Educating Decision Makers About Agriculture

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h o r i

California

z o n s

2014 EXCHANGES

FALL 2014

Educating Decision

Makers About Agriculture

We grow leaders who make a difference.

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FOUNDATION MESSAGE

CLASS 45:

Enjoy the Ride

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

Page 5

D.C. EXCHANGE AND CA EXCHANGE

HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

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

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

California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Magazine

FALL 2014 • www.agleaders.org

COVER STORY

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Educating Decision Makers About

Agricultural Issues

FEATURES

11

Class 44 Explores Central Valley

Water Issues

12

Class 44 Class Project

14

Leadership Focus: Dr. Michael Thomas

DEPARTMENTS

2

Chair Message

2

Calendar of Events

3

Foundation News

13

Program News

15

Alumni Council & Events

17

Alumni & Fellows News

18

Donor Recognition

CALENDAR

DECEMBER

10-12 Class 45 seminar, UC Davis

JANUARY

12 Class 46 phase 1 applications online

12-14 Class 44 seminar, Santa Clara

14-16 Class 45 seminar, Cal Poly Pomona

FEBRUARY

4

5

13th annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast

Region 6 recruitment event, Sun-Maid, Kingsburg

5-7

6-7

7

12

Class 45 seminar, Fresno State

Class 44 seminar, Fresno State

Class 44 commencement, Fresno State

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

Cal Poly Pomona

ANDREW THULIN

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.

PURCHASE YOUR $20 RAFFLE TICKET FOR THE NEXT DRAWING

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HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

Educating Decision

Makers About

Agriculture

D.C. EXCHANGE

CALIFORNIA EXCHANGE

COVER STORY

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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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE

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. 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.

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

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.

“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.”

Fellows provided positive feedback about the program and their experience.

“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 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

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HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

COVER STORY

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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE

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

Laura Norcutt – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Scott Pfister – USDA-APHIS

Kendra Russell – U.S. Department of the Interior-

Bureau of Reclamation

Monique Salter – FDA-CORE Network

Sunny Snider – U.S. Department of Commerce-

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Tom Torgersen – National Science Foundation

Christine Zakarka – USDA-APHIS

2014 Fellows

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

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:

Ametza.

Vessey & Company, Farm

Credit Ag Center, Imperial Irrigation District,

Imperial County Farm Bureau, Imperial Valley

Vegetable Growers Association, El Toro Export and

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)

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HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

COVER STORY

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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FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE

COVER STORY

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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

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.”

Among the dozen speakers were four Ag

Leadership alumni – Ara Azhderian (42) and Dan Nelson (14) of San Luis & Delta-

Mendota 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.

“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.”

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.”

—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 11

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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

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About Class Projects

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 projects from recent years:

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.

HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

PROGRAM NEWS

Class 44 International

Travel Seminar

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.

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.

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.

You can read about the trip and see photos by visiting the fellows’ blog at http:// calf44intl.tumblr.com or on Instagram via

#calf44intl.

AFRICA

40

40

AZORES

(PORTUGAL)

Nor t h

MADEIRA ISLANDS

(PORTUGAL)

20

PORTUGAL

Lisbon

IRE.

London

AND.

Madrid

SPAIN

Strait of Gibraltar

Rabat

Casablanca

Fès

MOROCCO

Oran

U.K.

0

Amsterdam

NETH.

Berlin

GERMANY

Paris

FRANCE

Corsica

Algiers

Constantine

LUX.

20

Warsaw

POLAND

Athens

Mediterranean Sea

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,

Minsk

Longridge Wine Estate (finale dinner and synthesis).

BELARUS

Kyiv

Prague

CZ. REP.

Vienna

AUS.

SLO.

CRO.

SLOV.

Budapest

HUNG.

Belgrade

UKRAINE

MOL.

ROM.

Bucharest

ITALY

Rome

BOS.&

HER.

MONT.

SER.

KOS.

ALB.

Danube

Sofia

BULG.

MACE.

Black Sea

Ankara

Sardinia

Tunis

TUNISIA

Sicily

MALTA

GREECE

CYPRUS

TURKEY

LEB.

