horizons California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
D EC E M B E R 2011
PAUL WENGER
Leading California’s Largest Farm Organization
We grow leaders who make a difference.
FOUNDATION MESSAGE
>>
The Year in Review: 2011
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
A message from Loren Booth and Bob Gray
January started out with a bang as the alumni-inspired and managed Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception in Sacramento was graced by very good attendance, the presence of a number of key legislators, one cabinet secretary, one undersecretary and the governor. Shortly thereafter, the Alumni Council completed a process of significantly revising the “policies and procedures” document that governs its affairs. This resulted in a major change in the way the council generates nominations, conducts elections, and selects its own leadership. The new process was followed during the spring and the summer and resulted in a new Alumni Council in September, with renewed energy and enthusiasm for Ag Leadership. The Alumni Council has been reevaluating the role of the Annual Conference and has received two strands of feedback: 1) the event should be largely informal and social, serving as a reconnection and networking event, and 2) the conference should be aimed at serious content that serves to stimulate and imitate the Ag Leadership seminar experience. In the future, it is likely that we will pursue both tracks, but as separate activities. To allow time for the right approach to be developed, CALF Board Chair Loren Booth offered her Minkler Ranch located southeast of Fresno for a springtime All Class Reunion. The weekend event was enjoyed enormously by some 250 alumni. The event was so well received, in fact, that it will be repeated in 2012 on April 20-22. continued on page 3
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CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair/ Loren Booth Vice Chair/ Jeff Elder Secretary - Treasurer/ Mary-Ann Warmerdam John Colbert A.G. Kawamura Ejnar Knudsen David Krause Chris Nelson Rod Stark Pierre Tada Dr. Neal Van Alfen Deanna van Klaveren Rob Yraceburu
Page 7 CLASS 42 INAUGURATION
CALF STAFF President and CEO / Bob Gray | bob.gray@agleaders.org Director of Education / Dr. Michael Thomas | mthomas@agleaders.org Director of Development / Rick Vorpe | rick.vorpe@agleaders.org Program Advisor / Dr. Charlie Crabb | ccrabb@agleaders.org Finance & Human Resources / Teresa Straub | tstraub@agleaders.org Program Coordinator / Judy Sparacino | jsparacino@agleaders.org Enterprise Coordinator / Emily Clark | eclark@agleaders.org WRITER/EDITOR Meredith Rehrman Ritchie mritchie@agleaders.org DESIGNER TMDcreative
December 2011 • www.agleaders.org
COVER STORY 4
Paul Wenger (17): Leading the State’s Largest Farm Organization
FEATURES 7 8 12 13
Class 42 Inauguration Get To Know Class 42 Fellows Leadership Lessons: Dennis Albiani (32) Leadership Focus: Steve DeRose (38) and Lynn Martindale (31)
14
Awards: Profiles in Leadership and Honorary Fellow
16 17
Alumni Spotlight: Steve Gomes (14)
Alumni Spotlight: Michele Laverty (37)
DEPARTMENTS 2 2 3 11 15 18 19
Foundation Message Calendar of Events Foundation News Program News Alumni Events Alumni/Fellows Notes Donor Recognition
CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY 5 Class 43 Applications Online 9-11 Class 42 Seminar, UC Davis 11-13 Class 41 Seminar, UC Davis 19 CALF Board Meeting, Salinas 25 Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception, Sacramento 26 Alumni Council meeting, Sacramento FEBRUARY 8 10th Annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast 8-11 Class 42 Seminar, Cal Poly Pomona 16 18th Annual Ag Leadership World Ag Expo Breakfast 18-4 Class 41 International Travel Seminar MARCH 7-9 Class 42 Seminar, CSU Fresno 19-21 D.C. Exchange Selection Trip, D.C. 19-29 Class 42 National Travel Seminar APRIL 12 20-22
CALF Board Meeting, Salinas All-Class Reunion, Minkler
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>> Foundation News
The Year in Review: 2011 continued from page 2 Following the insights and perspectives we received from leaders of all ages in custody department of Union Bank, which acts as custodian for the foundation September 2010 – on potential program improvements or enhancements – we in the event of unexpected management or other leadership changes. invited Dr. Pat Lattore to rejoin Ag Leadership as a curriculum advisor, professional coach and teacher (a seminar presenter). At the All Class Reunion, Speaking of the annual report, it is our plan to publish our financial condition Dr. Lattore was kind enough to address alumni and present a key concept on annually, not biennially as we have done in the past, and we have received a generous offer from Farm Credit to help with the first night that will inform the program this expense. in many ways, namely how leaders are (or become) persons of influence. The process of INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM Our communications efforts continue to curriculum review, enhancement and improveimprove. Not only did this magazine get an ment — all aimed at creating a more intense, IS HIGH, ENTHUSIASM award from the International Academy of more meaningful, more powerful program exVisual Arts in May (2011 Communicator perience in slightly less time — has been examIN THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY IS Award of Distinction), but the website won ined diligently by the core faculty and Dr. Latan award from the same academy in Novemtore since June and will be formally considered STRONG, AND DONOR ber (2011 W3 Award). Congratulations to for adoption by the board in January 2012. The Nick Pasculli (27) and the entire team at best program of its type will become even betSUPPORT IS GROWING. TMD Creative for this effort, and to Merter, we believe. edith Rehrman Ritchie (28) for providing WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. the improved content and copy that makes To help sustain our future and effectively manboth venues important avenues of commuage a capital campaign, the foundation made a nication and learning. key hire in May 2011 of Rick Vorpe as director of development. Rick was far and away the most qualified candidate in the field, with a BA, MBA and law degree as cre- Perhaps most important of all, the program experienced a 10-year high in the dentials and 21 years at UC Davis as its most successful planned giving profes- number of applications in 2011 for Class 42! The changes that have occurred sional. We are blessed to have a person of Rick’s quality and caliber on board, have been noticed, interest in the program is high, enthusiasm in the alumni and deeply thankful that his life’s trajectory and ours intersected when they did. community is strong, and donor support is growing. We’re on the right track. WWW. AG L E A D E R S.O RG
phone: 831-585-1030 fax: 831-424-4107
425 WEST BLANCO ROAD | SALINAS, CA 93908 P.O. BOX 479 | SALINAS, CA 93902 Alumni
Thank you to each and every one for what you do for this program and for what you make possible. We are forever in your debt.
With best wishes for the holidays, Loren Booth, Chair Board of Directors
Bob Gray, President & CEO California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
cordially invite you to the
Agricultural & Government Leaders Reception Sacramento
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On a less glamorous note, we changed auditors in 2010 and expanded the scope of service last year to address some balance sheet and record-keeping issues, which delayed but vastly improved the annual report published in May. We reclassified the balance sheet and were able to publish the current status of the special purpose accounts that had been set up at different times over the years, and now have a solid foundation (no pun intended) upon which to build for the future. To further secure the effort for the future, we began unitized accounting for all restricted and unrestricted foundation funds in the trust and
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>> Cover Story
PAUL WENGER:
Leading the State’s Largest Farm Organization In December 2009 Paul Wenger (17) became the 15th president of the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF), the state’s largest farm organization representing nearly 80,000 members. He is the only Ag Leadership Program alumnus to hold that position.
