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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.
