform one’s sense of purpose. Lastly, it bears noting that although energy inspires extraordinary performance from the top of the pyramid down, we increase energy capacity from the bottom up. For example, when we can prepare in advance for creative problem solving in the mental dimension by caring for our physical well-being with adequate sleep, nutrition and hydration, and then addressing the emotional dimension through journaling, deep-breathing or talking to a loved one. Practical Application: Class 50’s National Seminar During the recent national seminar with Class 50, we were afforded daily opportunities to practice energy management on all dimensions. As our alumni will report, these travel seminars are an intense, often emotionally charged marathon of meetings and experiences, designed to expand critical thinking skills while reinforcing leadership behaviors and principles from previous seminars. Not only is the schedule fastpaced and physically demanding at times, but also the topics and issues discussed may challenge the mental and emotional dimensions as well. Class 50 fellows demonstrated exemplary energy management by balancing the high intensity and demands of some days with adequate rest and self-care as needed, as well as understanding and compassion for each other during some of the more sensitive moments of the trip. Navigating the day-to-day adjustments, the class acknowledged the looming uncertainty that followed in anticipation of the coronavirus outbreak. It seemed we were one day ahead of each stop in our agenda. We had planned to tour the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn about leadership in emergency situations (i.e., outbreaks). So, when the EOC was activated and we were relocated to a different part of the facility, we were uncertain what we might encounter during our discussion of emergency preparedness, food safety and tour of the David J. Sencer CDC Museum. Then we learned that President Trump would be onsite the next day, so there was a level of increased security and flurry of activity in preparation for his arrival. Special thanks to our contact at the CDC, without whom we likely would not have had access, were it not for connecting with her as a D.C. Exchange fellow in 2019. When visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and National Center for Civil and Human Rights (also in Atlanta), the class experienced a simulation of the lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960s, learned about the Freedom Riders and the courageous struggles endured in the not so distant past.
In Washington, D.C., the class called on all three branches of government, learning how each one interacts with others and enjoyed a special tour of the Capitol with Rep. Jim Costa. As we departed to Gettysburg, Pa., on Thursday to learn about leadership lessons on the Battlefield, it was announced that all of the government offices had been closed to public visits. Then Friday, we departed in time to arrive home, reconnect with loved ones and prepare for self-quarantine. We are grateful to have completed this travel seminar when we did. What a difference a day makes! I commend Class 50 fellows for setting the pace, managing their own needs, showing up with their full and best energy and engaging completely in this learning experience. They will make a significant difference both individually and collectively in the months and years to come. Time for Reflection At the time of writing this, California is under a mandatory “shelterin-place” directive, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to what has already been said about the importance of self-care, personal hygiene and social distancing, now more than ever, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to recalibrate, reassess and redefine our personal missions. May we all take this moment in time to reflect on the following questions: · What matters most? · What difference do I really want to make in the world? · Why is this so important to me? · What is at risk if I do nothing? · What are the stories I tell myself about why (or why not)? · What small daily rituals can I begin creating today that move toward that ultimate mission? The research shows when we take moments to reflect on questions like these, we are capable of unlocking extraordinary results. Imagine if we all became clearer on our personal mission, and took one small step forward toward it. And then another, and another. Think of what could be possible. For more information, further discussion on this topic, or interest in other leadership topics, please see the following references or contact me directly at shendricks@agleaders.org.
Resources: Groppel, J. L., Andelman, B. and Loehr, J. (1999). The corporate athlete: How to achieve maximal performance in business and life. Wiley Publishers. Loehr, J. E. & Schwartz, T. (2005). The power of full engagement: Managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance and personal renewal. Simon and Schuster. National Civil and Human Rights Museum: https://www. civilandhumanrights.org/ David J. Sencer CDC Museum: https://www.cdc.gov/museum/index.htm
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50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
REGISTER NOW!
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Celebrating 50 Years of Leadership Learning BY DEANNA VAN KLAVEREN (32), CALF ALUMNI COORDINATOR
ALUMNI, SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS OF THE CALIFORNIA AG LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE 50 CLASSES OF FELLOWS – OVER 50 YEARS – WHO HAVE LEARNED, GROWN AND BECOME LEADERS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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The three-day event will include many evening celebrations. The Thursday night welcome reception will be an opportunity to reconnect with all who are linked with the foundation. Stop by anytime between 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. to kick off the celebration. On Friday night, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we’ll enjoy a strolling dinner exclusively for Ag Leadership—enjoy the magic of being at the aquarium at night! Individual tickets are available for this evening if you would like to bring family and friends. Bus service will be provided from the hotels. Saturday night’s celebration reception and dinner will start with wine tasting stations and a silent auction to support Ag Leadership classes into the future. A plated dinner will follow as we reflect on the past 50 years and share what the future holds. The event will end with music, dancing and time to visit and socialize.
