h o r i z o n sCalifornia Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine

SPRING 2014

Leading a County Farm Bureau

We grow leaders who make a difference.

ADVOCACY AND ACTION

California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine

SPRING 2014 • www.agleaders.org

COVER STORY4 Leading a County Farm Bureau

FEATURES8 Leadership Focus: Dr. Robert Flores

9 Alumni Spotlight: Craig Underwood (5)

DEPARTMENTS2 Chair Message

2 Calendar of Events

3 Foundation News

7 Program News

10 Alumni Events 12 Alumni & Fellows News

13 Development

14 Donor Recognition

CalendarMARCH27 Common Threads ceremony, Fresno28 L4 Seminar with Dr. Nan Keohane, Cal Poly SLO

APRIL3 Region 9 recruitment event, Ventura County Ag Museum9 Region 10 recruitment event, home of Cher and Tom Angulo14-16 Class 44 seminar, Cal Poly Pomona15 Region 8 recruitment event, location TBD17 Region 2 recruitment event, location TBD24 Common Threads North, UC Davis

MAY12 Class 45 phase one application due15-17 Class 44 seminar, SLO16 Region 7 recruitment event, Talley Vineyards16 CALF board meeting, San Luis Obispo

JUNE17-19 Core faculty retreat and Education Team meeting, Santa Barbara

JULY7 Screening committee, Chico9-10 Screening committee, Davis16-17 Screening committee, SLO23-24 Screening committee, Fresno30-31 Screening committee, Pomona

AUGUST20 Final selection committee, Salinas

CALF leadership and alumni had the privilege of meeting with two partner university presidents in January. The themes of both meetings were similar, with a focus on CALF’s legacy relationship with the respective campuses. They were also an opportunity to discuss the memorandum of understanding that governs the relationship of CALF and the partner institutions, as well as the responsibilities of the deans of the colleges of agriculture in shaping the program curriculum.

On Jan. 8, Fresno State President Joseph Castro and Agriculture Dean Charles Boyer met with CALF chair Loren Booth, vice chair Jeff Elder, Bob Gray and Dr. Michael Thomas. Castro is a student of leadership and invited CALF to hold our fall 2014 L4 event on campus.

On Jan. 10, Cal Poly SLO President Jeffrey Armstrong and interim Agriculture Dean Andy Thulin met with Booth, Gray, Thomas, Dr. Bob Flores, Dr. Charlie Crabb, former Agriculture Dean Dave Wehner, and George Soares (4). Armstrong hopes to incorporate aspects of Ag Leadership into student courses on his campus.

Since the beginning of Ag Leadership, we have relied on the relationships with our partner universities. They bring a multi-campus framework to the program and tenured faculty to the classroom. They help ensure our diversity of perspective and experience and give us access to senior and seasoned academics. In many ways, they are perhaps our most important legacy contributors. Without their commitment to this program, the founders would have been without a platform for delivery or a means for curriculum development.

Our meetings with presidents Castro and Armstrong and their deans of agriculture were to restate and reinforce this connection and mutual commitment. They continue to believe in the relevance of Ag Leadership today, and we are pleased that they will continue our alliance for years to come.

CALF BOARD OF DIRECTORSChair/ Loren Booth

Vice Chair/ Jeff Elder Secretary - Treasurer/ Pierre Tada

Edwin Camp John Colbert

A.G. Kawamura Ejnar KnudsenJoe MacIlvaine

Rod StarkDeanna van Klaveren

Mary-Ann WarmerdamDr. Lester Young

Rob Yraceburu

CALF STAFF President and CEO / Bob Gray

| bob.gray@agleaders.orgDirector of Education / Dr. Michael Thomas

| mthomas@agleaders.orgProgram Advisor / Dr. Charlie Crabb

| ccrabb@agleaders.orgFinance & Human Resources / Teresa Straub

| tstraub@agleaders.orgProgram Coordinator / Judy Sparacino

| jsparacino@agleaders.orgEnterprise Coordinator / Emily Lazzerini

| elazzerini@agleaders.org

WRITER/EDITORMeredith Rehrman Ritchie

mritchie@agleaders.org

DESIGNERTMDcreative

ALUMNI EVENTS

Page 10

PARTNER UNIVERSITIES: ALLIANCE AND RELIANCE

FOUNDATION MESSAGE

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Crabb first joined the foundation in the fall of 2007 as director of education. He eventually took on the added role of director of operations and then served as the interim CEO for nine months until the hiring of Bob Gray in September 2009. To find more balance in his life, Crabb assumed the position of program advisor, working for the foundation half time since the fall of 2010. In addition to part-time work for CALF, he has worked part-time for the provost at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the past three years.

In January, Crabb returned to a full time position at Cal Poly, helping with administrative needs in the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. In addition to his new position, he has agreed to continue with CALF in a further reduced capacity. He will continue to work behind the scenes on administrative, IT, recruiting, trip planning and other matters to help ensure program excellence until a replacement is found.

“Working with Ag Leadership, the Education Team and the fellows is extremely rewarding

and stimulating,” said Crabb. “I look forward to continuing my involvement for as long as possible and as long as it is mutually beneficial. My new role at Cal Poly will allow me to develop more leadership experiences and gain insights that I hope can contribute something new to Ag Leadership.”

Said President and CEO Bob Gray, “We believe this position will be a critical hire and will no doubt influence the future of the program. Looking ahead five or 10 years, many of our key educators will be nearing retirement, and we hope this person can develop into the next leader of this program, insuring a smooth and seamless transition in the future. With Dr. Crabb’s willingness to serve in a reduced capacity for an extended period of time, if necessary, we will take as long as we must to find the right person.”

The new associate director will initially take over Crabb’s responsibilities in the area of program support. He/she will work with the CALF president and CEO and the director of education to deliver the core leadership development program.

NEW PARTNER UNIVERSITY DEAN:

Dr. Helene DillardThe foundation welcomes Dr. Helene Dillard as the new dean of UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) and as the newest member of CALF’s Deans Council. She assumed leadership of the college on Jan. 27. Two days later, she attended CALF’s Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception.

Dillard was previously the director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and associate dean and professor of plant pathology at Cornell University. She had been a member of Cornell’s faculty since 1984, when she joined the Department of Plant Pathology at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y. She was promoted to associate professor at Cornell in 1990 and to full professor in 1998. Dillard was named associate director of CCE in 2001 and promoted to director in 2002. As director, she oversaw 1,700 employees and an annual system budget of approximately $120 million.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dillard earned a bachelor’s degree (1977) from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree in soil science (1979) from UC Davis and her Ph.D. in plant pathology (1984) from UC Davis.

Dillard was appointed CA&ES dean after a months-long search process that involved an internal (campus) advisory committee and external (industry) advisory committee. Several Ag Leadership alumni participated on the industry committee. As a former board member of LEAD New York (affiliated with Cornell), Dillard is familiar with agricultural leadership programs.

