2023 Impact Report by CaliforniaFarmlandTrust

2023 IMPACT REPORT

YEAR IN REVIEW

REFLECTING ON SUCCESS AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Dear Friends,

Our farmland conservation partners’ collective effort continues to pay huge dividends. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, CFT celebrated the closing of its first far mland conservation easement project using a capital campaign funding strategy. This effort leveraged the Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation Grant Program with a capital campaign of individual donations matching a generous grant from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. This work showcased the amazing commitment of many people and organizations who value farmland protection over rapid urban encroachment. A special thank you to the Newhall Foundation and all who donated to see this project over the finish line. This brings our total conserved farmland acres to 17,665!

The year also paved the way for the protection of another 2,400 acres of farmland using over $26 million in grant funding. We are working persistently to complete these projects by late 2025. This work is helping to protect farms that provide economic, environmental, and socio-cultural benefits, as well as providing for our ability to feed ourselves, resulting in national food security. Farmland preservation secures the state’s economy. There needs to be enough farms as permanent anchors stabilizing neighboring farms and farm businesses. Each farm is a thread in a web of complex systems; when too many of these threads are lost, the farm economy, ecosystems, and environmental benefits are gone as well.

California agriculture produced a market value of $59 billion in 2022 among 400 commodities grown throughout the state. Over a third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. Global population is projected to rise from 8 billion to 10 billion people by 2050. By protecting our best soils to produce food, we can guard against our nation facing food shortages, conflicts, and crises; the untold human tragedy that we have seen in our world’s history. National security requires fertile farmland and CFT is working with our farm families to ensure we can position ourselves to be food secure, now and in the future.

The year also brought many other highlights, including expanding our CFT team. We hired Amy Wolfe as our Strategic Marketing and Development Manager. She brings a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and hard work to advance our fund development program and the strategic marketing of our efforts. Our office manager, Stacey Ming, was hired to give muchneeded support to the entire organization. We also welcomed Mike Wade as our newest board member. Mike brings a depth of understanding and respect to all matters relating to water and the use of water in agriculture. Lastly, we were out-and-about in the community educating on our farmland conservation efforts. This included participating in the Burroughs Family Farms Regenerative Almond Field Day, Ag Day at the State Capitol, Grow Riverside Conference, and AgVenture, to name a few.

We ended 2023 with our investments on a higher note than the prior year, netting a gain of $2,113,948. 2022 brought unprecedented times in the financial markets with inflation surging that led the Federal Reserve to a series of interest rate hikes. The board of directors remained vigilant in safeguarding CFT assets and actively managing the portfolio to mitigate the consequences of a rising interest rate environment on fixed-income securities. They utilized a strategy with ultrashort, highquality fixed income with defined maturity to avoid the potential of principal loss. This plan continued to serve us well into 2023 as we minimized significant unrealized losses and ended 2023 with a meaningful recovery from the year prior.

In closing, we are incredibly thankful to our supporters, donors, sponsors, and partners for a rewarding 2023. We are looking forward to an exciting 2024, marked by our 20th Anniversary Celebration on November 2nd. CFT will celebrate the organizations and people that helped make it what it is today. Watch our e-news and website for more details on the event.

Please enjoy our 2023 Impact Report and thank you for your support!

With gratitude,

Charlotte Mitchell, Executive Director cmitchell@cafarmtrust.org

CONSERVATION

SUCCESS AT FIORINI RANCH, DELHI

The Fiorini family identified 59 acres of farmland near the community of Delhi in Merced County to place into an agricultural conservation easement. Fiorini Ranch is managed by the third and fourth generations of the Fiorini family, Randy, along with his children Jay and Stacy. The family has farmed in the Delhi area since 1909 when they moved from Los Angeles to Merced County. The property is adjacent to the ground where the first generation started their farming journey.

This specific property has been in the Fiorini family since 1973 and is the first piece of farmland Randy owned. Before being planted entirely to almonds, the property utilized a crop rotation of sweet potatoes between the new planting of the permanent crop to help prevent and control a wide range of soil-borne pests and diseases. Healthy soil-building practices, such as compost and manure applications and water-use efficiency technologies, are all utilized.

The sustainable farming practices embraced by the Fiorini family reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the biodiversity of beneficial insects, and help to reduce soil erosion.

The funding for the conservation easement was provided in collaboration with the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation and individual donors. The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation grant enabled CFT to launch its first-ever capital campaign specifically focused on providing some of the funding needed to protect the property.

Adding Fiorini Ranch brings our extensive property portfolio in Merced County to 39 easements and over 12,146 acres of farmland.

Randy Fiorini (middle) with his son Jay Fiorini and daughter Stacy Fiorini on their property in Delhi, CA.

OUTREACH

THIRD ANNUAL RACE TO SLOW THE PACE IS A WIN FOR FARMLAND AND CFT

On September 17th, over 200 people gathered underneath Bokisch Vineyards’ 100-year-old oak tree for California Farmland Trust’s third annual Race to Slow the Pace 5K/10K presented in partnership with the John and Jeani Ferrari Family Foundation.

This trail run served as an opportunity to demonstrate the value of California farmlands in real time. Bokisch Vineyards’ property in the Lodi countryside offered stunning views that showed our participants all that bountiful farmland has to offer. After the early morning race, participants stayed to enjoy delicious paella, Bokisch wine, a fresh fruit mimosa bar, and a second race of the day for the silent auction items. Along with a custom wine bag, each participant took home a bottle of Fontana Far ms Pepper-Cot Sauce and a bag of Burroughs Family Farms organic almonds. Fruit cups were provided by our sponsors at Pacific Coast Producers and farm fresh produce from Raley’s for the mimosa bar were all small details that put a bow on the whole purpose of our fundraising goal – connecting consumers to the farms that feed their families. We are deeply grateful for the support of all the event sponsors, participants, volunteers, donors and staff that made this event successful and fun.