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
HOW TO REGISTER There will be key opportunities during the event that you won’t want to miss. Friday morning will kick off with the guru of happiness, Jean Steel. Steel is a current seminar presenter for the program. Friday will continue with a fireside chat with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, with former Rep. Cal Dooley (13) as moderator. Lunch on Friday will be an opportunity to recognize those individuals who have helped support the foundation and program over the past 50 years. During Saturday’s lunch with Dr. Pat Lattore, attendees will hear about the thoughtfulness behind the program’s current curriculum and CALF Director of Education Shelli Hendricks will share the opportunities for the program into the future.
• Online at AgLeaders.org
The committee is also working on educational tracks both Friday and Saturday. These educational opportunities will have speakers who will share leadership lessons, panels that will speak about future opportunities and tours for historical reflections. Check agleaders.org for current details and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
• Fireside Chat with Condoleezza Rice and Leon Panetta
Throughout the three-day event, there will be time to visit the hospitality areas where Ag Leadership memorabilia will be on display. The hospitality rooms will also be a gathering place for attendees to connect with one another, relax and enjoy snacks and beverages. If you have memorabilia or photos that you would like to share, please send them to dvanklaveren@ agleaders.org or call (831) 208-4268.
DAY THREE Saturday, October 24, 2020
• To receive a form by mail, contact the CALF office at (831) 585-1030 • Call Deanna van Klaveren at (831) 208-4268 HOTEL RESERVATIONS • Online at AgLeaders.org SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DAY ONE Thursday, October 22, 2020 • Evening Welcome Reception DAY TWO Friday, October 23, 2020 • Kickoff Speaker, Jean Steel, Happy People Win (Current CALP Seminar Speaker) Moderated by Former Congressman Cal Dooley (13) • Honoree Luncheon • Afternoon Educational Sessions • Historical Guided Tours in Monterey • Private Reception and Strolling Dinner at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Educational Sessions • Premier Program Luncheon with Dr. Pat Lattore • Panel: The Future of Food • Educational Sessions • 50th Celebration Reception, Silent Auction and Dinner
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ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE
Alumni Council Update BY JASON COLE (42), ALUMNI COUNCIL CHAIR
Spring is here and summer is quickly approaching! After a slow start to our wet season, winter arrived in all its fury in December and January. Most of us across the state were pelted with heavy moisture storm systems and it looked like California was setting up for another wet year. Just as fast as the storms arrived, they were gone and after a short snap of cold weather in late January, California began to warm up and (as of the time of this writing this) February was a very warm and beautiful month. I’m sitting here hoping for a March miracle, but it doesn’t look good. With an early spring, I’m sure all of you, like me, are back to being busy early as well. Down in Region 9, we are in full harvest mode on our avocados and citrus and 2020 is shaping up to be a very favorable crop year. I hope you are all doing well as you plan your plantings for 2020. I could opine about the weather all day, but I would rather tell you all about the amazing things that your Alumni Council (AC), CALF Education Team, director of education and fellow alumni have been up to. A short winter and heavy workload did not slow us down one bit.
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We have been working to bring back elections to the AC. Recently, elections were held for regions 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10. AC members serve a three-year term and even and odd numbered regions would alternate when elections were held. We have started a new election cycle this
HORIZONS MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
year. Elections for regions 3, 8 and 9 will be held in 2021 and regions 4, 7 and 11 will be held in 2022. We believe this new cycle will help to keep the AC as solid as possible as new members are on-boarded every year. We would love to have you run, and if you are interested in getting involved, reach out to your local AC director! Speaking of getting involved, let’s hear it for CALF Director of Education Shelli Hendricks! She has been so supportive of the AC’s mission to bring learning opportunities tied to the program’s core values to alumni. I have spoken already about her launch of the First Fridays initiative, which allows alumni to call in on the first Friday of each month and participate in a group discussion on that month’s topic. The success of First Fridays led Manpreet Bains (43) of Region 3 and Vernon Peterson (41) of Region 6 to reach out to Shelli to plan a more in-depth twoday deep dive into Crucial Conversations, a core program book. The training workshops took place in Sacramento in December and Kingsburg in February. These events gave the participants hands-on training from Shelli herself and the opportunity to practice learned skills with other AC members. One alumni said “it was as close to being back in the program as I had felt since commencement and was also a lot of fun!” Shelli will be bringing you all more on these learning opportunities potentially coming to your area soon. The new year kicks off trade show season
and once again Ag Leadership alumni had a great showing at the Colusa and Tulare farm show breakfasts. The events featured top-notch speakers, great food, even better people and all added up to a whole lot of fun. Not to mention the thousands of dollars that were raised to support Ag Leadership and other ag organizations. I hope you all had the opportunity to attend one or both of these events. They were first-rate and I thank all the alumni who worked so hard to make them both a success! Getting involved in Ag Leadership is so rewarding and really a great time. There were many amazing recruiting events held all over the state over the past few months and I thank all the regional directors and their support teams and alumni for working hard to bring in another premium batch of recruits. The calendar can be found at AgLeaders.org under the alumni tab on the website’s homepage and is chock full of all the happenings Ag Leadership has to offer. Any foundation is only as strong as its members and I think our foundation is stronger than ever, so get out there and get involved—we would love to see you. Be well, friends and have an amazing summer. NOTE: Ag Leadership events in the spring have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, so please check the website and email for updates.
ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE
GETTING INVOLVED IN AG LEADERSHIP IS SO REWARDING AND REALLY A GREAT TIME. THERE WERE MANY AMAZING RECRUITING EVENTS HELD ALL OVER THE STATE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND I THANK ALL THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND THEIR SUPPORT TEAMS AND ALUMNI FOR WORKING HARD TO BRING IN ANOTHER PREMIUM BATCH OF RECRUITS.” - Jason Cole (42), Alumni Council chair
AGLEADERS.ORG
15 SPRING 2020 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
ALUMNI EVENTS
RECENT EVENTSTRegion 4 Social & Recruitment Event January 16 Tim Fitzgerald (48) G3 Enterprises Yvonne Sams (45) Matt Toste (41) Colusa Farm Show Breakfast February 5 Lewis Bair (33) Terry Bressler (30) Christie Capik Bill Carriere (27) Colleen Cecil Charlie Crabb Holly Dawley (38) Sarah DeForest (39) Robin Flournoy (29) Les Heringer (13) Christine Ivory (41) Mark Kimmelshue (28) Emily Lazzerini Tom Martin Justin Nunes John Unruh (49) John Weiler (22) René Whitchurch
Gayle Holman (46) Heather Jackson (46) Nomie Kautz (29) Stan Kjar (45) Sal Parra, Jr. (46) Vernon Peterson (41) Rick Stark (39) Rod Stark (29) Phil Waddell (29)
Crucial Conversations Workshop February 5 Gail Gray (22) Nomie Kautz (29) Harold McClarty, HMC Farms Vernon Peterson (41)
Alumni Reception & Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast February 12 & 13 Juliet Allen (27) Hugh Bello (31) Fred Berry (20) Loren Booth (27) Mandy Critchley (37) Tricia Stever Blattler (34) Doug DeGroff (29) Deborah Hurley (21) Nomie Kautz (30) Lynn Knudson (20) Mark Krebsbach (48) Fred Lagomarsino (19) Ian LeMay (48) Darrin Monteiro (47) Soapy Mulholland (25) Cindy Myers (22) James Neeley (26) Laura Pires (49) John Schaap (39) Erin Turner Ray Van Beek (37)
Region 6 Recruitment Event February 6 Jeff Boldt (40) Hal Collin (14) Gail Gray (22)
Region 1 Recruiting Event February 25 Denise Moore (46) / Fowler Nurseries Heritage Insurance Agency Charlie (6) and Sheila Mathews
16 HORIZONS MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
Montna Farms Jon Munger (36) Jeff (24) and Cherie Stephens Nicole Van Vleck (26) John Weiler (22) Agricultural & Government Leaders Reception March 2 Manpreet Bains (43) Lesa Eidman (49) Missy Gable (40) Mica Heilmann (40) Garry Pearson (38) Jill Scofield (47) Deanna van Klaveren (32) Stephanie Etcheverria Younger (43) D.C. Exchange Reception March 10 Manpreet Bains (43) Eric Bream (48) Carson Britz (43) Darlene Din (35) Melissa Duflock (40) Josh Huntsinger (39) Chase Hurley (35) Yvonne Sams (45) Jim Shattuck (40) Abby Taylor-Silva (45) Deanna van Klaveren (32)
ALUMNI EVENTS
Region 4 Recruitment Event
Colusa Farm Show Breakfast
Colusa Farm Show Breakfast
World Ag Expo Breakfast
World Ag Expo Reception
Region 1 Recruitment Event
Region 1 Recruitment Event
Agricultural & Government Leaders Reception
Agricultural & Government Leaders Reception
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SPRING 2020 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
ALUMNI & FELLOWS NEWS
CLASSES 1-9
Mike Chrisman (2) was elected board president of the Water Education Foundation. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Ira “Jack” Chrisman, who was the foundation’s founding president in 1977. The foundation focuses on producing news, maps, publications, workshops and tours to raise awareness of water issues in California and across the Colorado River Basin. Bill Chandler (6) and his wife,
Carol, were named by the California State Fair board of directors as Agriculturalists of the Year for 2020. They were selected for serving the farming community in a variety of roles at the local and statewide levels.
