A YEAR OF LASTING IMPACT
In 2025, California Farmland Trust continued building momentum toward a major milestone: the permanent protection of 20,000 acres of California farmland. Every conservation easement completed this year represents more than acres conserved. It represents a commitment to keeping family farms in production, strengthening rural communities, supporting California’s agricultural economy, and ensuring our working lands remain productive for generations to come.
One of this year’s most meaningful achievements was the protection of Danbom River Ranch in Merced County. Through a partnership with the Danbom family, this productive farmland along the Merced River will remain in agriculture forever while preserving valuable wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, and the family’s agricultural legacy.
As the demand for farmland conservation continues to grow, California Farmland Trust also strengthened its role as a voice for conservation across the state. Throughout the year, we advocated for continued investment in the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, recognizing that strong public funding is essential to helping landowners voluntarily protect working farms and ranches from development.
Our commitment to excellence was also recognized nationally as California Farmland Trust earned its fourth consecutive accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This distinction reflects our dedication to the highest standards of governance, stewardship, and conservation, while reinforcing the trust our landowners, partners, donors, and supporters place in our organization.
These accomplishments were made possible through the collaboration of landowners, funding partners, volunteers, donors, and advocates who share our vision for California’s agricultural future. As we look ahead, we remain committed to protecting the land that feeds us, supports our communities, and defines California’s rich agricultural heritage. Together, we are ensuring these working lands remain in agriculture forever.
Thank you for a successful 2025! Warmly,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sam Zanutto
President
Theresa Kiehn
Vice President
William Hoobler
Secretary
Michael Machado
Treasurer
Patrick Johnston
Immediate Past
President
Ron Dolinsek
Ron Freitas
Carrie Isaacson
Ryan Jacobsen
Jim Jorgensen
Maxwell Norton
Ken Oneto
Katie Patterson
Barbara Smith
Mike Wade
TRUSTEE COUNCIL
Ron Dolinsek
Emily Rooney
COMMITTEE
Peggy Acosta
Patrick Bush
Paul Wenger Ann Veneman
& EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Lexi Grizzle
Michelle Hensley
Lori Candelaria
Kristi Chapman
Wendy ChavarriaVillalobos
Lilliana Cortez-Job
Karen Diekmeyer
Nonine Freitas
Vickie Goudreau
Wayne Goudreau
Roy Grizzle
Amber Grizzle
Mason Grizzle
Charlotte Grizzle
Michelle Grizzle
Cameron Grizzle
STAFF
Charlotte Mitchell
Executive Director
Matthew Grizzle
Operations Director
Quinn Mulrooney
Conservation Manager
Mailing Address: PO Box 1960 Elk Grove, CA 95759
Phone Number
(916) 687-3178
Taylor Holbrook
Nishi Johal
Charlotte Larsen
Tosh Lu
Bill Martin
Ken Mitchell
Bella Mortensen
Kevin Nelson
Ed Nicolay
Nina Qui
Brett Tank
Julie Tank
Mary Whitaker
Tabby Whitaker
Melissa Womble
Amy Wolfe
Development Manager
Port City Marketing Agency
Physical Address: 8970 Elk Grove Blvd. Elk Grove, CA 95624
General Inquiries
info@cafarmtrust.org
FINANCIALS
BALANCE SHEET
DANBOM RIVER RANCH: PROTECTING
A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
In 2025, California Farmland Trust permanently protected 147 acres of productive farmland in Merced County through the conservation of Danbom River Ranch. Located along the Merced River near Hilmar, the property represents more than six decades of agricultural production and a family commitment to stewardship that spans generations.
Since 1962, Danbom River Ranch has served as a vital part of the Danbom dairy operation, producing corn, oats, and alfalfa that support approximately 1,900 dairy cows. Today, the ranch is owned and managed by Paul and Taryn Danbom, who continue the family’s agricultural legacy while implementing innovative practices that strengthen both environmental and economic sustainability.
The Danbom family’s roots in California agriculture date back to 1893, when Andre Danbom and his brothers settled in the San Joaquin Valley. Over the generations, the operation evolved and expanded, passing knowledge and responsibility from one generation to the next. Today, Paul and Taryn are focused on ensuring that the farm remains viable for their three children and future generations of California farmers.
Through climate-smart farming practices, the Danboms have embraced a stewardship approach that benefits both the land and their operation. They compost dairy manure into organic fertilizer, reduce herbicide use, improve soil health, support pollinator habitat, and utilize technologies that minimize waste and methane emissions. These practices help improve the farm’s long-term resilience while demonstrating that environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity can work hand in hand.
The ranch’s location along the Merced River also provides important environmental benefits. The property supports wildlife habitat, protects riparian vegetation, and serves as a valuable groundwater recharge area. Its conservation helps preserve both agricultural productivity and natural resources that benefit the broader community.
For Paul Danbom, protecting the property through a conservation easement was a natural extension of his family’s long-standing commitment to the land.