“UC Davis has a long history of working with the Ag Leadership Program and the key agricultural and environmental stakeholders in California,” said Dillard. “As the new dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, with a strong background in Cooperative Extension, I’m committed to working with California’s agricultural leaders to build partnerships that strengthen California’s critical agricultural industry. I look forward to meeting with Ag Leadership members, and getting in the field with agricultural producers to determine how we can work together.”

—Meredith Ritchie

CALF SEEKS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

The ideal candidate is committed to adult and leadership education. In conducting the search, CALF has reached out to the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leadership, a consortium of agricultural leadership programs in the United States and other countries, and to the Association of Leadership Educators. Depending on the response, a professional recruiter may be hired to assist in this search. The position is presently located in Salinas. The successful candidate should begin no later than Sept. 1, 2014. If you or someone you know would be well suited to this assignment, please send a cover letter and CV in confidence to Bob Gray at the Ag Leadership address.

—Meredith Ritchie

AMONG THE JOB TASKS ARE:

CALF HAS BEGUN A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. THE CREATION OF THIS POSITION IS A RESULT OF A STAFF TRANSITION WITH DR. CHARLIE CRABB, CALF’S PROGRAM ADVISOR.

» Assist the director of education (DOE) in managing, delivering, and advancing CALF’s educational programs.

» Support curricula development, delivery and evaluation in partnership with the DOE, the Deans Council, and the core faculty.

» Assist the DOE in scouting national and international trips

» Design, conduct and assess routine program evaluations.

» Work with the program coordinator to ensure that the logistics necessary to support the educational mission of CALF are in place.

» In coordination with the CEO and DOE, work with stakeholders to ensure the educational programs meet CALF’s mission, vision and purpose.

» Ensure that the appropriate technology is in place and functioning appropriately to support the mission of CALF and the program.

» Assist the DOE in the preparation and monitoring of the budget for the educational programs.

» Remain current in the areas of adult education and leadership theory through professional development.

FOUNDATION NEWS

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Alumni Lead County Farm Bureaus

ADVOCACY & ACTION

It’s a challenging job, and one that several Ag Leader-ship alumni have undertaken in past years. Currently, five graduates and one fellow serve as county Farm Bureau executive directors. They include Bruce Blodgett (31), San Joaquin; Jess Brown (13), Santa Cruz; Megan Foster (44), Yuba Sutter; Diane Friend (15), Kings; Steve Pas-tor (27), Riverside; and Tricia Stever Blattler (34), Tulare.

Alumni who have served in the past include Tara Brocker

(28), Yolo; Jackie Crabb (36), San Luis Obispo; Michael Del-bar (24), Lake; Lauren Grizzle (23), Imperial; Lex McCorvey (18), Sonoma; and Julia Berry Terzakis (32), Madera.*

County Farm Bureaus are considered the grassroots core of the California Farm Bureau Federation. Some represent several hundred members, while others represent several thousand. The organizations advocate and take action on behalf of farmers, growers, ranchers and landowners, as

well as people who merely want to support agriculture. County Farm Bureaus deal with many of the same signifi-cant industry issues, but each county has its own set of chal-lenges, projects and activities.

“Every day I interact with people from all different backgrounds, whether they are high-level government and agency officials, Farm Bureau members with questions about local topics, the media that need quotes and informa-tion, or the general public,” said Blattler. “Like any other agricultural advocacy organi-zation, there is no shortage of local, regional, state and fed-eral issues that command my attention. County executive directors cover a lot of ground and work on dozens of impor-tant issues on a daily basis.”

Executive directors are making a difference to “protect, pre-

serve and promote agricul-ture.” Per the job description, outstanding leadership skills are essential: competency, vision, effective communica-tions, strong interpersonal skills, integrity, motivation and teamwork.

“Working with my board and committees, I always have to find opportunities for nurtur-ing leadership and encourag-ing volunteers to step forward, while giving them the tools and resources to lead and be successful,” said Blattler.

While it is difficult to capture their comprehensive jobs in a few pages, our graduates and current fellow provide a brief glimpse of their roles as execu-tive directors.

—Meredith Ritchie

A TYPICAL JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A COUNTY FARM BUREAU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS RATHER EXTENSIVE:

County Farm Bureau seeks highly motivated, highly organized, dynamic and dedicated leader for the position of executive director. The executive director is the main point of contact that oversees the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit, membership-driven organization. Responsibilities include: administering a budget and finances; supervising staff; managing public relations, educational and outreach ef-forts to various audiences (community, government agencies, elected officials, media, students); acting as a media spokesperson; main-taining and enhancing stakeholder and community partnerships; fostering collaboration with other agricultural organizations; engaging in political action; retaining and developing members; and cultivating relationships with members, volunteers, business supporters and donors. The ideal candidate must be knowledgeable about agricultural, legislative and regulatory issues in the county, state and nation. The executive director will report to and work directly with the board of directors. Outstanding leadership and strong written and verbal communication skills are a must.

*We attempted to gather names of former executive directors, and we apologize if a name was omitted.

From left: Jess Brown, Megan Foster, Bruce Blodgett, Tricia Stever Blattler, Steve Pastor and Diane Friend. Photo: CFBF

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Alumni Lead County Farm Bureaus

ADVOCACY & ACTION Bruce Blodgett (31)

San Joaquin County FB

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: 9 (in June 2014)

MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES: Water, land use, regulations and labor shortages.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS: In the past, it was not uncommon for the board of supervisors to ignore the needs of agriculture. But our relationship with them has changed dramatically. Two issues help illustrate this. One was regarding the expansion of a private landfill, which would have converted prime farmland into a landfill. SJFB initiated and carried out an extensive campaign via mainstream and social media to get the message out. Ultimately, the supervisors voted to not expand the landfill. It was the first time they ever sided with agriculture and public safety interests on this issue. The second issue relates to the maintenance of the Williamson Act program. County staff proposed implementation of a program that would allow Williamson Act contracts to be reduced by 10% with a corresponding impact to our members’ property taxes. Working with the board, we were able to convince them that this money (from the tax increase) would be better spent reinvesting in agriculture.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Both of these issues required an extensive effort to coordinate the message between volunteer leaders, staff, the elected officials and their staff. For the landfill issue, we brought in the technical expertise to help set up our media outreach campaign that made an impact. A key leadership skill is vision, to work to come up with the best position to effectively address the issues that arise. Relationship building – to more effectively carry out our goal on these issues – is also important. Finally, teamwork skills are essential to ensure we have the partners needed to be effective in implementing the vision.

HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION: Simply put, it makes me view things differently. Ag Leadership gave us all the tools to succeed, but even more importantly, it taught me to seek out and view the issues from a broader and more open perspective.