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Wenger has served on the CFBF board of directors since 1995 and on the American Farm Bureau Federation board since January 2011. Outside Farm Bureau, Wenger has been active in community affairs, serving on the Salida Volunteer Fire Department, the Hart-Ransom School board of trustees, and the Stanislaus Land Trust and Agricultural Pavilion boards. A third-generation farmer from Modesto, Wenger farms almonds and walnuts on the family farm. His farming operations also include sharecropping, custom farm work and walnut hulling. He has expanded his operation to include processing and marketing of almonds and walnuts. Wenger attended Modesto Junior College before transferring to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in animal science.
Horizons spoke with Mr. Wenger about his leadership journey. 25 Years of Farm Bureau Leadership My parents and grandparents were involved in Farm Bureau, so I developed an appreciation for the organization and its agricultural advocacy from an early age. I knew it was a very effective organization working on behalf of farmers and ranchers. When I returned to the family operation in 1980, I made a commitment to my dad that I would farm – and only farm – for the first five years, and not get involved in outside activities. So my involvement with Farm Bureau started somewhat late, when I was 29, through Young Farmers and Ranchers. At that time, you had to be under 30 to be in
YF&R, so my involvement only lasted a couple of years. But I could see the need to get involved, so I ran for a position on the county Farm Bureau board of directors, and later served as Stanislaus County Farm Bureau president for four years. Subsequently, I served on the CFBF board of directors, and then the opportunity presented itself to run for second vice president. When an opportunity like that comes along you have to ask yourself, “Can I commit the necessary time to Farm Bureau and still maintain my farming operation?” Fortunately, the time was right and my farming operation was at a
AG LEADERSHIP
good point where I had the help of my sons and quality employees to allow me to take on this added responsibility. CFBF officers can serve four two-year terms. I served eight years as second vice president, then four as first vice president, and I’m now completing my first term as president.
Leadership Style The term leadership is what you make of it. My biggest focus personally is work ethic. I will work as hard as anybody. I think that’s important when you’re in any leadership role. To be effective, you need to delegate authority, but don’t delegate anything that you’re not willing to do yourself just because you think it’s an undesirable task. You need to be willing to put in the hours. Don’t ask someone else to work 12 hours a day when you work just five hours. Show them by example that you’re willing to work just as hard as you expect them to work. Also, empower your employees or volunteers to do what is needed and go beyond, and make them feel good about it. I really have a passion for our agricultural industry and I hope that passion comes through when I’m talking to a group of employees or an audience who may know nothing about agriculture. There is no group of people I would rather represent than farmers and ranchers. I have so much respect for them. I grew up learning from the farmers and ranchers in my community. If I have a chance to advocate for agriculture, I’ll do it.
Leadership Means Listening Over the past two years as president, I have grown to appreciate how important it is to listen. You may not be able to solve the problem, but if you listen, sometimes that’s the best thing you can do. People appreciate it if you just listen to them and their issue, whether it’s an employee or someone else. Let them know that you care and value what they’re doing and the issues that confront them.
>> Cover Story
Leadership for Challenging Issues Challenging issues are pretty much constant. CFBF members grow more than 300 commodities in very diverse regions of our state. As president, you try to bring the diverse interests together to come up with solutions. Water can be a very divisive issue, no matter your geographic location. Your message has to resonate across so many different people with different perspectives. The legislation to preserve the Williamson Act was a big endeavor. It was one of the first things I worked on as Farm Bureau president. It was a group effort, working with legislators like Jim Nielsen (Class 5) and Lois Wolk and other ag industry groups to develop the legislation. It took a lot of talking and traveling, but we got it done and it was successful. In addition, last year, for the first time, we reached out to other ag organizations by extending an invitation to attend our Farm Bureau annual meeting. Farm Bureau is the only general ag organization in California and this was a way to bring other ag organizations together in a setting not focused on an issue. We need to keep ag together. If a farmer gets cut, all of us in ag have to bleed. We may have our differences, but we have to be cohesive or we’ll get picked apart by those who misunderstand us.
Learning From Mentors My father was my primary mentor. When I was little I followed him everywhere. He farmed the 100 acres that I grew up on. I was referred to as his shadow. He taught me about honesty and integrity, and that your handshake is as important as a signature on a piece of paper. He would say, “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” You have to look at yourself and be proud of who you are and what you represent. I had other mentors along the way, including Jerry Davis with FFA. I thought he was the epitome of leadership; he was a giant when it came to leadership. He taught me to be as good as I could be. A lot of my contemporaries are mentors, even though they may not realize it.
THERE IS NO GROUP OF PEOPLE I WOULD RATHER REPRESENT THAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS. I HAVE SO LEARNING FROM THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN MY COMMUNITY. IF I HAVE A CHANCE TO ADVOCATE FOR AGRICULTURE, I’LL DO IT.
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MUCH RESPECT FOR THEM. I GREW UP
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>> Cover Story Ag Leadership Take-Aways
TIMES CHANGE AND NEEDS CHANGE. WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT AG LEADERSHIP IS THAT IT’S A FLUID PROGRAM THAT KEEPS CHANGING AND REEVALUATING ITSELF TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING TIMES SO THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE RELEVANT.
Photos of Paul Wenger courtesy of the California Farm Bureau Federation.
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CALP & CFBF Whether it’s at the county, state or national level of the California Farm Bureau Federation, you will find Ag Leadership alumni who are making a difference in their positions. Hundreds of CALP graduates have been a part of Farm Bureau – as employees, board members, committee members or YF&R participants. They have used their Ag Leadership experiences to effectively advocate for California’s farmers and ranchers.
I was 31 when I was accepted into the Ag Leadership Program, Class 17. Throughout my life I’ve been fortunate to be involved with many great organizations, like 4-H, FFA, Cal Poly-SLO, Alpha Gamma Rho, as well as the Ag Leadership Program. Everybody is going to have different take-aways from the program. The compilation of everything we learned was valuable. There were several significant things that I took from Ag Leadership. First, look at things through someone else’s eyes. This is essential. With agriculture in particular, look at our issues from a non-farm standpoint. Farmers and ranchers…we’re a small group, but such an important part of society. We are needed by society, but for the most part, the non-ag public misunderstands us. We need to step back and understand how the non-ag public views us and the way we do things on the farm. Secondly, networking is an important component of Ag Leadership. Everyone in your class comes to the program with different skills and life experiences. You benefit from the people in your class and the classes before and after. To have that common experience and to be associated with fellow alumni is incredible. Third, the public speaking training was very important and one of the most utilized skills in my present position with the Farm Bureau.
Why Ag Leadership is Needed We have a new crop of citizens and new leaders every day. If we don’t keep educating them and giving them the facts about food and agriculture, we all lose. It’s important that we arm new and rising ag leaders with the skill sets they need to advocate for our industry. Times change and needs change. What’s great about Ag Leadership is that it’s a fluid program that keeps changing and reevaluating itself to keep up with the changing times so the program continues to be relevant. •
Ria de Grassi (21)
Patricia Stever Blattler (34)
Sam Nevis (32)
Director, National Affairs and Research, CFBF
Executive Director, Tulare County Farm Bureau
President, Yuba Sutter Farm Bureau
“During the program, the exposure to different leadership styles gave me insight as to what to emulate and what not. That insight influences my roles on various state and national committees…homeland security, animal heath, animal welfare…where stakeholder differences must be heard and reconciled in the interest of forward movement on these critical ag issues.”