Beirut

SYRIA

Volga

GEO.

Damascus

ARM.

Caspian

Sea

AZER.

Tig ris

IRAQ

Eup

Baghdad

60

KAZAKHSTAN

Aral

Sea

IRAN

Tashkent

UZBEKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

Tehran

Ashgabat

AFG.

Marrakech Amman

CANARY ISLANDS

(SPAIN)

Tripoli

Benghazi

Alexandria

Cairo JORDAN KUWAIT

0

20

20

Western

Sahara

Laayoune

S o u t h

A t l a n t i c

O c e a n

A L G E R I A

L I B Y A

Cape Town

EGYPT

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

SOUTH AFRICA

Port Elizabeth

Riyadh

Persian

BAHR.

Gulf

QATAR

Abu

Dhabi

UAE

I n d i a n O c e a n

Scale 1:51,400,000

Muscat

Nouadhibou

U.A.E

Tropic of Cancer SAUDI

Admin.

S A H A R A

OMAN

20

CAPE VERDE

Praia

Dakar

M

D

A

T

A

Tropic of Capricorn

N

T

MAURITANIA

Nouakchott

Banjul

THE GAMBIA

Bissau

SENEGAL

GUINEA-BISSAU

Conakry

C

R

Bamako

GUINEA

Niger

Ouagadougou

Freetown

SIERRA LEONE

Monrovia

CÔTE

D'IVOIRE

LIBERIA

Yamoussoukro

Abidjan

Ascension

D

G

E

Equator

Timbuktu

MALI

BURKINA

FASO

GHANA

Volt a

TOGO

Niger Abuja

Ogbomoso

Ibadan

Lagos

Porto-

Novo

Ben ue

CAMEROON

Douala

Saint Helena

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

(U.K.)

Niamey

BENIN NIGERIA

Malabo

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Gulf of Guinea

SAO TOME

AND PRINCIPE

São Tomé

Annobón

(EQUA. GUI.)

W

A

LV

Agadez

I S

Kano

R

I D

G

N I G E R

ANGOLA

(Cabinda)

E

Zinder

Yaoundé

Libreville

GABON

Namibe

Bangui

REP. OF

THE

CONGO

C O N G O

B A S I N

OF THE CONGO

Kinshasa

Luanda

Lubango

N A M I B

Walvis Bay

D E S E R T

CHAD

N'Djamena

Moundou

CENTRAL AFRICAN

REPUBLIC

Congo

DEM. REP.

ANGOLA

Windhoek

Mbuji-Mayi

BOTSWANA

SOUTH

Ora nge

AFRICA

Ni le

Omdurman

Khartoum

S U D A N

Kisangani

ZAMBIA

W hit e N ile

SOUTH

SUDAN

RWANDA

Maseru

Juba

Port

Sudan

Blu e

UGANDA

Kampala

Nile

(lowest point in

Africa, -155 m)

Addis

Ababa

G

R

E

A

Red

Sea

ERITREA

ETHIOPIA

T

R

I F

T

KENYA

Nairobi

Kigali

Bujumbura

BURUNDI

Lake

Tanganyika

Lake

Victoria

Dodoma

Durban

LESOTHO

TANZANIA

Asmara

A

L

L E

(highest point in

Africa, 5895 m)

Mombasa

Zanzibar

Dar es

Salaam

MOZAMBIQUE

Y

YEMEN

Sanaa

Djibouti

Gulf of

Aden

DJIBOUTI

Hargeysa

Prov.

admin.

line SOMALIA

Mogadishu

I n d i a n

O c e a n

MADAGASCAR

Arabian

Sea

Socotra

(YEMEN)

Victoria

0

A

NT

SEYCHELLES

E T

REN

CH

Lubumbashi

Kitwe

MALAWI

Lilongwe

Lusaka

Lake

Nyasa

Cidade de Nacala

Blantyre

COMOROS

Moroni

Glorioso Islands

(FRANCE)

Mayotte

(admin. by France, claimed by Comoros)

Juan de Nova

Island

(FRANCE)

Mahajanga

Zambezi

K A L A H A R I

Harare

ZIMBABWE

D E S E R T

Gaborone

Johannesburg

Pretoria

Maputo

Mbabane

SWAZILAND

Beira

Mozambique

Channel

Bassas da India

(FRANCE)

Europa

Island

(FRANCE)

Toamasina

Antananarivo

Tromelin Island

(FRANCE)

Port

Louis

St. Denis

20

Reunion

(FRANCE)

MAURITIUS

Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection

TRISTAN

DA CUNHA

40

Gough Island

C A

P E

R

I S E

Boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative.