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: 37

MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES: The main challenges are land use, water and adequate labor supply for farms. The challenge with Farm Bureau is really an opportunity – to find creative income sources to fund the organization. I find that growers are the best people to work with.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS: Early in my career the Farm Bureau board of directors made a conscientious decision to have its executive director involved in the community. During the past three decades we have been actively involved in arts, social services and philanthropy organizations. Last year, a poorly perceived measure was placed on the ballot to annex prime farmland for urban development. Since we were involved in many facets of the community, we were able to quickly build a broad based coalition to oppose this effort. As a result, the measure was defeated by almost 75 percent.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS:Boards and committees are the best ways to solve problems. The most important skills an executive director can have to assist boards and committees are listening and following through.

HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION: Ag Leadership helped me broaden my view of the world and my own community. This broader perspective shaped me in becoming a better executive director.

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:A little over two and a half years.

MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES:Our main focus over the past two years has been making sure agriculture has a seat at the table during the development of the Feather River Regional Flood Plan. Our regional plan is one of several in the Central Valley currently being drafted to fulfill the goals of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, approved in 2012. Our region is furthest along in the development process, meaning what’s contained in our final document will set the precedent for other regional flood plans. Knowing this, YSFB has been working diligently to represent the interests of agriculture through collaboration with local agencies while advocating against projects that would negatively impact farming.

LEADERSHIP LESSON:An excellent example of leadership I’ve seen at YSFB has been the time, passion and persistence dedicated by one of our younger board directors in his efforts to represent agriculture during our regional flood plan development, even though he is incredibly busy with the responsibilities and pressures of managing his farming operation. He is definitely an inspiration.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS:Whether you’re participating in a contentious panel discussion, speaking during an event or publicly addressing elected officials, communication skills are absolutely key to be effective at Farm Bureau. The job requires interaction with a range of groups and interests, and sometimes navigating the communication waters effectively can be a challenge.

HOW WILL AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION:Our seminars that focused on conflict management strategies and public speaking have been invaluable. I often find myself reviewing my class notes or re-reading a program book when I need to participate in an important discussion. I know future seminars will build our communication skills even more and I can’t wait to learn even more.

Jess BrownSanta Cruz County FB

Megan FosterYuba Sutter FB

ADVOCACY & ACTION

FIVE GRADUATES AND

ONE FELLOW SERVE AS

COUNTY FARM BUREAU

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

3131 1313 4444San Joaquin County FBBruce Blodgett

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Diane FriendKings County FB

Steve PastorRiverside County FB

Tricia Stever Blattler Tulare County FB

ADVOCACY & ACTION

1515 2727 3434

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:1 year

MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES:Water and high-speed rail. It is a continual battle to convince state legislators, government and agencies that agriculture is important to California’s economy and that hard working people and communities are affected by policies, regulations and laws they make.

LEADERSHIP LESSON:A speaker told my Ag Leadership class, “Never lose the opportunity to say nothing, but always take the opportunity to make a point.” That advice has stuck with me for 28 years. Knowing when to listen and when it is important to speak up is the ultimate lesson in leadership. I find that the farmers I represent need a leader who can be their voice in critical debates or in times when the testimony could influence policy shifts. A recent statement I delivered to a water panel led to a personal invite to discuss details of the proposed state water bond with the author (a Southern California legislator). From our meeting, the “voice” of Kings County was heard and hopefully made an impact.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS:In my experience, the greatest leadership skill is the ability to connect with people. I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can make the work environment better for staff, how to thank someone in the community who has helped me or how to best inspire the board I serve. Without relationships and alliances, leadership is an empty exercise of power.

HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION:As a young farmer at the time, Ag Leadership gave me permission to be myself and develop my own unique leadership skills. So many incidents, small and big, were life changing. Everyone comes to Ag Leadership with the desire and some natural ability to be a leader. For me, it was the validation that I could become a leader. It prepared me by providing a learning opportunity so that I could experiment and practice skills that I’d use throughout my career. Every time I speak in public, I remember Gene Rapp telling me to “just breath.” Still to this day, I take a deep breath and the words and thoughts just flow.

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:13 (includes two years as executive director of Imperial County FB)

MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES: Riverside County is one of the state’s fastest growing counties. To meet demand, prime farmland is still being bought by developers for future expansion. This is always a challenge. Water issues are at the top of the list. With the drought situation, groundwater is being used at an alarming rate. Other water issues include the use of recycled water and the formation of agricultural coalitions to help farmers comply with the Clean Water Act.

LEADERSHIP LESSON:Riverside County has hundreds of acres of citrus trees. A local water agency began forcing growers to use recycled water on their trees. Growers contacted RCFB for help because they feared that the recycled water was detrimental to citrus trees. We began working with various water agencies and our board of supervisors through the county’s Water Task Force to resolve the problem. The task force hired irrigation experts from UC Davis to review the situation. Their findings confirmed the growers’ fears that recycled water, combined with the type of heavy-clay soil found in Riverside and the lack of rain, would be harmful to citrus trees in the long run. RCFB is working with the water agencies and growers to find a solution agreeable to all parties.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS:A county executive director must wear several hats and work with a wide variety of individuals and groups. Some people and organizations are very much against agriculture, while others are extremely friendly to farming and ranching. As a leader of a farming organization, one must understand where they’re coming from and learn to work with each with respect and appreciation.

HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION:Ag Leadership taught me to look at both sides of any situation. Don’t always assume you have all the answers or your position is correct. Listen and understand the problem(s) before you come to a conclusion or make a judgment call. Ag Leadership was a great experience because it taught me self-confidence, especially with public speaking.

YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: 7 (14 years total with CFBF) MAIN ISSUES/CHALLENGES: I think most all Farm Bureau executives encounter challenges with membership outreach and advocacy when the issues we are working on conflict with local politics or values. Water scarcity, environmental regulations, labor demands, land use decisions – they all impact farms and agri-businesses in different ways, and it is very difficult for Farm Bureau to be that ‘general’ agriculture organization that tries to be everyone’s advocate.

LEADERSHIP LESSON:Tulare County Farm Bureau was approached by walnut growers about nut theft in 2012. The theft problems were rampant in nuts because they are shaken and may lie in the orchards for a day or more until they are swept up by machinery. With a largely unregulated cash buying market, it was hard for law enforcement to disrupt the thieves. We brought together our county’s agriculture commissioner, district attorney’s office, law enforcement and growers to address the problem and discuss solutions. As a result, we were able to revise our local ordinances to assist law enforcement in deterring nut theft.

IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Becoming an effective listener, and really listening and watching body language and nonverbal communication is so important in my job. Using interpersonal skills to open dialogue, develop constructive conversations, and move issues and projects forward is critical to my success. Conflict resolution, communication and negotiation skills are equally important in my work.