“In my capacity of working with Farm Bureau volunteer leaders at the county and state level for the past 10 years, CALP provided me with exceptional training in developing my interpersonal skills, working with diverse audiences, managing volunteers, and motivating leaders for greater work in the Farm Bureau organization. CALP and Farm Bureau are natural partners with a nexus for creating outstanding leaders and advocates for agriculture.”
“Ag Leadership was, and still is, extremely rewarding. What I took away from Ag Leadership and my classmates was the ability to engage people from different parts of the state, with different backgrounds and agendas and build bridges to accomplish a goal. Being YSFB president has tested those abilities, with 21 board members and dozens of issues in two counties. My Ag Leadership experience and training helps me bridge the gaps we face.”
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Class 42
Class 42
Journey BEGINS Class 42 fellows kicked off their 20-month Ag Leadership journey with an enlightening and exciting inaugural seminar – “Agriculture: Expanding the Boundaries” – Nov. 2-4 at Fresno State. With a full agenda over the course of three days, fellows got their first look at what to expect. They were given a program overview and introduced to core faculty members and CALF staff. Program Advisor Dr. Charlie Crabb discussed program expectations, core faculty members provided details about seminar topics, and President and CEO Bob Gray was interviewed about the foundation and leadership. Fellows also received information about synthesis, presiding fellow duties, asking questions, selected readings and other topics.
Nearly 150 people gathered Nov. 3 for an Alumni Council-hosted reception, followed by dinner and the Class 42 inauguration ceremony.
Presentations during the seminar included “Leadership and Self-Deception” by Mitch Warner, The Arbinger Institute; “My Ag Leadership Journey” by Mica Heilmann (40); “Alumni Council Introduction and Journaling” by Deanna van Klaveren (32); “Leadership Theory: Understanding Leadership and Becoming A Servant Leader” by Dr. Sara Daubert, Colorado State University; and “The Coaching Experience” by Tess Cox, PAL Consulting.
Ag Leadership is proud to introduce the fellows of Class 42, pages 8-10.
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MEET THE CLASS >>
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Class 42
GET TO KNOW
42
OUR NEWEST FELLOWS SHARE THEIR STORIES.
Joe Ange Salinas
Joe is the assistant director of purchasing at Markon Cooperative, a produce purchasing, marketing and logistics cooperative serving North America’s leading independent foodservice distributors and their operator customers. He helps oversee the procurement of commodities such as apples, lettuce, mixed vegetables, onions and potatoes. Joe has worked for Markon for over 10 years, including as quality control inspector, product, and sales manager.
Paul Basila
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Fresno
Paul is partner/owner of Basila Farms and a fourth generation grape/raisin grower. His family has been growing grapes in the Central Valley for more than 100 years. Basila Farms consists of Fiestas on an overhead raisin trellis, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, and olives used for making olive oil. Paul oversees all aspects of the farming business. He also owns a custom harvesting business specializing in raisins, wine grapes and olives.
Rachelle Antinetti Linden
Rachelle is the business development manager for Mid Valley Ag Services, a full service supply company offering a wide variety of products and services to Central Valley growers. Her role is to assist in new business opportunities and the growth and development of the company. Rachelle has been a licensed pest control adviser since 2000. Her grandparents farmed rice near Richvale.
Cameron Boswell Corcoran
Cameron’s family business, the J.G. Boswell Company, is a vertically integrated farming, processing, and marketing operation. Based in the San Joaquin Valley since 1921, their primary products are pima cotton, tomato paste, cottonseed and safflower oil, wheat, alfalfa, and cotton planting seed. Cameron has experience in several aspects of the business, including cotton marketing, risk management and regulatory issues.
Carol Arnold Auburn
Carol is the executive director of Foothill Farmers’ Market Association. She manages 12 certified farmers’ markets in Placer, Nevada and Sacramento counties. Carol oversees all aspects of the business, including recruiting and assisting farmers with direct sales, administration, and marketing the growers and the markets. She is responsible for the development of a voucher program for low-income families and regulatory compliance at the markets.
Anne Coates Santa Maria
Anne is the executive director of the Cachuma Resource Conservation District, one of 99 RCDs in California. She oversees a team of nine staff members on a variety of water and soil conservation assistance programs. The Cachuma RCD, which works with local landowners and groups to conserve and improve natural resources, covers more than 1.9 million acres in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties.
Ara Azhderian Los Banos
Ara is the water policy administrator for the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, serving 29 member agencies south of the Delta that deliver Central Valley Project water to over 1 million acres of farmland, 100,000 acres of wetlands, and 2 million Californians. His work focuses on resource management, regulatory compliance, integrated regional water planning, and water transfers. Ara’s family has farmed on the Westside for nearly 100 years.
Jason Cole Santa Paula
Jason is a third generation farmer whose family has farmed in Santa Clara Valley for over 40 years. Cole Ranch has 500 acres of avocados, 200 acres of lemons and 3,200 acres of rangeland. As ranch manager, Jason oversees all aspects of the operation: managing harvest crews; scheduling irrigations; monitoring and implementing fertigation programs; and designing and installing irrigation lines. Jason helps manage the 300-head cattle operation.
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Salinas
Nathan is a fourth generation farmer’s son from Nebraska. As director of farming systems for Reiter Affiliated Companies, his role is to act as a collaborating focal point for farmers and machine builders. His work boundaries extend from Florida to Oregon and are highly focused on improving berry farming in Mexico and California. Reiter is a familyowned organization and the largest year-round fresh multi-berry producer in the world.
Jared Gross Colusa
Jared “J.J.” is a pest control advisor for Wilbur-Ellis Company. He advises more than 20 growers on 9,000 acres of rice, almonds, walnuts and dry-edible beans in all aspects of production, including pest control, fertility, irrigation and orchard development. Additionally, J.J. is the managing partner of G&K Farms LLC, which grows 100 acres of walnuts in Grimes.
Brenda Farias Santa Maria
Brenda is the county executive director for USDA Farm Service Agency. She oversees Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, where she’s responsible for directing and managing program operations and policy implementation for price support, conservation, environmental quality, emergency assistance, and farm loan programs. The federal programs she manages help to achieve an economically and environmentally sound future for American agriculture.
Cade Johnson Blythe
Cade is a fourth generation farmer and owner of LeafWorks. His family has been growing alfalfa, wheat, cotton and produce in Blythe for 100 years. The business has 1,500 owned/ leased land acreage. Cade grows alfalfa hay for wholesale and retail markets. He is involved in day-to-day operations and is jointly responsible for decisions about production, harvest, equipment purchases and finances. Cade also dabbles with real estate for the business.