“I don’t want to be the generation that loses this land,” Paul shared.
“This easement allows me to be a long-term steward of my family’s land. I feel better knowing it will stay in farming.”
The conservation easement permanently limits future development while ensuring the land remains available for agricultural production. By partnering with California Farmland Trust, the Danbom family has secured the future of this working landscape and the values it represents.
Funding for the project was provided through the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) and the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. Together, these partners helped ensure that Danbom River Ranch will remain a productive agricultural resource, wildlife habitat, and family legacy for generations to come.
ADVOCATING FOR CALIFORNIA’S FARMLAND FUTURE
In 2025, California Farmland Trust strengthened its role as a leading voice for farmland conservation by advocating for continued investment in the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, one of California’s most effective tools for permanently protecting agricultural land.
SALC provides funding for agricultural conservation easements and related conservation projects that help prevent the conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses. By protecting working lands from development, the program supports California’s agricultural economy, strengthens food security, preserves open space, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Farmland conservation remains an urgent priority. California continues to lose thousands of acres of farmland and ranchland each year to development, placing increasing pressure on the state’s agricultural resources and rural communities. Once farmland is converted to nonagricultural uses, it is rarely returned to production.
As discussions surrounding future state funding priorities intensified, California Farmland Trust joined conservation partners, agricultural organizations, and supporters across the state to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining robust funding for SALC. Through outreach efforts, legislative engagement, and educational initiatives, CFT highlighted the program’s proven success in protecting farmland while delivering meaningful climate benefits.
Since 2015, SALC has played a critical role in California Farmland Trust’s conservation efforts. The program has helped fund projects that permanently protect productive agricultural land,
ensuring that farms and ranches remain available for future generations. These investments not only safeguard farmland but also support local economies, wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, and the long-term viability of California agriculture.
The need for farmland conservation continues to grow. Demand for conservation funding consistently exceeds available resources, demonstrating both the value of these programs and the desire among landowners to permanently protect their land. Continued investment in SALC is essential to meeting this demand and advancing California’s conservation, climate, and agricultural goals.
“Protecting farmland means protecting our food, our environment, our rural communities, and our future.”
As California Farmland Trust looks toward the future, advocacy remains an important part of our mission. Protecting farmland requires more than conservation easements alone. It also requires strong public policies and sustained investment in programs that recognize the value of working lands.
By engaging with policymakers, educating stakeholders, and mobilizing supporters, CFT continues to champion solutions that protect California’s farms and ranches, strengthen rural communities, and preserve the agricultural landscapes that feed our state and nation.
WAYS TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA FARMLAND TRUST
ONE-TIME GIFT
Make an immediate impact by supporting California Farmland Trust’s work to protect farmland and keep it in agriculture forever.
FRIENDS OF FARMLAND
Join our monthly giving community and provide reliable, year-round support for farmland conservation and education programs.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS (DAFS)
Recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund to support the permanent protection of California’s working lands.
PLANNED GIVING
Create a lasting legacy by including California Farmland Trust in your estate plans.
GIFTS OF STOCK
Donate appreciated stocks or securities to support farmland conservation while potentially receiving tax benefits.
CORPORATE GIVING
Partner with California Farmland Trust through sponsorships, matching gifts, or corporate philanthropy to support our mission.
MEMORIAL & HONORARY GIFTS
Honor a loved one or celebrate a special occasion with a meaningful gift that protects farmland for future generations.
CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
Work alongside California Farmland Trust to protect agricultural land and strengthen California’s farming future.
ACCREDITED EXCELLENCE
In 2025, California Farmland Trust achieved a significant organizational milestone: the renewal of its accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for the fourth consecutive time.
Accreditation is awarded to land trusts that demonstrate excellence in governance, financial management, ethical operations, and long-term conservation stewardship. The rigorous accreditation process evaluates an organization’s policies, practices, and capacity to uphold its conservation commitments in perpetuity.
For California Farmland Trust, accreditation represents more than a seal of approval. It reflects our unwavering commitment to the landowners, communities, and supporters who place their trust in us. As a holder and steward of agricultural conservation easements, CFT is responsible for ensuring that the farms and ranches we protect today remain productive working lands for generations to come. Accreditation provides independent verification that we have the systems, expertise, and accountability necessary to fulfill that responsibility.
Only accredited land trusts have demonstrated their ability to meet national standards for quality, transparency, and permanence in land conservation. This distinction signals to landowners, donors, partners, and funding agencies that CFT operates with integrity and is committed to the highest level of professional excellence.
As we reflect on another year of protecting California’s irreplaceable farmland, our fourth accreditation renewal serves as a reminder that lasting conservation requires both vision and accountability. We are honored to be recognized among the nation’s accredited land trusts and remain dedicated to safeguarding the agricultural landscapes that sustain California’s economy, communities, and way of life.