Classes 10-19
Ted Sheely (13) was elected to
serve as first vice president of Cotton Council International, the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm.
Classes 20-29
Mark McKean (20) has been reelected as a National Cotton Council director.
Kirk Gilkey (21) has been reelected to serve as vice president for the National Cotton Council. Holly King (24) spoke at the 47th
Marcia Wolfe (32) was invited by Partnerships to Uplift Communities to speak to high school students in Sylmar about career opportunities in the biological, environmental and agricultural fields. She is still writing monthly articles for the Valley Ag Voice newspaper. Marcia is president of M.H. Wolfe and Associates Environmental Consulting, Inc. The company, which is celebrating its 30th year, provides biological services and environmental expertise in the San Joaquin Valley and other areas. Michael Gomes (33) has been
appointed to serve on the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States.
Carlo Bocardo (36) will serve as a director for Cotton Council International.
Michael Frantz (36) was featured in an Ag Alert article and video about refining a framework for potential voluntary agreements intended to benefit salmon and other fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Almond Conference in Sacramento about the almond industry pledging to continue its push toward greater sustainability in 2020 by investing another $5.9 million in research into next-generation farming practices.
Jeana Hultquist (38) was elected to serve as chair of the Center for Land-Based Learning.
Allison Larsen (24) spoke during
Cannon Michael (39) is president/
a webinar hosted by the International Economic Development Council on the topic of stakeholder engagement for economic recovery.
Kim Rogina (25) was elected to serve as second vice president for the The Merced County Fair Board. Nick Pasculli (27) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Salinas, CA-based produce marketing firm, TMD Creative. Classes 30-39
Yvonne Murai (30), a San Juan
18
the construction of a ceremonial garden area at Camp Las Pulgas at Camp Pendleton to recognize and honor the Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Regiment. It will be a quiet venue for veterans, families and friends to gather and remember those who have sacrificed in past combat. The completion of the project will be celebrated in July with a marine regimental ceremony.
Capistrano Rotarian and past Rotary Club president, is working to support
HORIZONS MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
CEO of the Bowles Farming Co., which was given the 2019 Ag Business Award by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce for its exemplification as a leading for-profit agribusiness with achievements and impact touching the entire industry.
Classes 40-49
Missy Gable (40) has been serving as secretary for the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture since 2018. The organization is a coalition of industry and academia who, among other things, have come together to cultivate healthy, connected and engaged communities and restore, protect and conserve
natural resources through consumer horticulture research and education. She was also elected to serve as chair of the Extension Master Gardener National Committee in January of this year.
Tricia Stever Blattler (34) and Casey Creamer (47) spoke during
Derek Azevedo (45) was elected
a California State Board of Food and Agriculture meeting at World Ag Expo in February. The two were part of a large group of Central Valley agricultural leaders who gave updates and discussed a variety of issues related to farm to school, workforce, dairy and economic development initiatives.
Denise Moore (46) was elected
In Memoriam
to the California Tomato Research Institute’s board of directors and was selected to serve as vice chairman of the American Hemp Federation in Washington, D.C. to serve as chairperson of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fruit Tree, Nut Tree and Grapevine Improvement Advisory Board.
Adam Borchard (49) has been
hired as director of government and public policy for the California Fresh Fruit Association.
Daniel Hartwig (49) was interviewed by ABC7 News for an article titled “California snowpack survey shows below-average numbers” about why snowpack in the mountains is crucial for farmers in the Central Valley. Multiple Classes Bill Lyons (12), Jeff Bitter (32) and Jenny Lester Moffitt (47) were session speakers at the 2020 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium held in February in Sacramento.