Ashley Gill Folsom
Ashley is a second-generation member of Green Acres Nursery & Supply, a family-owned and operated retail nursery with two locations in the Sacramento area and a third location planned for 2012. Green Acres prides itself on delivering high-quality products at competitive prices with a superior level of customer service. Ashley oversees the marketing department and is involved in dayto-day operations and in developing the future of the business.
Denise Junqueiro Fresno
Denise is the director of programs and services for the California Olive Committee, which represents 890 growers and two ripe olive canners. She oversees marketing/promotion, research, inspection and compliance programs. Denise works with industry members to enhance operations, efficiencies and tackle various issues, along with building awareness of California Ripe Olives through promotional efforts.
Robert Grether Somis
Robert is a principal of Cultiva Consulting. He is a management consultant specializing in financial reporting, profitability analysis, and business development for agricultural companies. Robert’s family has been farming in Ventura County for five generations. His role in the family business, Grether Farming Company, focuses on strategic initiatives and long-term planning. The business grows lemons, avocados and Gold Nugget mandarins.
Karl Lehman Fresno
Karl is a grower relations rep for Allied Grape Growers, a co-op of more than 600 growers. He is responsible for overseeing more than 11,000 acres of wine grapes comprised of 21 varietals. Karl works with growers on viticultural practices and coordinates harvest with truckers, growers, harvesters and wineries. A fourth generation grape grower, he is the operations manager for Lehman Family Farms, which he has transitioned from grapes to almonds.
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Nathan Dorn
>> Class 42
>> Class 42
GET TO KNOW
AG LEADERSHIP
Justin Micheli Live Oak
Justin is a fourth generation Sutter County farmer and president/owner of Micheli Family Farms, which has over 600 acres of owned/leased orchards, 900 acres of rice land, and 2,800 acres of row crops. Justin grows over 15 peach varieties, plus walnuts, almonds and dried plums. He oversees all financial and operational aspects of the business, and participates in the family’s cling peach receiving station and largescale commercial cold storage.
Sonny Pulido
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Santa Maria
Sonny is the food safety quality assurance assistant manager for Primus Labs. She is the lead auditor for Primus standard audits and technical competent supervisor for PrimusGFS audits. Sonny oversees auditing operations, programs and auditors in North America and internationally. She is responsible for training all auditors globally, is an in-house trainer for Primus University for audits and an assistant trainer for global GAP audit schemes.
Christopher Nichols Arcadia
Christopher is a third generation egg farmer and vice president of Chino Valley Ranchers, which produces/sells specialty eggs, cage free and organic. They operate several locations, including a pullet rearing facility for egg-laying hens. Christopher is involved in many day-to-day business activities, including managing the processing plant in Arcadia, maintaining food safety programs in two processing plants, and creating marketing/sales materials.
Michael E. Rivera Fresno
Michael is co-owner of Westside Trading Company, Inc., an almond, walnut and pistachio trading firm. WTC takes title to product sourced from California growers/packers and ships internationally. In addition to trading, Michael is in-house counsel. He directs export correspondence, oversees the documentary collections process, and ensures that such shipping details as export licensing, product routing, shipping and customs declarations are organized.
Elisa Noble Sacramento
Elisa is a director in the California Farm Bureau Federation’s national affairs division, where she manages federal issues related to livestock, public lands and natural resources that impact California farmers and ranchers. She is interested in finding policy and practical solutions between ag production and resource conservation, to meet the goal of sustainably feeding a growing population with quality food while maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Michael Testa Pope Valley
Michael is a vineyard manager for E. & J. Gallo Winery, managing four vineyards in Napa County. He grows mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and is responsible for growing high quality grapes for the Louis Martini wine brand. He has worked for the Gallo family for more than six years and has held several positions, including wine retail sales, winemaking for the Carlo Rossi and Peter Vella wine brands, and as a grower relations rep.
Ryan Person Clovis
Ryan and his father are partners operating Person and Son Cattle Co. in Fresno and Madera counties. His roots in Central Valley agriculture run more than five generations deep. Ryan also has a consulting service that caters to ag companies, mostly in the meat animal industry, both domestic and international. His work focuses on strategic planning, new product and customer development, and innovations in the meat processing and packaging industry.
Ulash Turkhan Ripon
Ulash is president of Turkhan Foods, Inc. He is a third generation dried fruit and nut processor who started his own business in 2007 and established a processing plant in 2009. Ulash oversees all aspects of the business, from customer relations and financials to production in the plant. The company exports to more than 25 countries, and it creates more opportunities for local growers to have their products utilized in the best way possible.
>> Program News
AG LEADERSHIP
The focus of coaching is to increase the capacity of the individual to reach personal and professional goals. By assisting the individual to “look” and deal with the gap between where they are, who they are, and who they want to become (personal mission), we begin a personal change process. Leadership coaching deals with decreasing the gap by building capacity and mastery to become more effective and influential within an organizational culture. THE
Influence of
By Patrick Lattore, Ph.D. and Tess Cox, M.A.
Coaching
Coaching “looks” and begins with a personal mission/vision statement developed by the leader. Who we want to become is a vision of a future not yet realized by the leader. The ideal or best self is expressed as our highest desired outcomes for our leadership.
strengths and gaps, 360 Feedback, and the coaching report/analysis. The coach helps the leader create a strategy and will dialog about best practices for changing behavior for greater leadership effectiveness. Coaching is a one-on-one learning relationship that focuses on self-awareness and encourages growth through a self-directed learning approach. With increased selfmanagement the leader will experience results in reaching personal mission and goals.
Coaching “looks” and reflects on the personal story of a leader. Our stories tell us where we have been and where we are going. Our stories are impacted by the decisions and choices of others as well as our own. Coaching supports, gives feedback, and influences a leadWe are the main character in an unfolding story with er to be an emotionally intelligent leader. “Leading from critical incidences, shaping experiences and meaningful who you are as a person of influence” – this supports Ag joys. Coaching helps a leader to “look” at their story, edit Leadership’s mission of “We grow leaders who make a their story, and write the next chapter of their story. A difference.” leader’s story needs to be directed toward their personal mission and be nurtured and tended to reach the full potential for growth, health and legacy. Leadership Coaching Process Coaching “looks” and reflects on 360 Feedback along with six instruments that measure leadership qualities summarized in a coaching notebook. The coaching process guides the leader through 360 Feedback, where participants give feedback about character qualities, strengths, skill sets and responses to a set of leadership qualities. The 360 Feedback focuses on the level of trust, confidence, competence and credibility the leader has with others. The participants are encouraged to communicate coaching comments that will help the leader discover gaps and identify areas for growth opportunities to increase capacity and effectiveness.
Using Boyatzisʼs Theory of Self-Directed Learning 1. My ideal self: Who do I want to be? Practicing the new behavior, building new neural pathways through to mastery
Personal Mission
Who am I?
5. Developing trusting relationships that help, support, and encourage each step in the process.
4. Experimenting with new behavior, thoughts and feelings.
Personal Story
My strengths: Where my ideal and real self overlap 360 Feedback & Coaching Notebook
Active Coaching
Coaching “looks” and identifies three vital behaviors/goals with an appropriate action plan that will make a significant difference in the leader’s personal mission and organizational culture. At this time, the leader has worked through understanding their personal story, personality profile, propensity in handling conflict, leadership
2. My real self:
3. My learning agenda: Building on my stengths while reducing gaps
Three Vital Behaviors and Action Plan
My gaps: Where my ideal and real self differ
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This article highlights one of the important new components added to the Ag Leadership Program curriculum.
