horizons California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
FALL 2014
2014 EXCHANGES
Educating Decision Makers About Agriculture
We grow leaders who make a difference.
FOUNDATION MESSAGE
CLASS 45:
Enjoy the Ride
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine
FALL 2014 • www.agleaders.org
I want to wish a warm welcome to Class 45 and congratulations on your selection. You are embarking on a life changing journey with the premier leadership program in California. My hope is that you engage, add value, give back and be the best you can be! This opportunity is a gift, so live every moment. We have high expectations for all of you. We have a government in disarray and strong, decisive leadership has never been more important. We have lack of immigration reform, border issues, massive incomprehensible and restrictive regulations, and moribund economic recovery. Our industry, communities, state and nation need leadership. We need you! Thank you for accepting the challenge. Leadership development is a crucial step to solving many critical issues.
Enjoy the ride…we are excited for you! Best, Loren Booth (27) Chair, CALF Board of Directors
CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair/ Loren Booth Vice Chair/ Jeff Elder Secretary - Treasurer/ Pierre Tada Karm Bains Barbara Boswell Charles Boyer Edwin Camp Bob Cherenson John Colbert A.G. Kawamura Ejnar Knudsen Joe MacIlvaine Jim Maxwell Rod Stark Mary-Ann Warmerdam Mike Young Rob Yraceburu
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D.C. EXCHANGE AND CA EXCHANGE
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
CALF STAFF President and CEO / Bob Gray | bob.gray@agleaders.org Director of Education / Dr. Michael Thomas | mthomas@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 Lazzerini | elazzerini@agleaders.org WRITER/EDITOR Meredith Rehrman Ritchie mritchie@agleaders.org DESIGNER TMDcreative
COVER STORY 5
Educating Decision Makers About Agricultural Issues
FEATURES 11
Class 44 Explores Central Valley Water Issues
12 14
Class 44 Class Project Leadership Focus: Dr. Michael Thomas
DEPARTMENTS 2 2 3 13 15 17 18
Chair Message Calendar of Events Foundation News Program News Alumni Council & Events Alumni & Fellows News Donor Recognition
CALENDAR DECEMBER
10-12
Class 45 seminar, UC Davis
JANUARY
12 12-14 14-16
Class 46 phase 1 applications online Class 44 seminar, Santa Clara Class 45 seminar, Cal Poly Pomona
FEBRUARY
4 13th annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast 5 Region 6 recruitment event, Sun-Maid, Kingsburg 5-7 Class 45 seminar, Fresno State 6-7 Class 44 seminar, Fresno State 7 Class 44 commencement, Fresno State 12 21st annual Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast MARCH
3 Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception, Sacramento 4-13 Class 45 national travel seminar
FOUNDATION NEWS
CALF BOARD
MEMBERS DEPART
Dr. Lester Young, Dr. Charles Boyer and Deanna van Klaveren (32) have stepped down as California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) board members. Young retired in September after serving as dean of the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona since January 2009. He served a two-year term on the CALF board from 2012 to 2014. Boyer, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State since 2006, accepted a new position as vice president of agriculture at Montana State University. He had just begun a two-year rotation on the CALF board after previously serving from 2007 to 2008. Van Klaveren, sales and office manager of family-owned Generation Growers, served on the board from 2009 to 2014 as the Alumni Council liaison. “These three individuals were vital contributors and valuable assets on the board, and we are incredibly appreciative of their years of service and high level of commitment to Ag Leadership,” said CALF President and
Young
van Klaveren
Boyer
CEO Bob Gray. “Dr. Young and Dr. Boyer provided insight, guidance and leadership from an academic perspective. Deanna’s business experience and involvement with the Alumni Council were extremely beneficial in her role.” Van Klaveren said it was a privilege to serve with the board. “I feel fortunate to have had another opportunity with CALF of personal growth, leadership learning, and interaction with people so passionate about agriculture and this foundation,” she said. “But this foundation is just like that – through the program, the leadership opportunities, the events, and Life-Long Leadership Learning seminars – there are gifts given constantly to all who participate. Thank you to the staff for their countless hours of dedication, to the Education Team for their devotion to the curriculum and fellows, to the supporters and donors who give so the foundation can continue to do its good work, and to the board members who guide our foundation to ‘grow leaders who make a difference.’ ”
NEW PARTNER UNIVERSITY DEANS
The foundation welcomes Dr. Mary Holz-Clause and Dr. Andrew Thulin as new partner university deans and members of CALF’s Deans Council.
MARY HOLZ-CLAUSE
ANDREW THULIN
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Mary Holz-Clause began her tenure as dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture on July 28. She was previously the vice president of economic development at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where she led the university’s economic growth initiatives. Her work included forming an economic development office and overseeing programming for the UConn Technology Park, a state-of-the-art $200 million facility focused on advanced manufacturing. Prior to UConn, Holz-Clause spent 25 years at Iowa State University in various capacities, starting in business development and rising to associate vice president of extension and outreach and director of global programs. Among the projects she created were the Global Extension Academy, which trained educators to help farmers abroad learn about
new agricultural practices. In 2002, she founded and managed the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, a multi-university consortium that created an online collection of production, technology and business development information on the changing landscape of U.S. agriculture. Holz-Clause also taught classes in economic development, business and community planning. Her other experiences include research director and trade mission coordinator with the Iowa Department of Economic Development and vocational agriculture teacher in the East Greene Community Schools in Iowa. Holz-Clause earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business, a master’s degree in public administration and Ph.D. in agriculture education from Iowa State University.
Andrew J. Thulin began his role as dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences (CAFES) in June 2014. He had served as interim dean for the previous year. Prior to his post as interim dean, Thulin simultaneously directed strategic initiatives for the university and served as head of CAFES’ Animal Science Department. Under his 15-year leadership, the department implemented a new strategic vision that led to a significant expansion of facilities, faculty and staff. Graduation rates increased to nearly 90 percent, and more than $16 million was raised for new laboratories and the construction of a new Beef Center, Animal Nutrition Center and Meat Processing Center.
Thulin also brings experience from the private sector. From 1991 to 1998, Thulin managed technology development at Cargill, Inc., the nation’s largest private company. His responsibilities included spearheading new international business ventures and deploying new technologies to bring greater efficiencies and increased profitability to the company. He also gained academic experience as a professor at Michigan State University, where he held a threeway appointment in extension, teaching and research. Thulin graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and completed his master’s and doctorate degrees in nutrition at Kansas State University.