GROWING CONNECTIONS THROUGH FRIENDS OF FARMLAND
In 2025, California Farmland Trust hosted a series of Friends of Farmland events that brought together supporters, landowners, and community members to learn more about the importance of protecting California’s agricultural land. These educational gatherings provided an inside look at CFT’s conservation efforts and highlighted the role agricultural conservation easements play in ensuring farmland remains available for farming, forever.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from CFT staff, ask questions about farmland protection, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing California agriculture. The events also showcased how conservation easements help preserve working lands, support family farms and ranches, and protect the agricultural heritage that sustains our communities.
Whether you are a landowner exploring conservation options or simply interested in learning more about farmland protection, CFT welcomes the conversation. To learn more about agricultural conservation easements and available opportunities, please contact Conservation Director Quinn Mulrooney at qmulrooney@cafarmtrust.org.
SUPPORTERS
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS & ORGANIZATIONS FOR INVESTING IN OUR MISSION
CONSERVATORS ($25,000+)
Sustainable Futures Fund
STEWARDS ($1,500 – $24,999)
E&J Gallo Winery
Raley’s
Farm Credit Alliance: AgWest Farm Credit, American Ag Credit, & CoBank
G3 Enterprises
Fluetsch & Busby Insurance
Cortopassi Family Foundation
Hoobler Insurance Services -
William Hoobler
John & Jeani Ferrari Family Foundation
Garton Tractor
Ripon Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Montpelier Farming Corporation - Jim Crecelius
Jim Jorgensen
Ron & Nonine Freitas
Stanislaus Food Products Company
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Jeanne Gobalet & Garth Norton
Farmers & Merchants Bank
SMUD
Dwelley Family Farms LLC
Turlock Irrigation District
Tom & Barbara Job
Maxwell & Diane Norton
Keith & Holly Dierberg
Patrick & Amy Johnston
Leslie Templin
Ron & Georgetta Dolinsek
Allworth Financial
SUPPORTERS ($500 – $1,499)
Theresa & Ryan Kiehn
Janet Caprile
Joanne Mills
Henrietta Locklear
KLM Ranches Inc - Ken & Florrie
Oneto
Lonnie & Lola Hendricks
Thomas & Karen Coultas
Janice Jorgensen & Karen Rosenbaum
Vino Farms
Jane Greenfield
Carolyn Bregard
Mike Woolf Farming Co - Mike Woolf
Mitchell Farms - Ken & Charlotte
Mitchell
Michelle Cox
James Coffey
Mujeres Poderosas - Amy Wolfe
United Way Our Promise
Anita Menghetti
Couchman Farms - David Couchman
Jim DeMartini
Ed & Fran Nishio
Bill Martin
Robert Longatti
Grow West
Zenith Agribusiness Solutions
Sam Zanutto
Relation Insurance - Jorge Lara
GUARDIANS ($100 – $499)
Edward & Mildred Maring
Thomas Adams
Douglas Najima
Thomas Scharffenberger
Barbara & Duncan Smith
Roger Wood
Roberta Firoved
Mary Whitaker
Mark & Marsha Seivert
Tom Bloomfield
Peggy Lemaux
Laurel Posey
Machado Family Farms - Mike & Diana Machado
Kevin Knowles & Katherine Lowe
Linda Ellis
Shirleymae Skaredoff
Robert Triebsch
Marilyn Waegell
Ann Veneman
James Duval
Lois Biehler
Russell Winton
Conservation Partners LLP - Misti
M. Schmidt
Matthew & Michelle Grizzle
Yumi Sera
Katie Patterson
Kent & Caroline Nakashima
William Nicholson
Cindy Kelleher
John Diedrich
Richard & Susan Mahacek
Randolph & Susan Siefkin
Darrell Fonseca
Deidre Kelsey
Dr. Grant Plemons
Thomas Shephard & Katherine Weiner
Raymond Jerd
Emily Rooney
Christine Bruhn
Lori Wilson-Hopkins
Marie Coleman
Margaret Buss
Ryan Jacobsen
Heather Fargo
Daniel Ritchie
Jeffrey Lewis
Melissa Womble
FRIENDS ($1 – $99)
Jane Kelly & Daniel McNaughton
Ken Giannotti
Mary Jean Sawyer
Carrie Isaacson
Mike Wade
Jack Edwards
Donna Dotti
Gail Goldsmith
Denise Skidmore
Darien DeLu
Benita Beaushaw
Idell & David Weydemeyer
Susan M. Sawyer
Richard Mills
Jane Woehl
Ron Selge
Tressa Dahlberg
Kevin Ward
Judithe Culbertson
Charles Woods
Melitta Heli
Amy Haynes
Joe Arellano
Susie Arellano
Julie Davis
Jonah Reyes
Ryan Hirschkorn
Ashlie Thompson
Gail Nicolay
Hector Roman
Joshua Buckmann
Angelina Ceja
Brittany Fritchley
Lindsey Burks
Ursula Navarro