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Leadership Lessons
Ag Leadership Made Me a Better Person and Father By Dennis Albiani, Class 32
My expectations for Ag Leadership were minimal – network, meet some very accomplished individuals and receive some unique travel experiences. However, the fellowship exposed me to so much more, and my new family obligations provided a living laboratory in which to apply these recently acquired skills. Little did I know how much my two years in Ag Leadership would be called upon just a few months after graduation in July 2003.
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The holidays are a time for family, giving thanks, reflection and sharing. They can also be stressful. Thanksgiving of 2003 was a tumultuous time in California politics, as well as for my family. Gov. Schwarzenegger was assuming office via recall, and as a Gov. Davis appointee, I was soon to be unemployed. But during Thanksgiving week, my wife and I celebrated great news: I had been offered a job (and a huge promotion) to be a key legislative advisor to the new governor and we found out we were pregnant with our second child.
Ten years ago my Ag Leadership odyssey began as the fellows of Class 32 converged on Fresno for our inauguration. Having just spent the previous two nights on a hospital “sleeper chair” following the birth of our first child – and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of fatherhood just 60 hours old – my inaugural Ag Leadership seminar was a blur.
The week prior to Christmas we had our sonogram. Few experiences in life I remember this well. As the technician rolled the wand across Beth’s stomach, she said, “Congratulations, I see Baby A, Baby B and in the back is Baby C.” I said, “Excuse me, sonar are sound waves, couldn’t they be bouncing off the back of A or B?” “No, Mr. Albiani,” said the technician. “I have been doing this for 12 years, those are triplets.” After the initial panic, several doctor visits, a challenging pregnancy, month long stint as a “single dad” and a few health scares, our family was blessed with three beautiful healthy baby girls to accompany big brother Nicolas. Having these two family experiences bookend my Ag Leadership journey, I can definitively say that Ag Leadership made me a better father. Ag Leadership quickly stretched me out of my comfort zone, forced
me to identify and prioritize my core values, introduced emotional intelligence, and Myers Briggs exposed personality and decision making traits. I started to identify and rearrange the values I wanted to pass down to our children. Ag Leadership provided me the skills necessary to “deliver” the values and lessons to my family. By focusing on personal attributes, Ag Leadership provides customized tools for each fellow to utilize. Group dynamics and team building is core to Ag Leadership. There is no more important “team” than family. Skills such as prioritizing tasks, balancing demands and appreciation of self-expression are necessary for parenting and essential to managing the extreme stress during the initial two years of multiples. Beth tells me that I learned when to lead, follow and focus, as well as when to speak and be quiet. Necessary skills for survival under the circumstances, but not skills I possessed nor often practiced prior to the fellowship. Whether appreciating traveling off
the beaten path, learning to view an issue and gain insight of another point of view, or attempting to use aggression in a positive manner through the lessons of Aikido, fellows accumulate a variety of skills important for parenting. Seminar synthesis is even a helpful tool. The dinner table is my family’s forum to reflect on what we learned as a family and how we can do better. Upon graduation, a classmate’s wife challenged us by stating, “You worked hard to prioritize your time in Ag Leadership. Now the challenge is to fill the void with something worthwhile.” I had no idea that my void would be filled with such an important responsibility and worthwhile endeavor as raising four children with my fabulous wife. I am blessed to have had the Agricultural Leadership Program assist in making me a better person and father.
L to R: Dennis, Isabella, Nicolas, Sophia, Samantha and Beth.
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Leadership Focus
Two alumni share their thoughts on agriculture education Ag Education Has It Right
Leadership Through Ag Education
By Lynn Martindale (31) Teacher Educator, University of California, Davis
By Steve DeRose (38) Ag Teacher, Arroyo Grande High School
Think back to your school days. What do you remember most: the lecture in your biology class on day 97 or some great activity or experiment? My bet is that it was something you did! Good agriculture teachers provide students with the opportunity to learn through all modalities: cognitively (brain), experientially (hands) and affectively (heart). Not just anyone may be an agriculture teacher. It takes a special person willing to work with the whole student, to find what interests the student and what excites and engages them in school. Agriculture teachers challenge, motivate, inspire, and above all, believe in all students who enter their classrooms. They pass on their love for agriculture to students, while teaching both the course content and the “soft skills” such as teamwork, critical thinking, communication, and self-initiative, which are necessary for continuing education and employment. Agriculture teacher credential programs deliver highquality educators who are leaders. There are few Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses left in high schools today; they have been replaced with students taking multiple math or English courses to raise test scores. The drop out rate in high school has held steady for the past 50 years, so doubling math and English courses has not proven to motivate students to stay in school. But, students involved in agriculture programs become part of the fabric of the program, find a place in school, and are motivated to do well in other courses. Agriculture education has it right. Working with the whole student is providing students the opportunity to learn cognitively (classroom), experientially (projects) and affectively (leadership organization/FFA).
Leadership and the ability to influence is not necessarily a course or classroom lesson. Leadership is a way of life and is embedded in the environment that we create for our students. The mission of agriculture education is to prepare students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource systems. We accomplish this through the use of a model that encompasses classroom instruction, supervised agriculture experiences and the FFA. Together they teach students the basics about the industry, from production to consumption; provide them with hands-on practical experience; and help build teamwork and communication skills, giving them the confidence needed by leaders. With the growth of agriculture, industry changes and the constant advancement in technology, the demand for leadership preparation in agriculture education is a must. Recognizing this, the California Agriculture Teachers’ Association (CATA) works closely with teachers and the FFA to aid in producing a top grade product. As teachers, our commodity is our students. Like the farmer with his crop, we nurture and guide students through their high school experience, providing them the opportunity to develop into responsible leaders who will make a difference. The teacher is a constant coach and motivator passing on to students the importance of a positive attitude and giving 100 percent. Hanging prominently in my classroom is a poster with ATTITUDE written on it. Each letter has a number value representing its placement in the alphabet. They add up to 100. A student with a proper attitude can grow in knowledge, self-awareness and confidence – all of which help build tomorrow’s leaders. With positive encouragement, our students believe in themselves and become mentors and motivators. They become leaders. Our classrooms reflect the diversity of California agriculture. With fewer young people having agriculture backgrounds, the importance and need for agriculture education has only increased. Today’s ag teachers are caring, enthusiastic, compassionate and dedicated to serving the agriculture industry. By teaching core values such as integrity and resilience, and incorporating lessons such as teamwork and innovation, California’s agriculture educators will continue to play a vital role in developing leaders who will have a positive influence on society.
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The American educational system has been scrutinized since 1983, with the publication by the National Commission on Excellence in Education of A Nation at Risk, followed by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2001 and Race to the Top (RTT) in 2009. NCLB brought standard-based educational reform or standardized tests to evaluate schools, teachers and students’ learning abilities. RTT policies are performance-based standards, rewarding principals and teachers for complying with nationwide standards and promoting charter schools. Each of the Department of Education reports has merit, but fail to look at the big picture – the student, as a person.