—Meredith Ritchie
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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
FOUNDATION NEWS
CALF and Fresno State Partner for Fundraiser The foundation and Fresno State President Joseph Castro and Mary Castro co-hosted a fundraiser dinner on Sunday, Sept. 14 at University House, the president’s home. The dinner welcomed 115 guests and featured Life-Long Leadership Learning seminar speaker Dr. Daniel Goleman, who talked about his personal story from Stockton to Amherst to Harvard, his stint at The New York Times, and authorship of numerous books. “This was the first time that the foundation had organized this type of fundraiser dinner with a partner university, and it turned out to be a successful and enjoyable evening,” said Bob Gray. “We are grateful to those who generously supported this special event, with proceeds benefiting the educational goals of Ag Leadership and Fresno State.”
Alumni Council Promotes Raffles to Raise Funds for CALF In an effort to raise at least $15,000 for Ag Leadership, the Alumni Council regional directors are organizing a series of raffles. The first raffle, held in October, featured a new iPad valued at $929. This raffle raised nearly $3,500. Alumni can purchase $20 raffle tickets by contacting their regional directors, calling the CALF office, or online at www.agleaders/org/donate/donate-form. With the online donation, enter amount of ticket(s), one time, annual operating support. All proceeds are donated to CALF.
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PURCHASE YOUR $20 RAFFLE TICKET FOR THE NEXT DRAWING
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
Educating Decision Makers About Agriculture
COVER STORY
D.C. EXCHANGE CALIFORNIA EXCHANGE
A field trip is defined as a trip by students away from the classroom to gain firsthand knowledge or gather data about a subject. On a basic level, the Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship Program and the California Educational Fellowship Program are field trips that take fellows away from their offices to gather information about agriculture. But the programs are much more than one-day field trips. They are enriching, eye-opening educational experiences. During the days, fellows are in fields, vineyards, nurseries, ag operations and boats, hearing from and talking with farmers, ranchers, industry representatives and resource experts. In the
evenings, they are spending one-on-one time with families. All the while, the fellows are absorbing a vast amount of information about the complexities and challenges in agriculture. And on a personal level, they are seeing the work ethic and passion of the people who work in the industry. “These programs are powerful because the fellows are exposed to agriculture in a tangible and unique way that has a lasting effect,” said Darlene Din (35). “As government officials, they are making policies and decisions that have an impact on California agriculture, so it is important that they experience agriculture firsthand, see what we’re doing, and truly understand our diverse issues.” >>Cover stories by Meredith Ritchie >>Photos by Judy Sparacino
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2014 D.C. EXCHANGE
COVER STORY
Federal Officials Get Up-Close Look at Agriculture Each day of the D.C. Exchange is distinct, but the goal is the same: expose fellows to various aspects of the agricultural industry, exchange information and create connections. This year’s seven-day program began on Sept. 14 in San Diego County. From there, the 20 fellows traveled to the Imperial Valley and Coachella Valley and finished in Ventura County. Visits to nearly two dozen agricultural operations increased their knowledge about the economics of California farming, environmental challenges, water, pests (invasive pests, pest protection, pesticides), labor, food safety, organics, sustainable agriculture, best management practices, energy and trade. Home stays and connections between fellows enhanced the experience. A snapshot of the week:
Fellows learned about egg farming in San Diego County after the change in California law. At the Otay Mesa border crossing, they got a better understanding about homeland security with
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the movement of goods to and from Mexico. In the Imperial Valley, fellows visited various ag operations and learned about crop production, water and other important issues affecting the region’s ag industry.
Fellows provided positive feedback about the program and their experience.
In the Coachella Valley, a visit to the Salton Sea focused on irrigation discharge, wildlife and farming in the surrounding area. Tours of date operations highlighted the labor-intensive production and processing of dates. Fellows walked through orchards, vineyards and fields in Ventura County, where they learned about solar energy, water quality and management, highintensity farming and supply chain.
“When I think about my D.C. Exchange experience, I think about three things: hospitality, information and innovation. Everyone involved in the program – especially the host families – was so welcoming and giving of their time. They helped me understand how they produce so much for so many, the challenges they continually face, and what they’re doing in response. Their love and passion for agriculture is clear. I’ve been thinking about that, and the many other things I learned during my week in Southern California, ever since I returned. For my small part in return, I will keep thinking about what I saw, heard and learned for years to come.” James Ivy, Associate Deputy Administrator, Legislative and Public Affairs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
“The D.C. Exchange has been incredibly successful and it has a reputation as a respected and high quality program,” said Darlene Din (35). “Each year we have 60 to 80 applicants vying for 20 to 25 spots depending on the region, so it continues to be in demand. This year we brought the 33rd class to California, which means we’ve educated nearly 700 federal agency representatives since 1982.”
“The D.C. Exchange was a fantastic experience. This program gave me the opportunity to meet with stakeholders in their environment and learn first-hand about their issues. In the short time since my trip to California, I have had the opportunity to use this invaluable information in my day-to-day work. I value the professional contacts made during this trip as well as the great friendships that have since developed.” Scott Pfister, Acting Associate Director, Plant Protection and Quarantine Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
COVER STORY
7 FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
2014 D.C. EXCHANGE
COVER STORY
“The D.C. Exchange provides a practical ground truth to the discovery research funded by the National Science Foundation. As the foundation assesses research projects by intellectual merit and broader impact, the D.C. Exchange experience enables a greater appreciation of the potential broader impact of various research projects in California and across the nation.” Thomas Torgersen, Program Officer, Hydrologic Sciences National Science Foundation 2014 Fellows
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Renee Berry – U.S. International Trade Commission Tri Bui-Nguyen – FDA-Office of Regulatory Affairs Alyssa Clendenin – FDA-Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network Shiela Corley – USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service Vanessa Dellis – USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Yu-Ting Guilaran – U.S. EPA-Office of Pesticide Programs Tracy Hancock – U.S. Forest Service Jamie Harris – U.S. EPA-Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Julie Henderson – USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service James Ivy – USDA-APHIS Danielle Jones – Office of Management and Budget Kelly Juarez – U.S. Department of State Julio Maldonado – USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
Laura Norcutt – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Scott Pfister – USDA-APHIS Kendra Russell – U.S. Department of the InteriorBureau of Reclamation Monique Salter – FDA-CORE Network Sunny Snider – U.S. Department of CommerceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tom Torgersen – National Science Foundation Christine Zakarka – USDA-APHIS Site Visits SAN DIEGO COUNTY: Farmers market, Bamboo Headquarters, Altman’s Nursery, Archi’s Acres, Go Green Agriculture, Stehly Farms Organics, Vesper Vineyards, egg ranches (Hilliker’s) and Otay Mesa border crossing. IMPERIAL COUNTY: Vessey & Company, Farm Credit Ag Center, Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial County Farm Bureau, Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association, El Toro Export and Ametza. COACHELLA VALLEY: Salton Sea, Hadley Date Gardens and Oasis Date Gardens. VENTURA COUNTY: Limoneira, Solimar Farms, McGrath Family Farm, Driscoll’s/Reiter Affiliated Companies, Houweling’s Tomatoes, San Miguel Produce, Taylor Ranch, Associates Insectary and the Agriculture Museum.