HOW DID AG LEADERSHIP BENEFIT/PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION: Ag Leadership was one of those life changing experiences and a journey that has not ended for me. I was only 26 when I was accepted into Class 34. As a younger member of that class I benefited greatly from the exposure to my classmates and their life experiences both personally and professionally. Conflict resolution, international exposure to societal issues, and personal enrichment were all competency areas where I grew significantly. That, along with an amazing network of alumni, has made my experience priceless to me.

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CONGRATULATIONS CLASS 43

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

FROM COMMENCEMENT.

COMMENCEMENT

CLASS 43 FELLOWS CELEBRATED A SIGNIFICANT AND REWARDING ACCOMPLISHMENT ON JAN. 15, when they graduated from the Ag Leadership Program in the presence of family, friends, alumni and other guests. The ceremony included thoughtful speeches and reflections from fellows and CALF staff, as well as a video presentation about the fellows’ journey. Prior to the commencement ceremony, special guest speaker Hilda Solis spoke to the audience about finding common ground. Solis is the former secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor and now a scholar-in-residence at Cal Poly Pomona.

The 24 fellows first came together in October 2012 at Fresno State for their inaugural, everything-you-need-to-know-about-Ag Leadership seminar. It may have been overwhelming, but the fellows were excited and ready to learn.

Class 43 was the first class to have the shorter, 16-month program schedule. In less than a year and a half, they were exposed to unique and enlightening educational experiences and travel opportunities that some might not experience in a lifetime – or ever. Whether from a university seminar, a congressman’s office, a women’s shelter, their class project, San Quentin, Chesapeake Bay or Brazil…the leadership lessons they learned will stay with them for years to come. Furthermore, they gained lifelong friends who will share the memories.

All of the fellows should be enormously proud for the hard work and commitment they put forth for the program. These leaders will continue to learn and grow and embark on meaningful leadership paths. CALF is excited about the many ways they will rise to action and make a difference.

CLASS 43 FELLOWS

Vance AhlemManpreet BainsAnthony BozzanoCarson BritzDanielle BurkSona ChilingaryanJensen DevaursBailey DiIoiaDanielle DupreeLeon EtchepareStephanie EtcheverriaEric GenzoliTricia GeringerHeidi HarrisSusan JosueScott KlittichAnthony LaneyShannon LeighBill LewisJim McGarryHelen McGrathPaul SousaWilliam “B” VanBeekChris White

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COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIPBy Dr. Robert Flores

Effective communication is an essential skill that is inextricably tied to leadership. Indeed, being a highly effective communicator is a skill that great leaders possess. Leaders should be clear, concise, genuine and credible. As Dr. Sara Daubert wrote, “It is important to be able to articulate your mission, vision and goals. Strong communicators understand the best way to get their message across to all stakeholders inside and outside an organization.”The California Agricultural Leadership Program ensures that the fellows get ample opportunities to practice and hone their communication and presentation skills. Although elements of public speaking and the development of communica-tion skills are embedded within all seminars of the program, the seminars held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo remain focused on developing and perfecting communication skills.

The fear of public speaking is an age-old emotion. The thought of speaking before a group typically creates more anxiety than other fears, such as death and fear of the dark. Yes – the fear of public speaking is mentioned more often as a major phobia than the fear of dying! The sentiments of many fellows are best expressed in a comment by one of the fellows: “I was nervous about this seminar because of the public speaking aspect. However, it was great to step out of my comfort zone and practice public speaking in this setting.”

The seminars are not meant to strike fear and ter-ror into the minds of the fellows, but the fellows

certainly are taken out of their comfort zones. Since the first seminar in San Luis Obispo follows the inaugural seminar, it is quite apparent that the fellows are uneasy about presenting themselves in front of 23 peers they do not really know. Practic-ing in close quarters with a group of strangers doesn’t do much for establishing a comfortable environment. Hence, the objective is to try and take the fear out of the uncomfortable environ-ment. Ultimately, the fellows may not be in a comfort zone, but it will be a safe environment for practice. It is the intention of every core fac-ulty member to provide for challenging seminars and safe places for fellows to learn and practice.

The first seminar in San Luis Obispo challenges the fellows by requiring them to present in front of their peers multiple times. Each challenge builds upon another. A major part of the seminar is devoted to helping the fellows to get to know each other and getting to know self. The real learning begins once they realize that the pro-gram truly provides for a safe environment. The fellows start to understand that the internal work must begin in the form of self-reflection and self-assessment.

The presentations that occur at the first seminar include:

• Sharing personal stories• Practicing an introduction of a speaker• Giving a 5-minute informational speech• Interviewing with the news media

Although personal coaching has been incorpo-rated as a major component of the Ag Leadership Program, coaching is not a new concept. Speech coaches have been a part of the program for decades. The speech coaches are professionals who work with fellows in further refining their pres-entations, as well as providing valuable pointers during critique sessions. The half-day sessions that are focused on honing public speaking skills are worthwhile. Even though fellows may not regularly deliver a speech in public, the self-confidence and self-esteem that might be considered by-products of such practice are worth their weight in gold.

The fellows receive more practice in commu-nicating in public at both seminars in San Luis Obispo. The second seminar provides them with an opportunity to deliver a persuasive speech. As is the case with the informational speeches at the first seminar, the speech coaches work with the fellows in small groups.

Communication is not limited to public speaking. Other important areas of commu-nication include:

• Developing listening skills• Learning how to assert yourself• Using a microphone properly• Team building• Writing for the print media• Teaching a lesson via storytelling

Even though many fellows refer to San Luis Obispo seminars as the “communication semi-nars,” the integration of speaking opportuni-ties into every campus seminar affords fellows multiple practice sessions of presenting in public. Fellows refine their speaking and communica-tion skills throughout the program journey. The sessions in San Luis Obispo are meant to force reflection on seeing yourself as others see you.

Clear and effective oral and written communica-tion skills are essential to successful leadership. Perfecting your presentation skills is also impor-tant, but having the confidence to stand before peers, colleagues, and the general public to share your expertise is invaluable.

Dr. Flores is one of CALF’s four core faculty members, representing Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Commentary:

LEADERSHIP FOCUS

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CONTINUING A RICH AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Nestled in a rural valley 45 miles northwest of Hollywood/Los Angeles is Underwood Family Farms. More than 300,000 people – locals, school-children, tourists, celebrities – flock to this 150-acre farm in Moorpark annually for not only the fresh fruits and vegetables, but for the education-al, family-oriented farm experience.

Craig Underwood (5), owner of Underwood Family Farms and Underwood Ranches, gets great fulfillment from connecting his farm with the non-ag public. “Our goal is to educate and entertain the public and encourage a healthy lifestyle by bringing them to the farm,” he said.

Underwood is a fourth generation Ventura County farmer; his family has lived and farmed in the area since 1867. For the past 46 years, he has carried on the family tradition and created his own legacy as a leader in agriculture and in the community.