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Alumni Events
2011 Award Recipients Named Recipients of the 2011 Profiles in Leadership Award and Honorary Fellow Award were honored during Class 42’s inaugural dinner on Nov. 3 at Fresno State. Congratulations to these exceptional individuals. The full presentations are on the Alumni News page at www.agleaders.org.
HONORARY FELLOW AWARD Recognizes an individual who has demonstrated consistent commitment and uncommon excellence in the furtherance of education and leadership in California agriculture. Recipients are dedicated supporters of the Ag Leadership Program.
David Krause David has been president of Paramount Citrus, California’s largest integrated grower/packer of citrus, for the past 12 years. He is also a thirdgeneration farmer who farms 120 acres of citrus. David has served in prominent leadership positions for Sunkist Growers, Inc., California Citrus Growers Association and United Fresh Produce Association, where he is chair-elect for 2012. He is also a board trustee for the Children’s Hospital of Central California. David was recruited to the CALF board in 2007 and will leave in 2012. His native ability, drive and energy, and natural leadership skills stand out, as witnessed by his impact at Paramount, Sunkist, United and Ag Leadership. David exemplifies what a leader is. He has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to Ag Leadership, rarely found in a non-alum director, and guided many important CALF policy decisions.
PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP AWARD Recognizes alumni for their leadership actions resulting in the betterment of industry, community, business, government, education and/or the environment.
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Ralph De Leon (1) Ralph is board chair of Santa Clara Valley Bank, where he has served since 1998 and is currently interim CEO. He started his career as a field worker and later worked for Paramount Citrus, Ventura County Farm Labor Association and Coastal Growers Association. From 1976-2006, Ralph was president of SAMCO, a harvesting company serving citrus farmers in California, Arizona, Florida and the Bahamas. He also managed and farmed 140 acres of citrus and avocados. Ralph has served on the California Avocado Commission, WGA, Hass Avocado Board, National Council of Agricultural Employers, Fruit Growers Laboratory, As-
sociates Insectary, Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Santa Paula Boys and Girls Club, American Cancer Society-Ventura chapter and Business Labor Council. We proudly recognize Ralph for a lifetime of leadership and service to agriculture and his community.
Pierre Tada (22) Pierre is principal of Granite Peak Partners, a real estate advisory and investment management firm that he founded in 2003. He has worked in senior executive and financial management roles for real estate development, financial, transportation and farming companies, including 15 years as CEO of Limoneira Company, a diversified ag/land company. Pierre has shown dedication to agriculture and his community through service on the U.S. Citrus Science Council, Sunkist Growers, Mission Produce, Simmisco Foods, Ventura County Community Foundation, Ventura County United Way, Ventura County Agricultural Association, Ventura County Economic Development Association and Santa Paula Rotary Club. He has served on the CALF board since 2003. Ag Leadership would not be where it is today, financially, without Pierre’s acumen, counsel and guidance.
Kris Beal (31) Kris has been the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT) executive director since 1998. She helped transform CCVT, which has 300 members representing 80,000 acres, into a nationally recognized organization focused on sustainable vineyard practices. At national conferences, Kris presents project results and shares how growers protect natural and human resources on farms and in communities. Through Kris’s leadership, CCVT received the U.S. EPA’s Sustained Excellence Award and twice received the IPM Innovator Award. Kris educates government and environmental representatives about growers’ commitment to sustainable farming, and she connects farmers with consumers through social media, the Earth Day Food & Wine Festival and their SIP Certification program. Kris is an outstanding leader for Central Coast agriculture and sustainable wine grape production.
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Alumni Events
L4 Seminar Explores Leadership and Self-Deception The book “Leadership and Self-Deception” was the focus of a Life-long Leadership Learning (L4) seminar on Nov. 3 at Fresno State.
content outside of the current Ag Leadership classes, in the pursuit of life-long leadership learning and continuing education for alumni and interested others.
Mitch Warner of the Arbinger Institute spoke to about 75 attendees about the book, the concept of self-deception and solutions to overcome it. According to the institute, self-deception is a pervasive issue that is at the root of many conflicts and people problems.
CALF and the Alumni Council considered the seminar to be a pilot project subject to further refinement and development.
The point of the book and the seminar was to serve as a framing device, and a framing lesson, to explore how people often commonly see the world and the people in it. It was intended to be the first of several efforts to share seminar Seminar generously sponsored by The book can be purchased at www.arbinger.com or at www.amazon.com.
Mitch Warner of the Arbinger Institute spoke to Class 42 fellows during their inaugural seminar.
Golfers Tee It Up For Ag Leadership
21st Annual Region 9 Golf Tournament Sept. 12 The Region 9 tournament raised $35,000. Committee members included Scott Beylik (40), Art Bliss (8), Jim Finch (28), Leslie Leavens-Crowe (34), Ed McFadden (25), Tom McGrath (4), Bill Morris (38), Mike Nuñez (29), Libby Ouellette (24), Tom Pecht (18), Richard Pidduck (21), Mike Richardson (40), Larry Rose (17) and Karen Wetzel Schott (24).
“What a great day we had!” said Leavens-Crowe. “Gorgeous weather, enthusiastic golfers and incredibly generous sponsors. The golf tournament is a terrific way for our regional alumni to support Ag Leadership.”
22nd Annual Dean Brown Golf Tournament Nov. 7 The Dean Brown tournament and auction raised $40,000. Committee members included Lino Bozzano (38), Lisa Bodrogi (39), Anne Coates (42), Cara Crye (39), Chris Darway (25), Brenda Farias (42), Lon Fletcher, Dale Hampton (11), Tom Ikeda (26), Karen King, Jeff Koligian (18), Nicholas Miller (36), James Ontiveros (31), Brenda Ouwerkerk (28), Jim Stollberg (35) and the Talley family.
“We had a great day of golf and our auction was one of the best in recent memory,” said Stollberg. “I want to thank our many corporate sponsors, alumni and friends of The Dean Brown Leadership Foundation and Ag Leadership. We had new energy from recent alumni and look forward to many more successful years.”
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The Region 9 Golf Tournament and Dean Brown Golf Tournament provided fun, fellowship and great golf competition for hundreds of golfers. Both events were swinging successes thanks to generous sponsors and dedicated organizing committees.
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Alumni Spotlight Council
“Teaching agriculture and serving as an FFA advisor is an extremely challenging job, but very rewarding.”
Steve Gomes
M
ost people retire after they’ve worked full time for 40 years. Not Steve Gomes (14).
After nearly four decades in education – 24 years as an ag teacher and 15 years as an administrator – he decided to run for Merced County superintendent of schools and lead the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE).
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“My primary reason for seeking the post was because it was an opportunity to make a difference countywide,” said Gomes, who took the reins in January 2011. “I had accumulated a level of experience and skills that I thought could help create opportunities for kids in the county.”