Thank You We extend our appreciation to all of the representatives from the above organizations, businesses and agencies who served as speakers and guides during the week. Special Recognition Matthew Altman (44) Jose Arriaga (44) Cherie Watte Angulo (25) Robert Atkins (17) Yissel Barajas (40) Scott Beylik (40) Art Bliss (8) Darlene Din (35) Melissa Duflock (40) Matthew Fisher (41) Bryan Foley (39) Rob Geis (35) Lauren Grizzle (23) Kevin Grizzle (35) Joyce Jong (39) Leslie Leavens (34) David Martella (22) Mark Nickerson (13) Ben Olson (3) Elisabeth Silva (41) Judy Sparacino – CALF staff Jack Vessey (34) Ellen Way (28)
COVER STORY
2014 CA EXCHANGE
Alumni ReTOOL Exchange for State Officials The California Educational Fellowship Program (California Exchange) was revived this year - and reformatted to follow guidelines set by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
Class 1 of the new California Exchange – which included three state agency officials, a nonprofit representative involved in state policy, a local/regional official and a recent Ag Leadership alumnus* – got an in-depth view of agriculture during an excellent three and a half-day educational program through the Salinas Valley and coastal region. The California Exchange is more formally educational in content compared to the D.C. Exchange (due to FPPC rules). Fellows were required to read the book “Crucial Conversations” prior to attending.
In addition, aspects of leadership development, presented by CALF Director of Education Dr. Michael Thomas, were embedded in the experience. Similar to the D.C. Exchange, homestays were an essential part of the program experience. The exchange – held Aug. 12-15 in Soledad, Salinas, Castroville and Moss Landing – explored economics, agricultural history of the region, viticulture and wine making, conservation easements, the Williamson Act, cattle ranching, wildlife, crop production, food safety, water (resources/conservation/ quality/flooding), workforce and immigration, sustainability and organic farming. “We brought back the California Exchange because educating our state officials about agriculture is just as important as educating our federal officials,” said Darlene Din (35). “We were very pleased that the program went smoothly and that we had productive interactions with the fellows.”
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2014 CA EXCHANGE
COVER STORY
2014 Fellows Julie Alvis, California Natural Resources Agency Robert Parkhurst, Environmental Defense Fund Chris Rose, Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Amy Uber, California Department of Food and Agriculture Ashley Zellmer, State Water Resources Control Board Danielle Dupree (Class 43), Merrill Farms LLC (*The new format invites a recent Ag Leadership graduate to be a part of the class) Itinerary Mann Packing, Dorrance Family Ranch/Mt. Toro, Paraiso Vineyards, Ocean Mist, Moss Landing Marine Lab, Molera Road wetlands/Salinas River, CALF office, Ramco Enterprises and Harden Foundation. Special Recognition ALUMNI Darlene Din (35) Danielle Dupree (43) Kurt Gollnick (16) Dale Huss (19) David Martella (22) Joe Pezzini (28) Richard Smith (7) Jorge Suarez (41) CALF STAFF Bob Gray Judy Sparacino Dr. Michael Thomas
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Thank You Tim and Gina Borel Brent Buche Meg Clovis Mollie Dorrance and the Dorrance Family Lorri Koster April and Todd Mackie Melissa Martella Mark Reasons Janet Rodgers Nikki Rodoni Sierra Ryan Paul Shield Abby Taylor-Silva (45) Juan Uranga
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
California's Salad Bowl Tosses Up New Ideas in Sustainability By Robert Parkhurst, Fellow I recently had the unique opportunity to learn firsthand how Central California farmers are constantly changing the way specialty crops are grown, squeezing more from fewer resources and reducing their impacts on the environment. I joined a handful of other ag policy experts in a visit to the Salinas Valley, considered “the salad bowl of the world,” where we learned about the current issues and complex challenges facing the state’s farmers and ranchers. The California Educational Fellowship Program (California Exchange) was organized by alumni of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Running about 90 miles from Monterey to San Luis Obispo, the Salinas Valley alone grows more than 85 percent of the nation’s artichokes, 55 percent of the nation’s lettuce and 30 percent of the nation’s strawberries. It also leads the state in the production of broccoli, celery, mushrooms and cabbage. Rapid innovations Most of the farms in the Salinas Valley are familyowned operations more than three generations deep, but that doesn’t mean these businesses stick with the tried and true. They are always looking for new ways to improve their efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint. Many of the farming practices you would have seen as recently as five years ago have already changed. Here are a few examples of the innovations I witnessed during my trip: Saving energy: I met a vintner who was told he was crazy for putting windows and skylights in his winery – after all, light spoils wine. But all the fermentation happens in sealed tanks. By installing windows and skylights, he has reduced his energy use while improving the morale of employees working in the facility. More green: In the field I saw how growers of leafy greens are expanding the width of their rows from 40 to 60 inches – increasing yields per acre by 30 percent.
Water efficiency: Growers in the Salinas Valley have long been concerned about their water use. They had the foresight to build waste-water recycling plants in the late 1990s. Today they are implementing subsurface drip irrigation for many vegetable and strawberry crops. This is critical as California enters what could become its fourth year of extreme drought. Pest control: Strawberry growers are working to eliminate the use of methyl bromide, typically used to fumigate the soil prior to planting. Use of this gas is gradually being phased out under the Montreal Protocol, but an alternative has been difficult to find for growing strawberries. Farmers in the Salinas Valley are investigating options such as using steam to control soil-borne pests and diseases. The preliminary results are encouraging – the outcome compared to methyl bromide is similar and the use of steam is not only kinder to the environment and field workers, it has been shown to double yields in some cases. These examples of innovation in sustainability tell me that California’s farmers, who have historically been strong stewards of the environment, are continuing to lead by example – finding ways to reduce their environmental impacts while feeding the world. It’s a good sign for the salad bowls of the future.
Parkhurst is the director of agriculture greenhouse gas markets for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). He leads EDF’s protocol, policy and pilot development of greenhouse gas mitigation projects for working landowners. He is responsible for helping farmers, ranchers and forestland owners generate quantifiable climate benefits so that they are financially rewarded in the marketplace.
FEATURE STORY
Class 44 Explores Central Valley Water Issues The San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, one of California’s largest off-stream reservoirs, is a vital source of water for Central Valley farmers. When full, the reservoir can hold 2 million acre-feet of water. But at the end of summer, when Class 44 fellows and guests visited the reservoir during a tour, the water levels were drastically low. It was a sobering scene. San Luis Reservoir was one of several captivating site visits during Class 44’s tour of Central Valley water issues on Aug. 28 and 29.