Thomas Schultz (14) was appointed southwest regional coordinator for USDA Farm Production and Conservation. He reports to USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey on how programs in the NRCS, Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency are working with farmers in the five western states that Schultz represents. In February, at Charlie Mathews’ (6) home, he and Northey held a farmers’ roundtable discussion that included Ag Leadership alumni. After farming in the Marysville area for 43 years, Schultz and his wife, Dayna, now live in Carlsbad. Nita Vail (21) announced that after
20 years of service, she will leave her position as CEO of California Rangeland Trust in April. Michael Delbar (24), who currently serves as the chief operating officer, will assume his new role as CEO in May.
Gene Rapp
Aug. 6, 1930 - Dec. 19, 2019 Gene was born in San Francisco to Gene H. and Heather W. Rapp. Along with his older brother Norman, who was three years his senior, they lived in Daly City to attend elementary and middle school. Gene later went on to Balboa High School in San Francisco and excelled academically. From there it was a short jaunt across the bay to attend UC Berkeley, where he received a B.S. in agricultural education in 1952. Gene became a vocational agricultural instructor for seven years at Escalon Union High School, where he was chairman of the department for three years before moving on to UC Davis, where he earned his masters of science in agricultural education. He completed his doctoral degree from The Ohio State University in 1971. Gene served as executive director for CALP during the formative years of 1974 through 1984 and his influence on helping grow leaders for the benefit of California agriculture cannot be overestimated. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Kiwanis of Greater Sacramento, PO Box 13171, Sacramento, California 95813 or to the Gene Rapp Fellowship Fund at the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, PO Box 479, Salinas, California 93902.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE? PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OR NEWS TO:
liza.teixeira@agleaders.org
THANK YOU
DONOR SUPPORT
JANUARY 1, 2020 - MARCH 31, 2020
$700,000 The James G. Boswell Foundation
$3,005.34 Mary-Ann Warmerdam
$109,360.83 Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast
$3,000 John and Nan Colbert Paul and Yvonne Murai
$55,000 The McClarty Family Foundation
$2,500 Maria and Miguel Gutierrez
$50,000 California Cotton Alliance
$2,000 Fred Rau Dairy, Inc. Ravi, Sureena, Atham, Daya, Imani and Ekram Thiara
$25,000 Quinn Company Western Growers $23,500 The Zenith $10,000 Farm Credit: American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit West, Fresno Madera Farm Credit Lagomarsino Group Syngenta $5,400 Thomas M Bunn Family, LLC $5,000 D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of California Jim and Betsy Hansen Stanley Kjar Jr. Land O’Lakes Foundation Sunridge Nurseries, Inc.
$1,500 Matthew Efird / Efird Ag Enterprises Inc. Russel Efird / Double E Farms Inc. Justin and Emilee Morehead $1,000 Kevin Andrew Derek Azevedo John and Edyth Ledbetter Peter Peterson R. Gorrill Ranch Enterprises Ted Sheely Chris and Sarah Woolf Woolf Farming and Processing
Steve and Kim McIntyre Jane Roberti / Sierra Valley Legacy of Agriculture Foundation Gerald and Elaine Rominger Justin Spellman $465 Michael Hollister $300 Bob and Anne Atkins John Weiler $250 Rick and Nancy Barnes Loren Freeman Benny and Donna Jefferson William and Maurine Jones Soapy Mulholland Chris and Joann White Suellen Witham $200 Bob and Anne Atkins Tom and Kathryn Chandler Charlie and Jackie Crabb Ralph Evans Fowler Nurseries, Inc. Stephanie Gonzales Dan and Nancy Nelson
$875 Gene Peterson
$150 Anonymous
$500 Class 45 Lucas and Candice Espericueta Robert and Sheryl Flores Tou and Pashoua Her
$100 Jerry Diefenderfer Thomas Ellis Tyson Heusser Dennis and Kathleen Leonardi
Steve Olson Kevin and Liza Robertson Jason Schwartze and Sharon Tonnesen $73.87 Amazon Smile $45 Julie Johnson Class 49 Project Rotary Club of Turlock: $1,000 Brean Bettencourt: $500 Brittany Fagundes: $450 In Memory of Gene Rapp Edwin and Kaye Camp: $2,500 Lynnel and Herb Pollock: $150 Bob Dempel: $100 In Memory of Anne Hurd Gerald and Elaine Rominger: $500 Mary-Ann Warmerdam: $250 In Kind TMD Creative: $8,750 Manpreet Bains and Clint Rehermann: $3,200 James Shattuck: $792.68 Deanna van Klaveren: $523.34 Belmont Nursery: $474.87 Far Horizon Crop Insurance: $438.67
19 SPRING 2020 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
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HORIZONS MAGAZINE is published by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation for alumni, donors, supporters and friends. Phone: 831-585-1030 www.agleaders.org
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