An Education Veteran and Leader
at Camp Green Meadows, an outdoor school operated by MCOE.” Gomes said that he’s fortunate to work with a great group of people who are passionate about their work and achieving the goals. Gomes has always been passionate about education. Growing up on the family dairy, he knew during his sophomore year in high school that he wanted to be an ag teacher. Just three and a half years after graduating from Merced High School, Gomes returned to teach – and he remained at the school for 24 years. He estimates that he taught and advised 3,000 students during his tenure.
rewarding,” said Gomes, who coached two national FFA championship teams. “It requires conducting more than 100 activities outside the classroom in addition to teaching a full schedule. The skills and proficiencies needed to conduct activities and teach subjects are innumerable. I sought others with the expertise I needed to learn in order to do my job effectively.” Gomes said he hopes he served as a role model for students by working hard and having high expectations. Affirmation came while campaigning for superintendent, when some of his former students came up to him and shared their memories of high school ag classes. “Teachers live for that,” he said.
MCOE helps the county’s 20 school districts “Teaching agriculture and serving as an FFA ad- There was a time, however, when Gomes quesserve 54,000 K-12 students with curriculum and visor is an extremely challenging job, but very tioned his career. “When I entered Ag Leaderinstruction, career and alternative education, ship, I’d been an ag teacher for about 13 business services, technology, early care eduyears and thought my skills could be better On Ag Leadership cation, special education, teacher credentialutilized in industry. One night, a classmate “Ag Leadership expanded my horizons and changed my life. ing, and other activities. and I discussed my career plans and he said he envied me because my work touched lives. It took the blinders off. The seminars touched on topics that As superintendent, Gomes oversees a $93 His ag teacher had made a difference in his were engaging and dealt with all of society, not just ag. I saw million budget and 1,200 employees. He life and he was sure I was doing the same for the big picture for the first time and how things are related is also developing a leadership institute for many students. That conversation removed MCOE managers/supervisors. The goal is any doubts about my career path and I rein the world. My Ag Leadership experiences played a role in to foster leaders who will inspire and motiturned to teaching with renewed passion.” running a difficult race for superintendent.” vate – not just direct – the employees they supervise. (The course of study will be based Eventually, though, Gomes made the leap On Leadership Skills on research by Santa Clara University’s Barry from teacher to administrator. He served Posner and James Kouzes.) as vice principal for Golden Valley High “In working with people, the most important trait is being School, principal for Hilmar High School honest while maintaining sensitivity. Trying to lead using po“I came to the job with some main objecand superintendent for the Planada School sitional power is not effective. Collaborating and including the tives,” said Gomes. “I wanted to collabDistrict. “In each position, I discovered that oratively set goals within MCOE to set the I could make a difference and set a direction.” people affected by changes or decisions will create buy-in and organization’s direction, increase student tasks will be executed more effectively. Organizations need to academic achievement, foster a college-going As for retirement, that’s far down the road. build capacity in all their employees, especially in their leadculture and career transition for students, He may run for superintendent again in ers. People have to grow and develop in order to improve and improve the facilities and participation 2014.
what they’re doing and the organization.”
AG LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP AG
“We’re reaching kids who aren’t in agriculture and helping them understand how science is involved in food and agriculture.”
L
ike many in agriculture, Michele Laverty (37) wants to educate people of all ages about the production of food and fiber. The ways in which she wants to educate them are rather unique: one is an amazing 53-foot mobile laboratory called Ag in Motion, and the other, a 65,000-square-foot National Ag Science Center. They are ambitious projects to pursue, but ones that Laverty knows will make a difference. The National Ag Science Center is the nation’s first science center focused on agriculture. The idea for the center emerged from local farmers some 50 years ago, but the concept gained momentum in the mid-1990s. Laverty came on board with the project as a volunteer about 15 years ago before moving into her current position as director in 2003. Once built, the interactive state-of-the-art facility will highlight the science and technology of agriculture through engaging exhibits, educational offerings and curriculum. The building will be located on the Modesto Junior College campus. Today, however, the vision has changed to meet current economic realities. Just over a year ago, Laverty’s board of directors decided to take a new course of action and develop Ag In Motion (AIM), the mobile laboratory that brings the field trip to students to teach them about science and technology in agriculture and career opportunities in the industry. Laverty worked with a team of middle school teachers to develop lesson plans in line with state science standards.
Pursuing a Vision
Unveiled in summer 2011, AIM visits middle schools free of charge. Seventh graders and their science teachers spend a class period inside the trailer conducting one of five hands-on ag science experiments, such as DNA extraction or light and chromatography. Students also watch a video about ag-related careers. “Ag in Motion is beyond everything we wanted it to be,” said Laverty. “We’re reaching kids who aren’t in agriculture and helping them understand how science is involved in food and agriculture.” AIM has reached more than 5,000 students since August and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, said Laverty. “The students are doing their own campus TV programs and writing in their yearbooks about their experience. There’s such a wow factor. It’s making a connection. The
On Ag Leadership “Ag Leadership pushed me to try new things. The international trip pushes you way beyond your comfort zone and you return willing to take more risks. It encouraged me to continue reading and learning from people, opportunities and experiences. It taught me that it’s not just the amount of time you put into volunteering, but the quality of that time. The people we met along the way had such a phenomenal impact in our lives.”
On Leadership Lessons “Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Listen and learn. You can learn from your biggest critic. Public speaking – being able to spread your message and being comfortable talking in front of a group – is the biggest asset. And having a mentor you can model and learn from is very helpful.”
labs are reaching kids about ag science.” As for the future, Laverty said they have a grand vision to build a fleet of mobile educational vehicles that would traverse the state and offer insight into agriculture at schools, farmers markets, county fairs and community events. “It’s important for people to understand what we do in agriculture and I don’t think we do enough in the science arena,” she said. Laverty oversees all aspects of the National Ag Science Center and AIM, including marketing, design, volunteer and staff management, and fund development. “Many factors contribute to raising awareness and raising dollars,” she said. “You have to make your project relevant and a necessity. We have to show that what we’re doing is really important to people in agriculture and outside agriculture. The success of our projects benefits not just agriculture, but the entire state.” The National Ag Science Center also offers seminars for teachers to learn more about the ag industry and how they can incorporate ag into their science classrooms. Laverty is a fervent advocate for the center and AIM at the local, state and federal level. As such, she draws from her Ag Leadership experiences, her role as a California Association of Museums board member, and her educational background – a bachelor’s degree in public relations and minor in chemistry. “It’s been amazing to work with the people I work with and to be a part of their passion for the industry and their desire to educate people about agriculture,” said Laverty.
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Michele Laverty
Alumni Spotlight >> Guest Column
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Alumni & Fellows News
CLASSES 1-9
CLASSES 20-29
CLASSES 40-42
IN MEMORIAM
Dan Hollingsworth (3) was honored with the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest award bestowed by the organization, in recognition of more than 50 years of service to the agricultural community. He received the award at CFBF’s annual meeting in December.
A.G. Kawamura (20) was
Scott Beylik (40) appeared on an episode of America’s Heartland in October. Food Network chef/host Dave Lieberman visited Scott’s hydroponic farm for the show “Farm to Fork: Beylik Farms.”