One part of the tour that had a particularly powerful impact was the Sack Dam and the problematic land subsidence issue. “This dam is the method by which the Central California Irrigation District and San Luis Canal Company divert water releases from the Mendota Pool into their respective canal systems for delivery to agriculture and wetlands,” said Parreira. “As groundwater overdrafting continues in this area, the subsurface subsidence will cause Sack Dam to fail to operate properly.”
The idea for the excursion stemmed from a water tour that Chris White (43) had helped organize for his class in 2013. Paul Parreira (44) attended part of that tour, and he thought his classmates would also benefit from such an experience. He brought up the idea at a class seminar and there was a lot of interest.
Among the dozen speakers were four Ag Leadership alumni – Ara Azhderian (42) and Dan Nelson (14) of San Luis & DeltaMendota Water Authority, Chase Hurley (35) of San Luis Canal Company (SLCC), and Chris White (43) of Central California Irrigation District (CCID). In addition, Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) made presentations and answered questions from attendees.
“The water issues are not going away anytime soon,” said Parreira. “Some of us are directly affected and some are not. This tour was a chance to bring together many of our fellows from all parts of the state and give them a better understanding about what’s going on with water – the politics, regulations, problems, solutions and innovations.”
“Our group got an up close look at our state’s water issues and we were able to interact with two Congressmen,” said Parreira. “We also had an opportunity to hear from four exchange contractors with pre-1914 water rights [CCID, SLCC, Columbia Canal Company and Firebaugh Canal Water District]. We learned about the historical water rights for ag water in California.”
Nearly all of the Class 44 fellows attended, as well as Dr. Robert Flores (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo core faculty member) and several spouses, relatives and co-workers.
Parreira said the event was an overwhelming success. “All of the fellows were very impressed with the tour and what they learned. What we witnessed was eyeopening. There were definitely some good leadership lessons, especially with how the districts have collaborated with each other. It was also a great leadership example that four of the presenters are Ag Leadership alumni and leaders in ag water.”
On the first day, participants visited Los Banos Creek Detention Dam, Central California Irrigation District’s Ingomar regulating reservoir, Panoche Water District’s San Joaquin River Improvement Project, Mendota Dam, Meyers Groundwater Banking Project, Red Top subsidence area and Sack Dam. The second day included stops at Parreira Almond Processing, Del Bosque Farms, areas within Broadview Water District and Westlands Water District, and San Luis Reservoir. Participants learned about water shortages, water conservation in row crops, drip irrigation, new technologies, restoration, drain water recovery and treatment, and a solar thermal desalination project.
—Meredith Ritchie
Joann White of San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors River Authority and Tracey Rosin of CCID were instrumental in organizing Class 44’s tour. Photos: Class 44
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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
FEATURE STORY
CLASS 44 PROJECT:
Educating Children About Food & Agriculture
An entertaining and interactive website about food and agriculture – designed for elementary students – is the class project for Class 44. This digital story will engage students, teachers and parents with interactive activities showcasing edible plant parts.
“We came up with the idea through several class discussions at various seminars,” said Brandon Souza (44). “We were interested in developing something that would have a positive impact on a large audience base, but also have an extended shelf life through minor editing and updating.”
Class 44 has teamed up with the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (CFAITC) to develop the website. CFAITC is a nonprofit that works with K-12 grade teachers, students and community leaders to enhance education using agriculture. The organization’s mission is to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among California’s educators and students.
The engaging website will supplement a CFAITC lesson plan about edible plant parts. Along with the lesson plan, the website highlights all of the edible parts of a plant: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. Through hands-on activities, students will discover the different plant parts, their nutritional value, and how to include fruits and vegetables into their daily meals as part of a healthy diet. Students also will learn about California agriculture and the people who grow food.
Class 44 decided to focus on agricultural education for its class project. With guidance from CFAITC Program Coordinator Stephanie Etcheverria (43) and other staff, fellows supported the idea to create a visual resource that educates young people about how agriculture is connected to their food.
The entire site is animated and students can scroll through the site at their own pace – either on their own or with assistance from a teacher or parent. Additionally, characters will act as guides to give users something to relate to that carries through the whole story. There will be various “stops” where the user interacts with the content.
Helping create the website is AdFarm, a marketing and communication agency that focuses on agriculture (Souza works for the agency). The development process with AdFarm has been collaborative; all Class 44 members have given input and seen the project’s progress through conference calls, webinars and inperson presentations. The launch is scheduled for January 2015. “Our class has put a lot of hard work and thought into this website ” said Souza. “Teaching schoolchildren about food and agriculture is so important, and we are pleased that we can play a small part in the ag education effort with this fun resource.” >>To learn more about the project or to help with fundraising efforts, contact Justin Perino at justin@ scheidvineyards.com (general inquiries) or Paul Parreira at paul@rpacalmonds.com (fundraising). —Meredith Ritchie
About Class Projects
Class projects from recent years:
Class projects are an essential part of the Ag Leadership Program experience. Over the years, classes have completed worthwhile class projects that have benefitted communities, organizations, groups of people, or the agricultural industry. The projects underscore lessons that Ag Leadership strongly encourages – giving back, stepping up, demonstrating collaboration and leadership, and making a difference.
• Class 43 partnered with CFAITC to host an agricultural career day at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. • Class 42 collaborated with Wheatland High School FFA to improve the school’s farm with new planter boxes, irrigation systems, compost bins and greenhouses. • Class 41 built a storage barn for Loaves & Fishes in Sacramento and an outdoor basketball court in New London, a farm worker community. • Class 40 organized and funded day-long agricultural field trips to the Central Valley for inner city Oakland students.
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PROGRAM NEWS
Class 44 International Travel Seminar
Welcome Class 45
SFO>DXB>LUN>LVI>JNB>CPT>JNB>SFO
Itinerary Highlights
Class 44 fellows logged more than 25,000 miles for their international travel seminar to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. The trip was the first time an Ag Leadership class had visited Zambia. Class 36 traveled to UAE, Class 18 traveled to Zimbabwe, and Classes 4, 9, 18 and 27 traveled to South Africa.
United Arab Emirates • Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain: city tour, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Ain Palace Museum. Zambia and Zimbabwe • Lusaka: U.S. Embassy briefing, Indaba Ag Policy Research Institute, University of Lusaka, orphanage and industries. • Conservation efforts on the Lower Zambezi (African bush). • Livingstone: Village life, women’s farm project, donation and service at a village goat project, Victoria Falls, conservation and wildlife. • Chinotimba township, wood factory.
The compelling journey intended to challenge the fellows on many levels, broaden their perspectives and introduce them to cultures and issues different from their own. They explored government, business, culture, conservation, education, history and agriculture. Personal experiences, observations and synthesis sessions deepened their understanding of issues pertinent to the three countries.