40

20 0 20 40 60

803510AI (G00392) 6-12

Welcome Class 45

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

(CALF) proudly welcomes the newest members of our Ag

Leadership family.

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.

“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.”

Derek Azevedo, Gustine

The Morning Star

Company

Correen Davis, Stockton

Gorrill Ranch

Matthew Efird, Caruthers

Efird Ag Enterprises, Inc.

Lucas Espericueta,

Bakersfield

Farm Credit West

Rob Goff, Bakersfield

Paramount Farming

Company

Stephanie Gonzales,

Firebaugh

Sierra Valley Almonds

Tou Her, Merced

Turlock Irrigation District

Tyson Heusser, Gridley

DuPont Pioneer

Chris Jensen, Visalia

Nichols Farms

Stanley Kjar, Jr., Fresno

Pearson Realty

Brad Lindemann,

Livermore

Taylor Farms

Cameron Mauritson,

Healdsburg

Mauritson Farms

Jeff Milinovich, Fresno

Central California Raisin

Packing Company

Justin Morehead, Fresno

Wells Fargo Bank

Brian Neufeld, Exeter

Agricare, Inc.

Lauren Reid, Caruthers

Fred Rau Dairy, Inc.

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

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 brothers and Reiter Affiliated Companies, including Driscoll’s.

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

1. Inaugural (Fresno)

2. Speech seminar 1 (SLO)

3. Group dynamics (Davis)

4. Roots of culture (Pomona)

5. EQ and leadership (Fresno)

6. Political systems (Davis/D.C.)

7. Nature of change (Pomona)

8. Speech seminar (SLO)

Main Seminar Objective

Intro to leadership

Communication/listening

Teamwork/conflict

Culture/diversity

Emotionally intelligent leadership government process change

Best practices in communication

Goleman Theme(s)

Self-awareness/self-focus

Self-management/“others” focus

Social awareness

Social awareness/wider world focus

Emotional and social intelligence

Self-management/“others” focus

Self-awareness/“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.

14

HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Emotional intelligence competencies start with life. Goleman said, “Your parents are your first emotional intelligence tutors.”

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.

15

FALL 2014 HORIZONS MAGAZINE

ALUMNI COUNCIL & EVENTS

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)

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION-

THANK YOU

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

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.

16

HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

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 board member by The Community Foundation of Mendocino County for his volunteerism and community leadership.

Ben Drake (12)

received the 2014

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.

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.

Mark Kimmelshue (28)

was appointed in

April to the board of directors for Golden Valley

Bank in Chico.

Craig McNamara (28)

was the featured 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 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

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

July 1 – October 31, 2014

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

$200,000

James G. Boswell Foundation

(for the partner universities)

$100,000

James G. Boswell Foundation

(for operational support)

$16,000

Rabobank, N.A.

$7,500

Bowles Farming, Inc.

$6,000–$6,499

Charles Buchinger Memorial

Endowment Fund

$5,000

Abundant Harvest Organics

(Vernon and Carol

Peterson)

$3,000–$3,499

Class 41 Treasury Account

Margaret Duflock

Limoneira Foundation Fund

$2,500

Rod and Carol Stark

$2,000

John Weiler

$1,500

Gail and John Gray

Tim Vaux

$1,000–$1,499

Far West Equipment Dealers

Association (Steve Kost)

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

18

HORIZONS MAGAZINE FALL 2014

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

$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 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

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

THE 1970 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

$10,000 and above

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

FELLOWS LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

$5,000 and above

AGR Partners

Blue Diamond Growers

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

>>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

NON PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Salinas, CA

Permit No.61

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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