Underwood started farming with his dad in 1968. In 1980, during a particularly challenging time in the produce industry, they decided to open a roadside produce stand in Somis. It was the foundation for Underwood Family Farms.

In 1994, they opened the Moorpark location. It has a farm market, u-pick, educational school tours, summer farm camps and an animal center. For the past 16 years, huge crowds have attended the month-long Fall Harvest Festival, featuring family activities and live entertainment. Underwood Family Farms also sells produce at 16 farmers markets in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and participates in Community Sup-ported Agriculture.

“Underwood Family Farms has evolved in response to public interest,” said Underwood. “I never envisioned that the farm itself would become such a major attraction.”

The family’s other business is Underwood Ranches, which grows about 2,500 acres of citrus, avocados, blueberries and vegetables (specialty and baby). The star crop is jalapeños. Since 1988, Underwood has been the sole supplier of red jalapeños for Huy Fong Foods, the company that produces the popular Sriracha sauce (the red sauce with a green cap and rooster on the bottle). In 2013, they grew 48,000 tons of peppers on 1,700 acres in Kern and Ventura counties.

The strong and loyal 25-year relation-ship with Huy Fong Foods is another aspect of business that Underwood finds fulfilling. “It is highly unusual to have the level of trust and support between processor and farmer,” he said. “Our affiliation has resulted in benefits for both of us. We have developed efficiencies in growing and harvesting that have produced inex-pensive and good quality peppers for Huy Fong.”

Thanks to the two local farms, the Sriracha sauce and his willingness to talk to media, Underwood is in the news frequently. An articu-late spokesman for agriculture, he has been interviewed by local and national media outlets. He also appeared in “Sriracha,” a documen-tary about the iconic sauce. Media outreach (mainstream and social) is another way for him to connect the non-ag public with farming.

“I started talking to the press early in my farm life because I thought they needed to hear from farmers, and

most were reluctant to be inter-viewed,” he said.

One of the topics he has been inter-viewed about is labor. “Labor is at the top of the list for challenging issues. I don’t see the replacement pool for the aging farm population. Labor-intensive crops will need a massive investment in mechanical harvesting. We need engineers and tech people working on the problem. Immigra-tion reform alone won’t solve the problem. Mexico is urbanizing and young people growing up off the farm are not equipped to work on the farm.”

Underwood deals with many other ag problems, threats and risks, but his love for farming outweighs the chal-lenges. “I love the farm community and the outdoor life. It’s very satisfy-ing to produce a good crop.”

His passion is also evident in what he does off the farm – contributing to and volunteering for many local organizations.

He is president of Zone Mutual Water Company, vice president of Ventura Pacific Lemon Cooperative, vice president of the Somis Municipal Advisory Council, and a member of the Ventura County Fair Foundation and Ventura County Ag Irrigated Lands Group steering committee. He has served on the boards for Mesa Elementary School, Ventura County Fair, Farm Credit, Ventura County Farm Bureau, Ventura County Agri-cultural Association, Ventura County Ag Advisory Committee and Las Posas Citizens Committee.

In 2012, the Ventura County Resource Conservation District hon-ored Underwood with the Award for

Excellence in Agricultural Steward-ship and Sustainability.

Through all of his endeavors, he has witnessed many leadership efforts. “Our group of local farmers stopped Kaiser Aetna from developing 10,000 acres of the Las Posas Valley in the early 1970s. Ten years ago, Somis residents stopped Cal Trans from building a disproportionate intersec-tion that would’ve led to a four-lane highway through the valley. Recently, a group stopped Edison from build-ing a wasteful $50,000,000 project in our Tierra Rejada Valley.

“The odds in all cases seemed long, but people believed and fought back,” he said. “In farming, perseverance is sometimes the most important quality.”

Indeed, it’s one of many qualities that have made the Underwoods successful family farmers for nearly 150 years.

—Meredith Ritchie

AG LEADERSHIP“My Ag Leadership experience was deeply enriching. It is an association I will always value. My advice to fellows and alumni is to stay involved in Ag Leader-ship. Graduates should take advantage of that experience to make a difference in their com-munity. It will help their career and make them proud.”

LEADERSHIP SKILLS“So many leadership skills are important, but communication is my favorite. It takes a lot of ef-fort to keep everyone informed about what is going on, but it builds confidence.”

Inset photo: Griffin Hammond

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The year kicked off with the 11th annual Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception in Sacramento on Jan. 29. It was a wonderful evening, with a large crowd of alumni and fellows, as well as friends from the agricultural industry, government and education. California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, a CALF Honorary Fellow, spoke to the attendees for several minutes about agricultural issues and about the importance and impact of Ag Leadership. Numerous businesses and organizations donated colorful nursery items and loads of food products and fresh produce for a beautiful commodity display. After the reception, 863 pounds were donated to the River City Food Bank.

The 12th annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast on Feb. 5 broke an attendance record with nearly 500 guests. Washington, D.C., attorney Monte Lake addressed the audience on the topic “Immigration Reform and Agriculture: Prospects for New Farm Worker Programs in 2014.” The fundraiser, co-hosted by alumni of Ag Leadership, Chico State’s College of Agriculture and Alpha Gamma Rho, has raised nearly $200,000 to support Ag Leadership and Chico State College of Agriculture.

This year marked the momentous 20th anniversary of the highly successful World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni Breakfast, which continues to be a sold-out affair with more than 600 attendees. Keynote speaker Ramon Resa, M.D., a Central Valley native, shared his moving story about his journey from a poor child farmworker to successful pediatrician and the countless struggles he overcame along the way. Resa’s powerful message of determination and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles was inspirational. The event raised $87,000 for Ag Leadership, bringing the total raised over the past 20 years to more than $1 million. Thank you to major sponsors Zenith Insurance and State Compensation Insurance Fund.

The evening before the breakfast, alumni hosted the World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Alumni Reception at the Chinese Cultural Center in Visalia. The reception was for alumni and industry friends to network and to give thanks to the major sponsors of the breakfast.

—Meredith Ritchie

AGRICULTURAL AND GOVERNMENT

LEADERS RECEPTION

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COLUSA FARM SHOW BREAKFAST

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WORLD AG EXPO AG LEADERSHIP

ALUMNI BREAKFAST

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WORLD AG EXPO AG LEADERSHIP

ALUMNI RECEPTION

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ALUMNI EVENTS DRAW LARGE CROWDSJanuary and February were jam-packed with popular alumni events.