South Africa • Johannesburg: Research farm, smallholding vs. Afrikaans farmers, U.S. Embassy briefing and University of the Witwatersrand. • Soweto: Township tour, Mandela/Tutu museums, Kliptown Youth Program, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Apartheid Museum, Agricultural School of Sabina Khosa, South African agriculture. • Cape Town: University of Cape Town, Robben Island, Villiera Vineyard, Longridge Wine Estate (finale dinner and synthesis). RUSSIA
You can read about the trip and see photos by visiting the fellows’ blog at http:// calf44intl.tumblr.com or on Instagram via #calf44intl.
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>> Photos Nor t h and personal insights from A t lwill a n t i c be featured in the winter the trip Ocean issue of Horizons.
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Scale 1:51,400,000
Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection
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CA 20
Indian Ocean
Dar es Salaam
Cidade de Nacala
Blantyre
Pretoria
Johannesburg
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Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
0
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Derek Azevedo, Gustine The Morning Star Company
Jeff Milinovich, Fresno Central California Raisin Packing Company
Correen Davis, Stockton Gorrill Ranch
Justin Morehead, Fresno Wells Fargo Bank
Matthew Efird, Caruthers Efird Ag Enterprises, Inc.
Brian Neufeld, Exeter Agricare, Inc.
Lucas Espericueta, Bakersfield Farm Credit West
Lauren Reid, Caruthers Fred Rau Dairy, Inc.
Rob Goff, Bakersfield Paramount Farming Company Stephanie Gonzales, Firebaugh Sierra Valley Almonds
Tyson Heusser, Gridley DuPont Pioneer
SOMALIA
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MALAWI
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Lake Nyasa
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ZAMBIA Lusaka
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20
“Class 45 is an impressive, diverse and ambitious group of individuals who will carry on the Ag Leadership tradition of leaders who make a difference,” said CALF Director of Education Dr. Michael Thomas. “We have no doubt that they will be successful leaders. They have just embarked on an amazing educational and life journey and we are excited to watch them grow and learn and broaden their horizons during the program.”
Tou Her, Merced Turlock Irrigation District
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
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W
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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The 24 fellows of Class 45 participated in their inaugural seminar at Fresno State in October. For the next 16 months, they will be immersed in topics such as leadership theory, strategic agility, effective communication, motivation, critical thinking, change management, emotional intelligence, and complex social and cultural issues. Personal coaching and mentoring are key components of the curriculum.
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TURKEY
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40
The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) proudly welcomes the newest members of our Ag Leadership family.
RI
SE
800 Kilometers
0
800 Miles
Boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative. 20
40
Chris Jensen, Visalia Nichols Farms Stanley Kjar, Jr., Fresno Pearson Realty Brad Lindemann, Livermore Taylor Farms Cameron Mauritson, Healdsburg Mauritson Farms
Rick Rhody, Yuba City Sun Valley Rice Jane Roberti, Loyalton Roberti Ranch Yvonne Sams, Oakdale G3 Enterprises, Inc. Jason Schwartze, Oceanside County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Justin Spellman, Corcoran J.G. Boswell Company Abby Taylor-Silva, Salinas Grower-Shipper Association of Central California Ravi Thiara, Yuba City Thiara Orchards Devon Yurosek, Bakersfield Yurosek Farms
13
40
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803510AI (G00392) 6-12
FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
LEADERSHIP FOCUS
Commentary:
EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE By Dr. Michael Thomas, CALF Director of Education The California Agricultural Leadership Program has, throughout its 45-year history, focused on personal development and self-awareness to internally improve the fellow. In recent years, however, we have refined and updated the message to include “emotional intelligence,” “social intelligence” and “EQ” (emotional intelligence quotient). These terms became commonplace in the late 1990s as a result of the writings of Dr. Daniel Goleman, who has been the thought leader in this field for the past 25 years. With the assistance of Dr. Patrick Lattore, we updated the personal development portion of the Ag Leadership curriculum. During that process, we polished the words and the message to strengthen the program. Now, personal coaching helps fellows individually understand their own IQ through personal-preference assessments and holds them to personal goals – adding more potency to personal change. As Bob Gray has said many times, “We build leaders from the inside out.” Personal development has also crossed over to alumni programs. Over the past 18 months, we have provided high quality educational opportunities for alumni in emotional intelligence and EQ. The Life-Long Leadership Learning (L4) seminars would not have been possible without the generosity of the Reiter
In March 2013, we had an excellent L4 seminar featuring Dr. Annie McKee, author of numerous books, including “Resonant Leadership” and “Primal Leadership” (co-written with Goleman). We have used “Primal Leadership” in the Ag Leadership Program for several years. In September, we had the unique opportunity to bring Goleman to Fresno State for an L4 seminar, which attracted some 600 attendees. His presentation is summarized on the following page. These L4 seminars have been so instructive and influential to me that I consider our alumni learning opportunities as upper division courses in a graduate program in personal development. I think it is important to emphasize the influence that Goleman’s work on the topics of emotional intelligence and attention (the subject of his newest book, “Focus: the Hidden Driver of Excellence”) has had on the Ag Leadership Program. As I look closely at the revised curriculum, I find emotional intelligence and focus to be a common thread throughout the first year of the program. By reviewing my notes from Goleman’s L4 presentation and from his books and articles, I have found that the Ag Leadership curriculum is very much aligned with his principles. His book “Focus” emphasizes three types of focus that
leaders need: 1) “inner” focus or self-awareness to manage one’s inner world; 2) “other” focus or empathy to help us build strong relationships and lead teams; and 3) “outer” focus or systems awareness to help us with strategic thinking. This is exactly what we do in Ag Leadership. We help fellows learn about themselves by taking self-assessments and by coaching. Then we teach them how to relate their personality preferences to those of others and how to cooperate, get along in groups and manage conflicts. Through a broad, exposure curriculum we then apply self-awareness and social intelligence to the external world and its wicked problems. We learn how to see issues from a completely different viewpoint by getting out of our comfort zone in developing countries or prickly domestic situations, such as East LA or our criminal justice system. The accompanying chart below includes a major theme of each of the first eight seminars and at least one Goleman-inspired theme that is emphasized in the seminar. We believe the Ag Leadership Program has tremendous impact on individuals because we improve fellows from the inside out using sound principles of emotional intelligence as explained in Goleman’s books.
Seminar
Main Seminar Objective
Goleman Theme(s)
1. Inaugural (Fresno)
Intro to leadership
Self-awareness/self-focus
2. Speech seminar 1 (SLO)
Communication/listening
Self-management/“others” focus
3. Group dynamics (Davis)
Teamwork/conflict
Social awareness
4. Roots of culture (Pomona)
Culture/diversity
Social awareness/wider world focus
5. EQ and leadership (Fresno)
Emotionally intelligent leadership
Emotional and social intelligence
6. Political systems (Davis/D.C.)
Engaging organizations and the government process Personal change/organizational change
Relationship management/wider world focus
Best practices in communication
Self-awareness/“others” focus
7. Nature of change (Pomona)
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brothers and Reiter Affiliated Companies, including Driscoll’s.