Brian Davie (4)
C. Jeff Thomson (3) was
Vernon
Crowder
(22)
was honored in October with an Alumni Award of Distinction by the UC Riverside Alumni Association. The Alumni Service Award honors superior service in the public sector or a sustained pattern of volunteer service in the community, arts or for the benefit of UCR that has positively represented the university and fellow citizens.
Dan Sutton (40) was installed
as secretary of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau in September. His term on the executive committee is for two years.
elected secretary-treasurer of the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) Fraternity in February 2011 in Louisville, Ky. OFA membership consists of 1,800 former state winners (1955-present) of the Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) program. Jeff was a national OYF Award winner in 1981. He will participate in the 2012 OYF Awards Congress in Arkansas in February, where four national OYF Award winners will be selected.
Tom Ikeda (26) was elected a director (district 4) for the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau in September. Farm Bureau directors represent each of the five districts in SLO County.
MULTIPLE CLASSES
CLASSES 10-19
CLASSES 30-39
Nat DiBuduo (6) and Jeff Bitter (32) spoke at American
Barry Bedwell (13) was appointed in September by USDA Secretary Ron Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables. His term is until June 2015. Ralph Lucchetti (15) and his wife, Denene, were inducted into the San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame at a banquet on Oct. 13. They were honored for their outstanding contributions to their communities and the area’s farm industry.
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presented with the 2011 Award of Honor by Western Growers Association at its annual meeting in November.
Mark Chandler (18) announced that he would leave his position as executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission at the end of 2011. Mark has served in that capacity since helping found the organization in 1991 and he helped oversee the growth of Lodi’s wine industry that has grown from eight wineries to 85 today. He plans to establish his own marketing and management firm in the area.
Mary Kimball (32) ap-
peared on Sacramento & Co. TV program on Sept. 13, along with well-known local chef Patrick Mulvaney, to promote the Center for Land-Based Learning.
Carlos Castaneda (36) was
installed as vice president of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau in September. His term on the executive committee is for two years.
Michael Frantz (36) was elected on Nov. 8 to the Turlock Irrigation District (division 1), retaining his seat. He won a full four-year term two years after being appointed to a vacant seat. Maria de la Paz CarpioObeso (38) received the Sus-
tained Superior Accomplishment Award from the State Water Resources Control Board on Oct. 4.
Brenda Farias (42) was fea-
tured on the cover of a November issue of the Santa Maria Sun. The article is “Generation Ag: young professionals are changing the face of ag.” http://www. santamariasun.com/cover/7347/ generation-ag/
Vineyard Magazine Grape Expos in Sonoma, Turlock and Fresno in November and Nat made a presentation to the SJVWA Forum in Fresno. They celebrated having another member of the Allied Grape Growers team, Karl Lehman, inaugurated into Class 42. The Allied Grape Growers team was honored with the 2011 SJV Agribusiness of the Year.
Bill Lyons Jr. (12) of Mape’s
Ranch and Dos Rios Ranch, and Ward and Rosie Burroughs (30) of Burroughs Ranch were finalists for the 2011 Leopold Conservation Award-California. They were recognized at the CA Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in December.
Paul Wenger (17), Lex McCorvey (18), Joe Pozzi (28) and Steven Knudsen (41) were among the speakers
and organizers of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s first State of Agriculture Address, held Nov. 1 in Santa Rosa.
Sept. 2, 1944 - Nov. 18, 2011 Brian was born in Scotia, Calif., and was married to his wife, Jo, for 33 years. His life work was a major benefit to California fairgrounds. Memorials can be sent to Lung Cancer Research, American Cancer Society. Services were held on Dec. 14 at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetary.
* CALF Website Receives Award
CALF’s website recently received a 2011 W3 Award from the International Academy of Visual Arts. The award honors creative excellence on the web. Congratulations to the web development and design team at our marketing agency – TMDCreative, led by Nick Pasculli (27) – for their exceptional efforts in redesigning our website.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN YOUR LIFE?
PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OR NEWS TO:
mritchie@agleaders.org
AG LEADERSHIP
>> Thank You
Your Gift Makes a Difference All throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season, CALF is extremely grateful for the contributions from individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations. No matter the amount, your investment in Ag Leadership makes a difference. Thank you for continuing to support and strengthen our premier program. There are numerous ways to support Ag Leadership: annual operating support, general endowment or a variety of special funds listed below. You can make a gift online at www.agleaders.org, by phone at 831-585-1030, or by mail to P.O. Box 479, Salinas, CA, 93902. If you intend for your gift to qualify for an income tax charitable deduction in 2011, please make sure your gift is received by CALF in 2011 (Dec. 30 is a Friday this year). If you send your gift via the U.S. Postal Service, your envelope must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31. Thank you.
$200,000 The James G. Boswell Foundation $30,000 Wells Fargo Foundation $10,000 Syngenta Corporation $7,500 Rabobank $5,000 Monsanto Company Union Bank Foundation Tim York $1,500 CH2M Hill Foundation $1,000 Fresno Equipment Company Bud and Paula Sarmento * Janette Smith Thomas Mulholland Ralph Myers *
Memorial Funds
Fellowship Funds Alumni Fellowship Dean Brown Fellowship Women in Leadership Fellowship Lagomarsino Family Fellowship Richard Pidduck Fellowship Manassero Fellowship
Tim O’Neill / Class 10 Memorial Fund Michelle Turner Memorial Endowment Dr. George A. Johannessen Memorial Endowment
Other Endowment Funds Borba Family Endowment Ladera Foundation Class 12 Endowment Class 17 Endowment Class 30 Endowment Class 33 Endowment
Other Major Funds Charles Buchinger Memorial Endowment Franklin Otis Booth Legacy Fund Dean Brown Growth and Innovation Fund J.G. Boswell II Legacy Fund
Sept. 1 – Nov. 15, 2011: thank you
$500 and above Barkley Ag Enterprises, LLP * Karen and Barry Ross Jeff Stephens Richard Zinser * $200 and above Enza Zaden USA, Inc. * Chase and Dana Hurley Luis A. Scattini & Sons, LP * Joann Martin ^ Sonny and Lillian Rianda * Alan and Carol Toste $100 and above Donald Bergam * David Duke * William and Teresa Sullivan * Sue DiTomaso Walker Farms/Applied Bio From Class 10 (Tim O’Neill Memorial Fund): • Lance Brown • Ron Caird • Steve Chrisman • John Crossland • Bill Daniell
Bob Denney Gary Foster • Pete Fallini • Randy Linquist • Kelly Olds • Mike Phelan • •
Up to $100 Allied Grape Growers Joan Dal Porto x Bob Demple * Bob Pendergrass * Jim and Lynne Saunders ^ * Contribution to Manassero Fellowship ^ Contribution to Dr. George A. Johannessen Memorial Endowment x Contribution to Michelle Turner Memorial Endowment
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Donor Support
General Endowment
This edition of Horizons is brought to you in part by a generous grant from Rabobank.
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cordially invite you to the
Agricultural & Government Leaders Reception HORIZONS MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation for alumni, donors, supporters and friends. Phone: 831-585-1030 www.agleaders.org
Sacramento
Date: January 25, 2012 Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Location: The Senator Hotel lobby 1121 L Street, Sacramento