ALUMNI EVENTS

AGRICULTURAL AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS RECEPTION

Jan. 29 – Sacramento

ORGANIZING COMMITTEEDennis Albiani (32)Mike Campbell (3)Noelle Cremers (35)Sue DiTomaso (32)Missy Gable (40)Mica Heilmann (40)Emily LazzeriniRon Macedo (32)Garry Pearson (38)Deanna Van Klaveren (32)

EVENT VOLUNTEERSManpreet Bains (43)Darlene Din (35)Megan Foster (44)Ashley Gill (42)Gail Gray (22)Heidi Harris (43)Jessica Light (44)Brandon Souza (44)Luke Wilson (44)

COLUSA FARM SHOW BREAKFAST

Feb. 5 – Colusa

ORGANIZING COMMITTEELes Heringer (13) – committee chair Karm Bains (40)Lewis Bair (33)Ashley Bocast Terry Bressler (30)Christie CapikBill Carriere (27)Colleen CecilCharlie CrabbJack Coots (27)Holly Dawley (38)Sarah DeForest (39)Jennifer Ryder FoxMark Kimmelshue (28)Emily LazzeriniTom MartinSam Nevis (32)Justin NunesRyan Schohr (33)

WORLD AG EXPO AG LEADERSHIP ALUMNI RECEPTION

Feb. 12 – Visalia

COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERSJulie Allen (27)Soapy Mulholland (25)Fred Lagomarsino (19)Gus Collin (3)

WORLD AG EXPO AG LEADERSHIP ALUMNI BREAKFAST

Feb. 13 – Tulare

COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERSDoug Phillips (40) – committee chairJulie Allen (27)Randy Asadoor (40)Russ Bassett (16)Hugh Bello (31)Fred Berry (20)Tricia Stever Blattler (34)Jeff Boldt (40)Steve Chrisman (10)Gus Collin (3)Mandy Critchley (37)Cliff Dunbar – Buckman-Mitchell, Inc.Adin Hester (3)Nomie Kautz (30)Beth Knudsen (37)Lynn Knudson (20)Fred Lagomarsino (19)Bill Lewis (43)Richard Moss (20)Soapy Mulholland (25)Tom Mulholland (18)Cindy Myers (22)James Neeley (26)Richard Nunes (37)Steve Rothenberg (30)Todd Snider (41)Jim Sullins (19)Ray Van Beek (37)

Volunteers for winter/spring recruit-ment events will be recognized in the spring/summer issue.

EVENT VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR

LIFE?

PLEASE SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OR NEWS TO:

mritchie@agleaders.org

CLASSES 1-9Jeff Thomson (3) was featured on the cover of Bakersfield Life magazine, posing in full hunting gear with his dog, Zinfandel. In an article titled “Men and the Great Outdoors,” Thomson spoke about being an avid duck hunter and his longtime membership in a local duck hunting club.

Jim Nielsen (5) was named Legislator of the Year by the California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs for his efforts on behalf of career technical education. Nielsen was also inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2013, as a member of the track and field team that won the 1964 NCAA championship.

CLASSES 10-19Kelly Olds (10) was named chief executive officer of the San Joaquin County Fair in January. He was hired to help restore, rebrand and revitalize the struggling fair. Olds has an extensive management background in agribusiness, produce and food processing companies.

CLASSES 20-29Jeff Merwin (20) was elected president of the Yolo County Farm Bureau for 2014. A fourth generation farmer, he previously served as first vice president in 2012-2013 and second vice president in 2011. He has been a Farm Bureau director since 1992.

Ben Carter (24) joined the board of directors of the Center for Land Based Learning. He also is a founding member and president of the Colusa County Fair Foundation.

Chris Darway (25) was appointed to the 16th District Agricultural Association, California Mid-State Fair board of directors. He has served on the board since 2005.

CLASSES 30-39Mary Kimball (32) was one of 20 recipients of the U.S. Department of Interior’s 2013 Partners in Conservation Award. She accepted

the award in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the Center for Land-Based Learning, for which she is the executive director. The award recognizes public-private partnerships that have achieved exemplary conservation results through cooperation and community engagement.

Tyler Christensen (32) was named 2014 Member of the Year for the Tehama County Farm Bureau. He has been a member of the local Farm Bureau board of directors for 13 years.

Ryan Schohr (33) is running for state Assembly district 3 (northern and eastern Sacramento Valley) in 2014. Schohr is a sixth generation farmer whose family has been farming in Butte County for more than 150 years. www.ryanschohr.com.

Greg Wegis (39) served as a panel speaker for the USDA 2014 Agricultural Outlook Forum, held Feb. 20-21 in Arlington, Va. The panel discussion was titled “Future of Agriculture: Young Farmers–Unlimited Opportunities.”

Lisa Bodrogi (39) was named president-elect for California Women for Agriculture.

CLASSES 40-43Bailey DiIoia (43) has joined Index Fresh Inc. in a field staff position, where he’ll be working with Ventura County growers. Index Fresh distributes avocados from California, Mexico, Chile and Peru under the AvoTerra brand.

MULTIPLE CLASSESThe San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau elected its 2013-15 executive board in December 2013, including Carlos Castañeda (36) as president and Dan Sutton (40) as vice president. They will serve a two-year term. Tom Ikeda (26) serves as a district director on the board.

ALUMNI AND STAFFRachelle Antinetti (42) and CALF Director of Education Dr. Michael Thomas represented Ag Leadership for a half-hour live (in

studio) interview on PowerTalk’s Ag Life Weekend radio show on Feb.1.

IN MEMORIAMJames Newton Powell (2)Jim Powell passed away on Jan. 3 at the age of 74. As a child, he worked with his father on the Limoneira Ranch in the Santa Paula area. Jim was a farmer his entire life. After he graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in citrus production, he spent a good part of his working years on S & J Ranch in Madera County. In 1980, he started his own farm management enterprise, El Oso Farming Company. In his community, Jim served in leadership roles with Madera County Farm Bureau, Madera Sunrise Rotary, Madera-Joppa Masonic Lodge, Madera Eastern Star and Camarena Health Center. He was active with his children in Boys Scouts of America, Indian Guides, soccer and Rotary’s Interact program. Jim loved sailing and traveling. With Ag Leadership he visited Russia, Israel, Iran, Central America and other countries. Jim and his wife, Janet, traveled to many historical spots in the United States, to Costa Rica to deliver wheel chairs to people in depressed areas, and to the British Virgin Islands for a sailing trip. Jim is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, five grandchildren, and a brother.

Lionel Joseph Brazil (10)Lionel Joseph Brazil passed away on Jan. 2 at Mercy Medical Center in Merced. Lionel was a native and lifelong resident of Gustine. He was a real estate developer for 20 years and a dairyman for many years. Lionel graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Gustine High School. While in high school, he belonged to FFA and 4-H. Lionel was an executive member of the California Milk Advisory Board and a member of the Gustine Gun Club and the Real Estate Association. He enjoyed traveling, duck and deer hunting and deep-sea fishing. He is survived by two sons and a daughter, two brothers and a sister, and eight grandchildren.