Through our partnership with Raley’s we demonstrated the Orange You Glad We Have Farmland activity to 2,900 local students

Our Big Day of Giving campaign raised over $21,000

We attended the Land Trust Alliance Rally in Portland, Oregon

We attended Burroughs Family Farms Regenerative Almond Field Day

We attended Ag Day at the Capital in Sacramento

We presented at the Grow Riverside Conference

Our Giving Tuesday campaign raised over $12,300

FINANCIALS

WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR AUDITOR ISSUED AN UNQUALIFIED OPINION ON OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THIS MEANS THAT OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS WERE FAIRLY AND APPROPRIATELY STATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP).

BALANCE SHEET

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

SUPPORTERS

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS &

CONSERVATORS ($15,000+)

Raley’s

Sustainable Futures Fund

STEWARDS ($1,500-14,999)

AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank

Cortopassi Family Foundation

Ron & Georgetta Dolinsek

Dwelley Family Farms, LLC

E&J Gallo Winery

Fluetsch & Busby Insurance

Ron & Nonine Freitas

G3 Enterprises

Garton Tractor

William Hoobler

Jeanne Gobalet

Tom & Barbara Job

John & Jeani Ferrari Family Foundation

Patrick & Amy Johnston

Jim Jorgensen

Joanne Mills

Montpelier Farming Corporation

Garth Norton

Maxwell & Diane Norton

Pacific Southwest Irrigation Corp.

Ripon Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Barbara & Duncan Smith

SMUD

Stanislaus Food Products

Leslie Templin

SUPPORTERS ($500-1,499)

Bokides-Hesseltine Real Estate Co.

Janet Caprile

Couchman Farms

Thomas & Karen Coultas

Arthur Crowell

Keith & Holly Dierberg

Farmers & Merchants Bank

Lonnie & Lola Hendricks

Janice Jorgensen

Laurel Ag & Water

Peggy Lemaux

Anita Menghetti

William Murphy

Mujeres Poderosas

Ed & Fran Nishio

Ken & Florrie Oneto

Karen Rosenbaum

Mark & Marsha Seivert

Mike Tanner

Vino Farms

Sam & Brulene Zanutto

Zenith Insurance

GUARDIANS

($100-499)

Thomas Adams

Sandra Alderson

Maxine Bennett

Lois Biehler

Tom Bloomfield

Gerad Borrego

Christine Bruhn

Margaret Buss

Marie Coleman

Conservation Partners LLP

Linda Ellis

Heather Fargo

Roberta Firoved

Darrell Fonseca

Steve Haze

Ryan & Ashley Jacobsen

Cindy Kelleher

Kevin Knowles

Kerri Kisko

KLM Ranches

Kevin Knowles

Judith Lamare

Henrietta Locklear

Katherine Lowe

Lucas Holdings, LP

Scott & Pamela Magneson

Richard & Susan Mahacek

Edward & Mildred Maring

Bill & Carol Martin

Charlotte Mitchell

Mitchell Farms Club Lambs

Douglas Najima

Tami Nelson

James Pachl

Richard Piper

Laurel Posey

Relation Insurance

Jim Rostron

Ann Rovere

Thomas Scharffenberger

Diane Shirley

Randolph & Susan Siefkin

Jeanne Strong

Tom Scharffenberger

Vicky Simonds

Melanie Tighe

Cynthia Tyler

United Way Our Promise

Carel & Linda Van Loben Sels

Marilyn Waegell

Carol Weir

Grow West

Mary Whitaker

Vernon & Mary Wickstrom

Lori Wilson-Hopkins

David Zezulak

BUSINESSES FOR INVESTING IN OUR MISSION

FRIENDS ($1-99)

Amazon Smile Foundation

Lisa Bloom

Angelina Ceja

Lucy Christensen

Kimberly Cox

Darien DeLu

Donna Dotti

Jack Edwards

Mary Elizabeth

Lauren Fox

Ken Giannotti

Gail Goldsmith

Terry Grant

Kathleen Griffin

Arlene Jamar

Theresa & Ryan Kiehn

Toosja & John Koll

Peter Martin

Carolyn Mataga

Mark & Paula Mendenhall

Richard Mills

Catherine Nahmens

Brady & Katie Otto

Dr. Grant Plemons

Hector Roman

Kitty Ruhstaller

Mary Jean Sawyer

Susan M. Sawyer

Ron Selge

John & Judy Semas

Jennifer Simmons

Denise Skidmore

Robert Triebsch

Danielle Walters

Idell & David Weydemeyer

Becca Whitman

Karen Williams

Russell Winton

Jane Woehl

Anita Young

Stephanie Younger

David Zelinsky

FACES OF CFT

THE STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CALIFORNIA FARMLAND TRUST (CFT) DESIRES TO ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS.

Generational Responsibility

We pledge to work in partnership with landowners and conservation partners to protect the best farmland in the world. We value the agricultural heritage and culture of California and will work to preserve these values.

Integrity

We desire to enhance the reputation of land conservation in California. CFT promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity. We will be good stewards of the resources we receive, uphold rigorous standards of conduct, be responsive to the concerns of our donors and volunteers, and work to earn their trust each and every day.

Respect

We value, appreciate and recognize the contributions of all people and organizations working to preserve agricultural land. Additionally, we respect the diverse approaches and perspectives they bring to the conservation movement.

Organizational Excellence

We pledge to conduct organizational and land protection activities under the highest professional standards and in accordance with the Land Trust Standards and Practices. We pledge to serve the public interest, respect all laws, demonstrate integrity, and meet our responsibility to ensure the longterm conservation of the lands upon which we hold easements.