8. Speech seminar (SLO)
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
Self-management/“others” focus
For more information on the emotional intelligence themes, read the Goleman presentation article on page 15. You can also read more on his work from his books or other sources. www.danielgoleman.info.
ALUMNI COUNCIL & EVENTS
Daniel Goleman: Focus and Emotional Intelligence It has been nearly 20 years since Daniel Goleman’s internationally renowned bestseller “Emotional Intelligence” was published, but the topic remains extremely relevant today for successful leaders. In fact, his philosophies on emotional and social intelligence, as well as focus and attention, are significant themes in the Ag Leadership Program curriculum.
1. Self-Awareness: Emotional self-awareness is about being in touch with your inner sense of meaning. It ties to our sense of ethics, to excellence, and to energy for getting things done.
Goleman, considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on leadership and management, spoke about these themes at the Life-Long Leadership Learning (L4) Seminar in September at Fresno State. More than 600 alumni, fellows, agricultural industry friends, students, faculty and staff attended the event.
Emotional intelligence competencies start with life. Goleman said, “Your parents are your first emotional intelligence tutors.”
Goleman is a well-known psychologist and author of 13 books (his latest is “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence”). He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University and reported on the brain and behavioral sciences as a science journalist for the New York Times for 12 years, where he was nominated twice for a Pulitzer Prize. Prominent publications have listed him among the most influential business thinkers. Much of Goleman’s presentation was centered on emotional intelligence and its link to effective leadership in work, relationships and personal well-being. He reminded the audience of his foundational work by explaining the four pillars of emotional intelligence and how they are interconnected. Washington, D.C.
2. Self-Management: Emotional selfcontrol, adaptability, achievement and positive outlook. This is where cognitive control comes in. Research has shown that self-management predicts success better than IQ. 3. Social Awareness: Empathy and organizational awareness. This is sensing what other people are feeling and being able to understand their perspective. 4. Relationship Management: This includes inspiring leadership, influence, managing conflict, teamwork and collaboration.
Goleman explained the difference between emotional and social intelligence. Emotional refers to how we handle ourselves, manage our emotions, focus and keep other things from getting in our way. Social is tuning in to other people and realizing that our success depends on the success of others. It is emotional empathy, but also includes bringing out the best in others. Social intelligence is an important quality for real leadership. The presentation also emphasized how different leadership styles impact the work climate. Positive styles include visionary (long-term direction and vision), coaching (develops employees for long-term), affiliative (creates harmony in work relationships) and democratic (builds commitment through collaboration). Negative styles include pacesetting (pushes to accomplish tasks) and commanding (demands compliance).
Another primary task of leadership, according to Goleman, is to direct attention. Leaders must learn to focus their own attention because it is key to performance, success and leadership in our personal and professional lives. (See page 14 for his three types of focus). “It now seems harder for people to focus attention because of so many distractions,” said Goleman, who cited technology examples such as cell phones, texting and emailing. “Attention is under threat. We noticed a new word appear in the dictionary a couple of years ago – ‘pizzled’ – which is a combination of puzzled and pissed off. It occurs when people cannot get the attention of another due to texting or other technology distractions.” Goleman also said that multitasking is a myth and it is an enemy to focus. “We really cannot multitask. To do this, the brain switches rapidly from one task to another, which is highenergy work requiring high glucose uptake. In multitasking situations, the brain must have a rest. Our attempts to multitask set up a situation where our thoughts get scattered.” So how does the relationship between raw intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) link to leadership? IQ gets you the job; your cognitive ability determines what you can be hired to do, so it is very important. But after that, success in a job – measured as superior performance – is predicted 85% of the time by your EQ. Intellect is important and emotions are important. The former gives you a starting point; the latter gives you the finish line. — Dr. Michael Thomas and Meredith Ritchie
Thank you to Driscoll’s for generously sponsoring the L4 seminar. The seminar was co-hosted by CALF and Fresno State.
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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
ALUMNI COUNCIL & EVENTS
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITIONTHANK YOU ALUMNI COUNCIL Alumni Council Regional Directors REGION 1 / NORTHERN
Holly Dawley (38), John Weiler (22)
REGION 2 / NORTH BAY
Andrea Card (38), Steve Knudsen (41)
REGION 3 / CAPITOL
Michael Campbell (3), Mica Heilmann (40)
REGION 4 / NORTH SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Chase Hurley (35), Robin Flournoy (29)
REGION 5 / COASTAL TRI-COUNTY
Melissa Duflock (40), Jorge Suarez (41)
REGION 6 / CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Timothy Vaux (31)
REGION 7 / SOUTH CENTRAL COAST Lisa Bodrogi (39), Dan Sutton (40)
REGION 8 / SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN & MOJAVE Jensen Devaurs (43), Todd Snider (41)
REGION 9 / VENTURA
Yissel Barajas (40), Scott Beylik (40)
REGION 10 / SOUTHERN
Bryan Foley (39), Liz Silva (41)
AT-LARGE
Noelle Cremers (35), Alexander Ott (37), Gerald DiBuduo (31), Mandy Critchley (37), Matt Fisher (41)
REGIONAL SCREENING COMMITTEES Screening committees interviewed Class 45 candidates in Chico (July 7), Davis (July 9-10), San Luis Obispo (July 16-17), Fresno (July 23-24) and Pomona (July 30-31). Committees included alumni, board members and industry representatives.
CHICO
Sarah DeForest (39) Anthony Laney (43) Danny Robinson (27) Stephanie Tillman (41) John Weiler (22) Dr. David Daley – acting dean, Chico State
DAVIS
Tina Anderson (39) Manpreet Bains (43) Bob Cherenson (29) Sue DiTomaso (32) Michael Frantz (36) Tricia Geringer (43) Mica Heilmann (40) Jeana Hultquist (38) Josh Huntsinger (39) Joel Kimmelshue (37) Paul Squires (37) Kevin Steward (36) Dr. Helene Dillard – dean, UC Davis Dr. Annie King – core faculty and ex officio
SAN LUIS OBISPO
Art Bliss (8) Danielle Burk (43) Todd Collins (34) Jackie Crabb (36) Cara Crye (39) Louise Fisher (33) Stasi Seay (30) Jorge Suarez (41) Deanna van Klaveren (32) Ivor Van Wingerden (39) Dr. Andy Thulin – dean, Cal Poly SLO
FRESNO
16 HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
Rachelle Antinetti (42) Caroline Berry (14) Mandy Critchley (37) Jerry DiBuduo (31) Donna France (38)
Denise Junqueiro (42) Ryan Person (42) Doug Phillips (40) Rod Stark (29) Tim Vaux (31) Jim Maxwell – CALF board Rob Yraceburu – CALF board Dr. Charles Boyer – dean, Fresno State Dr. Robert Flores – core faculty and ex officio
POMONA
David Bradshaw (37) Denise Godfrey (37) Helen McGrath (43) Chris Nichols (42) Steve Pastor (27) Mary Holz-Clause – dean, Cal Poly Pomona Dr. Peggy Perry – core faculty and ex officio Present at all screening dates: Dr. Michael Thomas – director of education, CALF
FINAL SELECTION COMMITTEE The final selection committee for Class 45 gathered at the Harden Foundation in Salinas on Aug. 20. Mandy Critchley (37) Jerry DiBuduo (31) Louise Fisher (33) Steve Pastor (27) Danny Robinson (27) Paul Squires (37) Kevin Steward (36) Deanna van Klaveren (32) John Weiler (22) Dr. Charles Boyer, Fresno State Dr. Helene Dillard, UC Davis Dr. Mary Holz-Clause, Cal Poly Pomona Dr. Andy Thulin, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Bob Gray, CALF Dr. Michael Thomas, CALF Judy Sparacino, CALF
FALL GOLF TOURNAMENTS
Volunteers for the Region 9 and Dean Brown golf tournaments will be listed in the winter issue.
