Foundation News

California Ag Leadership Foundation ’ s COVID-19 Response

Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Ag Leadership Foundation’s (CALF) board of directors has made several decisions. Read on to learn more.

Events No face-to-face or in-person events for the benefit of CALF will be scheduled. This includes traveling, fundraising, promotional events, class events, interviews, etc.

50th Anniversary Celebration Rescheduled There has been much discussion about the 50th Anniversary Celebration which was set for October 2020. There has been considerable speculation that large gatherings of the type we are hoping for, which will bring five The search for and transition

decades of Ag Leadership alumni together, will not be permitted this calendar year.

In our case, the primary question is not whether large events will be able to be held in October but rather, in addition to ensuring the safety of all involved, will we have the anticipated financial support from sponsors and donors to make our event a success. At this time, a number of those supporters have informed us that they will only be focusing on COVID-19 related causes this year. Therefore, the board has made the very difficult decision to postpone the 50th Anniversary Celebration until October 28-30, 2021. Please watch

Class 50 Activities Postponed The remainder of the program for Class 50 will be moved to the first half of 2021, if the situation is deemed to be safe to all participants. It is our hope that graduation 50 ceremonies can occur in May 2021, with the safety of all involved in mind. It was important to the board that Class 50 be allowed to experience the full program in the manner it was meant to be delivered. Class 51 Recruiting Postponed All activity related to Class 51 will be suspended at this time. Our hope is to restart the application process in January 2021, with the intention of an inaugural session occurring in October 2021. 51 Meanwhile, we encourage you to take this opportunity to speak with potential candidates and encourage them to continue to invest in their own professional development and to demonstrate leadership and community service where it makes sense and is safe to do so. When the application system is re-opened, applicants will have the opportunity to update and resubmit their phase 1 and 2 applications.

CEO Search closely for further information as it becomes available.

to a new CEO will continue as scheduled. As understood at the time of his hiring, Barry Bedwell (13) has announced his intention to retire at the end of this year. A search committee, led by Mike Young (35), is making good progress in identifying and reviewing candidates in cooperation with the firm of Kincannon & Reed.

Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship Program At the recommendation of the D.C. Exchange selection committee and the Alumni Council’s executive committee, the foundation’s board of directors made the difficult decision to postpone EXCHANGE this year’s D.C. Exchange. The program will be held in the fall of 2021 and will remain in Regions 3, 4 and 5. Thank you to everyone who is involved in D.C. Exchange for their commitment to ensuring that all participants are safe and that a high-quality educational program is organized.

Looking Back 10 Years Following are some foundation-specific news highlights from 2010:

• April / The CALF board convened for a three-day facilitated synthesis exercise planning session, where three core strategies emerged and a new mission (“We grow leaders who make a difference”) and vision (“California agricultural leaders united as a catalyst for a vibrant industry”) were adopted. • April / In a proactive move to support the strategic plan – and generate more financial resources for the goals and objectives of the plan – the CALF board issued itself a fundraising challenge to raise $100,000 by June 9. The Otis Booth Foundation pledged to match that amount if met. In the end, $200,000 was raised.

• April / The CALF office moved from Sacramento to its current Salinas farmhouse location. • June /CALF hired TMDCreative to assist with CALF’s communications overhaul.

• September /For only the third time since the program began, a formal review of program content was conducted.

• October /Horizons transitioned from an eight-page newsletter to a 16-page magazine.