ALUMNI & FELLOWS NEWS

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CALFCHALLENGE

GRANT

CLASS 23 CREATES ENDOWMENT FUNDClass 23 recently established an endowment fund, becoming the fifth class to establish a fund to support Ag Leadership. Other classes with funds are 12, 17, 30 and 33.

CALF Development Officer Lauren Grizzle (23) said that class members were motivated to create the endowment fund when they realized that the minimum contribution amount of $10,000 was attainable.

“There were six or seven lead gifts, a combination of cash and pledges, to get it rolling,” said Grizzle. “Additional class members have indicated that they will also contribute. With this endowment fund, Class 23 will forever be commemorated. It is a wonderful way for us to acknowledge our experiences in Ag Leadership and give back financially to the foundation.”

—Meredith Ritchie

DEVELOPMENT

The number of donors contributing to the foun-dation is on the rise, and that momentum can be directly linked to the ef-forts of CALF’s regional development officers.

During the past six months, the five alumni officers have been hitting the road, making calls and meeting with alumni and industry friends as part of their outreach goals. Their promotional and fundraising efforts

were further energized when CALF chair Loren Booth announced the challenge grant in Janu-ary.

“The breadth of support is definitely increasing and I attribute it to the personal outreach of the officers,” said Bob Gray. “The alumni contact is very powerful. They have a special connection to and strong feelings for the Ag Leadership Program – and it comes

across in their outreach efforts. We have good momentum right now.”

The participation rate among alumni went up by a significant amount (27%) in 2013 compared to 2012. Currently, CALF has about a 28% alumni participation rate, but the goal is to achieve as much as 35% alumni participation.

The regional develop-ment officers typically

devote one day per week (or one week total per month) to their du-ties. In addition to the outreach, they engage in periodic conference calls to provide updates and feedback. “One of the uplifting aspects of our job is talking with alumni and hearing their stories. People are excited to share and give back to the organization,” said Lauren Grizzle.

LOREN BOOTH ISSUES $1 MILLION CHALLENGE GRANTIn January, the foundation received a $1 million challenge grant from board chair Loren Booth to help grow the foundation’s endowment and to support operations. The grant will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $1 million for all new gifts donated.

CALF is currently in the middle of a major endowment fundraising campaign, which began in late 2012.

“I have said many times that I cannot possibly give back to Ag Leadership what it has given to me,” said Booth, chair of the CALF board since July 2009 and a Class 27 alumna. “With this grant, I hope to inspire others to join me on Ag Leadership’s journey toward financial independence, so that we can perpetuate this one-of-a-kind program for generations to come.”

To encourage broad participation, the match will be valid until met – by new pledges or increased gifts from current donors – so that people can manage their philanthropy over a period of time and not against a deadline. Booth said she encourages anyone who is considering a gift to act now and double the donation while the matching grant is in place.

“Loren is one of our most passionate supporters and we are enormously grateful for her longtime commitment and breathtaking generosity,” said Bob Gray, CALF president and chief executive officer. “Her gift will effectively help us raise $2 million new dollars, which will have a tremendous impact on our endowment and operations and will be instrumental in sustaining Ag Leadership.”

IF YOU OR YOUR CLASS IS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING AN ENDOWMENT OR CONTRIBUTING TO AG LEADERSHIP, CONTACT ONE OF CALF’S REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS SEE PROGRESS

Southern Region: Lauren Grizzle (23),lgrizzle@agleaders.org

Northern Region: John Weiler (22), jweiler@agleaders.org

Central/San Joaquin Valley: Gail Gray (22), ggray@agleaders.org

Tim Vaux (31), tvaux@agleaders.org

Coastal Region: Darlene Din (35),ddin@agleaders.org

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THANK YOU

Prior-year Pledge Payments ReceivedBoswell Family Foundation: $25,000Charlie Mathews: $2,000Rick Vorpe and Evelyn Matteucci: $1,500

$25,000Thomas Mulholland (Mulholland Citrus)

$15,000-$15,500Class 43 The Norton Foundation

$10,000Farm Credit: American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit WestJohn and Betsy GretherKevin and Kim GrizzleInternational PaperLadera Foundation (George Myers)Lagomarsino Group (Fred Lagomarsino)

$8,500AGR Partners (Ejnar Knudsen)

$5,000Margaret DuflockHidden Villa Ranch (Mike Sencer)Beth and Andrew PandolCraig and Kris Pedersen

$3,000John ColbertThe McClarty Family FoundationRichard Pidduck

$2,500The Philip E. and Jamie N. Bowles FundRose Marie BurroughsGary and Diana CusumanoBenina MontesRolling Ridge RanchRod and Carol Stark

$2,000Jeana and Larry HultquistKing and Gardiner Farms (Keith Gardiner and Holly King)

John and Edyth LedbetterPeggy PerryVina Quest (Dan Rodrigues)Christopher Woolf

$1,500Sarbjit Bohl

$1,000-$1,499Agland Engineering, Inc. (Steve Hackett)James Ahlem Dairy ( James and Carol Ahlem)AnonymousBeardsley & Son, Inc. (Tom Beardsley)Hugh and Debbie BelloBengard RanchJeff and April BitterArt BlissFranklin Otis Booth III Ben and Denise CarterChristensen & GianniniDarrell and Norma CordovaCosta Family Farms (David and Kerri Costa)Rick and Lynne CosynsDoug and Alison DeGroffJohn and Antoinette DraxlerTom Dungan Farming Co.Jeff and Mori ElderRoberta FirovedEdwin FisherFresh Innovations, LLC (Vic Smith)Fresno Equipment Co. (Marsha Vucovich)John and Jane GibsonBob GrahamJim HansenGeorge and Janice HigashiIkeda Bros. (Tom Ikeda)J.D. Heiskell & Co., Inc. (Scot Hillman)Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP (George Soares)Charles KosmontStan Lester (Lester Farms)Catarino Martinez (Val-Mar Farming, Inc.)Soapy Mulholland Jon MungerNelson Irrigation CorporationDonald Norene

Oji Bros. Farms, Inc.Peter PetersonSherm RailsbackKevin Riddle (Riddle Farms)Leland RuizFrank and Alice SaviezRichard and Claudia SmithBrian TalleyRosemary TalleyThe Craig Underwood Family Trust (Craig Underwood)John Weiler

$750Beth Knudsen Mark McKean/Mark McKean FarmsEd McLaughlin/EMAC Farms

$500Bill and Chris AdamsArt BarrientosBarry and Kim Bedwell Caroline BerryRick Burnes Lori CardozaTom and Katie ChandlerBill Coit Richard Collins Noelle CremersDouble E Farms (Russell Efird)Duda Farm Fresh Foods (Sammy Duda)Mike and Jeanette FitchMark GillesJohn GiovannettiBruce HallTodd HansenStephen and Donna Heringer Julia InestrozaMark JacobsLeo and Mary Ellen MarihartLeo McGuireSteve and Kim McIntyreKent and Kathryn McKenzieMcKenzie Farms, Inc. Steve Murray (Murray Family Farms, Inc.)Tony OliveiraBen and Kappy OlsonMona and Pete PankeyJean Phillimore