ALUMNI & FELLOWS NEWS CLASSES 1-9
Guinness McFadden (5) was honored on June
24 at the state Capitol for winning Best of Show Sparkling Wine at the 2014 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition (he received a prestigious “Golden Bear” trophy). He also received a joint resolution from the California Legislature commending him for the significant contributions he has made in his community and agriculture, as well as his dedication to organic and sustainable farming.
Bill Jones (6) was the subject of a feature article in a September issue of Western Farm Press (“Farmer-politician Bill Jones talks water, Westside”). The article focused on his agricultural background, past political endeavors, family farming operation in Firebaugh and agricultural water issues.
CLASSES 10-19
Greg Nelson (11) was honored as a departing
and Agriculture and numerous California commodity groups. She is the executive director of the California Asparagus Commission.
Glenda Humiston (25) was the keynote
speaker at an Executive Speaker Series luncheon held on Sept. 26 and sponsored by the Tuolumne County Business Council and Tuolumne County Economic Development Agency. Cool Patch Pumpkins’ 63-acre corn maze, created and owned by Mark Cooley (25) and his brother, Matt, was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest corn maze. It broke its previous record of 43.5 acres.
Nicole Montna Van Vleck (26) was one of
the recipients of the 2014 Women of the Year Awards from the 3rd Congressional District (Garamendi).
Daniel Robinson (27) was elected to the Butte County Farm Bureau board of directors in June.
board member by The Community Foundation of Mendocino County for his volunteerism and community leadership.
Mark Kimmelshue (28) was appointed in
Ben Drake (12) received the 2014
Craig McNamara (28) was the featured
Distinguished Citizen of the Year award from the Boy Scouts of America Tahquitz District. The award is presented to individuals whose personal ethics and family values are representative of the Scout oath and law.
Les Heringer (13) was appointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair board of directors by Gov. Jerry Brown. Barry Bedwell (13) was appointed to the
Fresno State advisory board in July. He also serves on the President’s Commission on the Future of Agriculture at Fresno State.
CLASSES 20-29
A.G. Kawamura (20) was slated to deliver the
keynote address at the third annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Conference, Nov. 11-12 at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
John Weiler (22) received the 2014 Pedro Award from the Yuba-Sutter United Way in May. The award recognizes an individual who is willing to help others without personal gain. Weiler was recognized for his volunteer efforts in the community and regionally with dozens of organizations. Margaret D’Arrigo-Martin (24) ran unopposed and won a seat on the board of directors of Salinas Valley Memorial. Cherie Watte Angulo (25) was named chair of the board of California Grown, a partnership between the California Department of Food
April to the board of directors for Golden Valley Bank in Chico. speaker for a Jessica Catto Leadership Dialogue session at Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in June. His presentation was “The Future of Sustainable Agriculture: A Farmer’s Perspective.”
Scott Stone (28) and his father, Hank Stone (1), received the 2014 Conservationist of the
Year Award from the California Rangeland Trust. The Stone’s family business, Yolo Land & Cattle Co., received the 2014 Agri-Business of the Year Award from the Woodland Chamber of Commerce.
MULTIPLE CLASSES
Dan Dooley (18), Rich Engel (28), Glenda Humiston (25), Tony Oliveira (15) and Jason Peltier (16) were among the speakers at
a session titled “The Very Last Drop: Managing Water & Food Production” on March 27 in Coalinga. The event was part of the Essential Elements for the Future of San Joaquin Valley series presented by West Hills Community College District.
Paul Wenger (17), Jeff Rasmussen (37), Jason Peltier (16) and Greg Wegis (39) were speakers or panelists at the first annual Kern Agricultural Summit, held on Oct. 14 at Bakersfield College.
Vaughn Koligian (12) and Carlos Castaneda (36) were appointed to the
USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. Four alumni were featured in Produce Business magazine’s 40 Under FORTY – Meet the Class of 2014: Carson Britz (43), Julia Inestroza
(34), Shannon Leigh (43) and Garrett Patricio (38).
Fourteen alumni were featured in the Pacific Coast Business Times’ 2014 Who’s Who in Agriculture and Viticulture, published in July 2014: Emily Ayala (35), Kris Beal (31),
Lino Bozzano (38), Danielle Burk (43), Scott Deardorff (26), Bailey DiIoia (43), Tom Ikeda (26), Susan Josue (43), Scott Klittich (43), Leslie Leavens (34), Jim McGarry (43), Nicholas Miller (36), Brian Talley (30) and Don Warden (5).
CLASSES 30-39
James Ontiveros (31) received the 2014
Farmer of the Year award during the Santa Barbara County Fair’s 2013 Agricultural Recognition Awards, recognizing individuals for outstanding professional activities, dedication to the agricultural industry and commitment to their community.
CLASSES 40-45
Cameron Mauritson (45) was named the 2014 Outstanding Young Farmer by the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. He was recognized for the exemplary nature of his agricultural program, management, efficiency and leadership – all leading to excellence in the Sonoma County wine industry.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE? PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OR NEWS TO: mritchie@agleaders.org
17 FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
THANK YOU
DONOR SUPPORT
Pledge Payments Received Taylor Farms (Bruce Taylor): $25,000 Growers Express: $10,000 Rick and Kandi Burnes: $500 (plus roll giving match of $500) Matt Toste: $500 Lauren Grizzle: $250 Brent Grizzle: $250 Stephanie and Shawn Tillman: $150
$6,000–$6,499 Charles Buchinger Memorial Endowment Fund
$200,000 James G. Boswell Foundation (for the partner universities)
$2,500 Rod and Carol Stark
$100,000 James G. Boswell Foundation (for operational support) $16,000 Rabobank, N.A.