Pucheu Bros. ( John Pucheu)Charles SherrillElisabeth Silva 6th Generation Farming (Ryan Schohr and Tracy Schohr)Barbara SmithThe Growers Company, Inc. (Sonny Rodriguez)Dana ThomasRaymond and Deborah TonellaUlash TurkhanRaymond and Katie Van BeekScott and Susan Van Der KarDavid WarterEllen and Mike Way

$400Victor Yamamoto

$300-$399Joey FernandesRob GoodwinJanis JonesMichael MacielMeredith Rehrman RitchieAudrey and Lance Tennis

$250Dick and Nina CarriereCarlos Castaneda Michele ClarkNed CoeSteve and Kelly DannaScott DeardorffJerry DiBuduoNat and Marilyn DiBuduoMerlin FaganBonnie Fernandez-FenaroliJoseph FerraraBryan Foley/Toro Micro Irrigation Freeman Farms (Loren Freeman)Frieda’s Finest (Karen Caplan) John and Mary Ann FryeAshley GillGeorge Gough Grimmway Farms ( Jeff Meger)Debbie HurleyNomie KautzKeithly-Williams Seeds, Inc. Edward and Tisha Kurtz

Craig McNamaraDina MooreJames NeeleyNew Hope Dairy, LLC (Arlan Van Leeuwen)Oro Del Norte LLC ( John Orr)Steve and Mary PastorGarrett PatricioDoug and Ann PhillipsJeff and Gina RasmussenTodd RehrmanDon Roberts Karen and Barry RossSan Miguel Produce, Inc. (Roy Nishimori)John SchaapSquires Ag Consulting, Inc. (Paul Squires)Storm Ranch (Terrell Storm)Joe TurkovichWoody Yerxa

$200William BennettKiran BlackDoug DicksonSusan DiefenderferPatricia JohannessenLynnel and Herb PollockAlan and Patricia ReynoldsMichael SarabianJerry and Ann SpencerAnn Thrupp

$125-$199Nina and David AmesLisa BodrogiSue DiTomasoAli ElhassanFred and Susan FerroGary KaprielianPaul and Jill MartinSam NevisCliff SadoianPaul ViolettStuart Yamamoto

$100Erin AndersenDavid ArakelianEmily and Tony AyalaArnold and Terry BarcellosPaul and Sheryl BetancourtBruce BlodgettRalph De Leon

DONOR SUPPORT December 1, 2013 – January 31, 2014

HORIZONS MAGAZINE SPRING 2014

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THANK YOU

Linda EtcheverriaDon GordonJared GrossErin HammJosh and Jana HuntsingerRalph LucchettiStacy MillerMitch MillweeRob MoserKevin and Bea OlsenTim PanzieraRobert Kasavan MarketingWilliam ScottDavid and Charmaine SilvaJulie SpeziaEta TakeleMelissa Varcak

Up to $100Lynn MartindalePeggy McNuttNick Pasculli Leo and Barbara Lynch

In Memory of Dean and Katherine BrownMark and Peggy Borba: $5,000

In Memory of Kathy BrownPeter Scaroni: $100Sally Scaroni: $100Suzanne Scaroni: $100

In Memory of Tom McGrath (4)Roz McGrath: $500

In Memory of Jim Powell (2)Adin Hester: $100Dempel Farming Company: $40

In-KindDarlene Din: $15,150TMD Creative: $1,800Lodi Winegrape Commission (Camron King): $591Robin Flournoy: $549.19Lisa Bodrogi: $200

Alumni Fundraising EventsRegion 9 Golf Tournament: $45,000Dean Brown Golf Tournament (Dean Brown Leadership Foundation): $35,000

FOUNDERS’ LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $1,000,000 and above

James G. Boswell FoundationOtis Booth Foundation

LEGACY LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $500,000 and above

Boswell Family Foundation

PIONEER LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $250,000 and above

Susan Dulin (in memory of J.G. Boswell II)Justina Borba

CHAIRMAN’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $100,000 and above

John and Betsy Grether John and Sheila LakeTaylor Farms CaliforniaWells Fargo

ALUMNI LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $50,000 and above

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. Growers ExpressJ.F. Maddox Foundation (in memory of J.G. Boswell II)Mission Produce, Inc.Mulholland CitrusReiter Affiliated CompaniesWestern Growers Association

PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE$25,000 and above

Azzule SystemsThe Borba Families – Mark and Sharon Borba Bowles Farming Company / Philip E. and Jamie N. BowlesCapital Insurance GroupC.H. Robinson Worldwide

D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of CaliforniaDarlene DinFarm Credit: American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit WestFoster FarmsHarden FoundationLagomarsino GroupGeorge and Kathleen MyersThe Norton FoundationSyngenta CorporationTMD Creative

THE 1970 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $10,000 and above

Booth RanchesRose Marie BurroughsCharles Buchinger Memorial Endowment Fund Class 39Class 43Denise Godfrey Family / Olive Hill, LLCMelissa DuflockE. & J. Gallo Winery Jim and Betsy HansenHayashi & Wayland International Paper CompanyThe Johannessen TrustKevin Grizzle Farms, LLCThe Klassen CorporationCharlie and Sheila MathewsMonsanto CompanyBenina MontesPaul and Yvonne MuraiVernon and Carol Peterson / Abundant Harvest OrganicsRichard PidduckR. Gorrill Ranch EnterprisesRabobank, N.A.Rick Vorpe and Evelyn MatteucciSally Hughes Church Foundation Saticoy Lemon Association Wegis and Young / Mike Young, Rick Wegis, Greg WegisTim York

FELLOWS LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $5,000 and above

AGR Partners Bank of the West

Blue Diamond GrowersMagaret DuflockCraton CapitalGary CusumanoErrotabere RanchesFinch FarmsGail GrayGreenleaf Farms, Inc.Hidden Villa Ranch The James R. Moffett Family FoundationBradford and Randall Lange / LangeTwins Winery & VineyardsLimoneira Fund at VCCFMcClarty Family FoundationMann Packing CompanyDavid and Melissa MartellaTom and Brianne McGrathCraig PedersenPerson & Son Cattle Co.Peter PetersonPrudential Ag InvestmentsRain for RentMeredith Rehrman RitchieRolling Ridge RanchJanette SmithRod and Carol StarkSupima Cotton Union Bank of California FoundationVentura County Community Foundation

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

OUR MAJOR CONTRIBUTORSJuly 1, 2011- January 30, 2014

SPECIAL THANKS TO

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