18
$7,500 Bowles Farming, Inc.
HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014
$5,000 Abundant Harvest Organics (Vernon and Carol Peterson) $3,000–$3,499 Class 41 Treasury Account Margaret Duflock Limoneira Foundation Fund
$2,000 John Weiler $1,500 Gail and John Gray Tim Vaux $1,000–$1,499 Far West Equipment Dealers Association (Steve Kost)
July 1 – October 31, 2014
Matt and Julie Fisher Materra Farming Co., LLC (Brent Grizzle) Personal Ag Management Services, LLC (Dan Carothers and Todd Snider) Uni-Kool Partners Mary-Ann Warmerdam Class 10 (Tim O’Neill Memorial Fund) -Mike Bennett -Lance Brown -Ron Caird -Steve Chrisman -John Crossland -Bill Daniell -Pete Fallini -Gary Foster -Randy Linquist -Mike Phelan $750 Joey and Shari Mendonca $600-$699 Moncrief & Hart, PC (Paul Moncrief )
$500 Hidden Villa Ranch (Mike Sencer) Mike Mendes Bre Owens Kim Rogina Todd Snider Deanna and Roger van Klaveren R. Wallace Wertsch $300 David Shabazian $250 Christopher Coyle John and Carol Gorter Stuart and Delores Mast Cindy Myers Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation $200 Jose Luis Aguiar Bruce Hall
L&M Fertilizer (Leo McGuire) Twin Peaks Agriculture, Inc. (Anthony Laney) $100 David and Jan Roseleip M.T. Sheppard and L.J. Timbers Doris Uyeda Robert Wertsch In Memory of Susan Diefenderfer Jerry Diefenderfer: $1,000 In Honor of the Marriage of Holly King and Steve Runyon Denise and Ben Carter: $100 In-Kind Darlene Din: $7,800 TMD Creative: $2,500 Art Bliss: $250
THANK YOU
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS July 1, 2011- October 31, 2014
FOUNDERS’ LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $1,000,000 and above
James G. Boswell Foundation Otis Booth Foundation
LEGACY LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $500,000 and above
Boswell Family Foundation
PIONEER LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Farm Credit: American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit West Foster Farms Harden Foundation Lagomarsino Group George and Kathleen Myers The Norton Foundation Syngenta Corporation TMD Creative Wegis and Young / Mike Young, Rick Wegis, Greg Wegis
$250,000 and above
THE 1970 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Susan Dulin (in memory of J.G. Boswell II) Justina Borba
$10,000 and above
CHAIRMAN’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $100,000 and above
John and Betsy Grether John and Sheila Lake Reiter Affiliated Companies Taylor Farms California Wells Fargo
ALUMNI LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $50,000 and above
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. Growers Express J.F. Maddox Foundation (in memory of J.G. Boswell II) Mission Produce, Inc. Mulholland Citrus Vessey and Company Western Growers Association
PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $25,000 and above
Azzule Systems The Borba Families – Mark and Sharon Borba Bowles Farming Company / Philip E. and Jamie N. Bowles Capital Insurance Group C.H. Robinson Worldwide D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California Darlene Din Denise Godfrey Family / Olive Hill Greenhouses
Bank of the West Booth Ranches Ed and Rosa Boutonnet Rose Marie Burroughs Charles Buchinger Memorial Endowment Fund Class 39 Class 43 Margaret Duflock Melissa Duflock E. & J. Gallo Winery Jim and Betsy Hansen Hayashi & Wayland International Paper Company The Johannessen Trust Kevin Grizzle Farms, LLC The Klassen Corporation Limoneira Foundation Fund Charlie and Sheila Mathews Monsanto Company Benina Montes Paul and Yvonne Murai Mark and Joann Nickerson Vernon and Carol Peterson / Abundant Harvest Organics Richard Pidduck Prime Time R. Gorrill Ranch Enterprises Rabobank, N.A. Rick Vorpe and Evelyn Matteucci Sally Hughes Church Foundation Saticoy Lemon Association Union Bank of California Foundation Tim York
Edwin and Kaye Camp Class 41 Craton Capital Gary Cusumano Errotabere Ranches Finch Farms Gail Gray Greenleaf Farms, Inc. Hidden Villa Ranch The James R. Moffett Family Foundation Bradford and Randall Lange / LangeTwins Winery & Vineyards McClarty Family Foundation Mann Packing Company David and Melissa Martella Tom and Brianne McGrath Craig Pedersen Person & Son Cattle Co. Peter Peterson Prudential Ag Investments Rain for Rent Meredith Rehrman Ritchie Rolling Ridge Ranch Janette Smith Rod and Carol Stark Supima Cotton Mary-Ann Warmerdam John Weiler
FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL EVENTS World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni Breakfast
>>Major sponsors ($15,000 and above): Zenith Insurance Company/Zenith Ag and State Compensation Insurance Fund Dean Brown Golf Tournament
>>Special thanks to Hampton Farming Company Region 9 Golf Tournament
>>Major sponsors: Calavo Growers and Paramount Citrus Colusa Farm Show Breakfast Common Threads, Fresno Class 10 Tim O’Neill Memorial Fund Life-Long Leadership Learning Seminar
FELLOWS LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $5,000 and above
AGR Partners Blue Diamond Growers
>>Major sponsors ($7,500 each): Agriland Farming Co., Inc., Bank of the West, Booth Ranches, Chevron, Greenleaf Farms & Prudential Agricultural Investments, Simplot, Wells Fargo Bank, and The Ag One Foundation & Fresno State.
19 FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
P.O. BOX 479 SALINAS, CA 93902 Return Service Requested
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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
Year-End Giving
Make a Difference with Matching Challenge Grant We hope you will consider a yearend gift* to Ag Leadership and take advantage of Loren Booth’s generous matching grant offer. Some $800,000 of a $1 million challenge remain to be matched. The grant is aimed at new or increased giving, based on last year’s contribution. If you are a “lapsed” giver, your donation will be deemed new. No gift is insignificant! Every dollar counts. Please support CALF, an organization that is critical to California’s agricultural industry and its future leadership. Thank you.
ONLINE: www.agleaders.org PHONE: 831-585-1030 MAIL: California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, P.O. Box 479, Salinas, CA, 93902-479
Cash gifts
(annual operating support, general endowment, endowment funds, fellowship funds, memorial funds)
Matching gifts Planned gifts
(trusts, bequests, etc.)
In memoriam Stock Pledges
*If you intend for your gift to qualify for an income tax charitable deduction in 2014, please make sure CALF receives your gift in 2014 (Dec. 31 is a Wednesday). If you send your gift via U.S Postal Service, your envelope must be postmarked before or on Dec. 31.
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