Tuolumne County Farm Bureau
Board of Directors
77 N. Washington Street
Sonora, CA 95370
Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2015
OPEN SESSION
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by President Shaun Crook @ 7:00 P.M.
Pledge of Allegiance. Bill Gaiser led the Invocation.
Shaun Crook led the
Board Members Present: Terri Arington, Lettie Beeman, Bob Brennan, Shaun Crook, Ken Fleming,
Bill Gaiser, Dick Gaiser, Chris Hammond, Nathan Rosasco.
Guests Present: Sabrina Azevedo, Barbara Balen, Elaine Castaneda of Sonora High School FFA,
Hannah Castaneda, Rachel Castongia of Summerville High School FFA, Carol Dowd, Randy
Hanvelt of Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, Dave Harris, Katherine Kellogg of Don Pedro
High School FFA, Ron Ringen of Tuolumne Utilities District, Ag Commissioner Gary Stockel
TCFB Staff: Elena Linehan, Office Manager / Executive Director
It was announced that the Board will go into closed session at the end of the meeting.
Carol Dowd expressed thanks to all of those who spoke a the TUD meeting last month.
Reports:
 Ag Commissioner Gary Stockel introduced himself and shared his background. He also
shared that Tuolumne County is among the 55 counties in California that have been
designated a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by the
drought.
 Katie Kellogg from Don Pedro School FFA introduced herself. She has taught high school
agriculture classes for 18 years. She has 18 graduating seniors this year. She is seeking
people to join the ag advisory council.
 Elaine Castaneda from Sonora High School FFA introduced herself. She was one of RA’s
students and she shared that there will be 25 youth participating in fair from Sonora High
School.
 Rachel Castongia of Summerville High FFA shared that they have students competeing in
every category at the fair. FFA has one student competing in the Rotary Club speaking
contest on water conservation. A Summerville High School student will receive their State
Farmer Degree.
 Supervisor Randy Hanvelt spoke on the resilency grant proposed for the Rim Fire offered by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FARM BUREAU BUSINESS

Consent Agenda: The board requested the account numbers for each of the Farm Bureau
bank accounts be struck from the minutes. Additional corrections were made. The minutes
were approved as corrected. The fiscal report was approved as presented. The list of new
members were approved.

A motion to approve the Consent Calendar as corrected was properly
moved, seconded and carried.
TCFB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – February 9, 2015 – continued -- page two

CFBF Report
o Andrew Genasci’s Field Report was distributed.

President’s Report
o TUD is holding a survey for input on the meeting time for their Board of Directors.
Ron Ringen shared that over 250 responses have been gathered thus far. Shaun
asked for board members to attend the TUD meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30
p.m. to speak on the issue.
o Shaun Crook, Bob Brenan and Sherri Brennan attended the GRAP listening session
in Bishop. There were around 60 people in attendance and none of them spoke in
favor of state regulations on grazing. At the end of the session the State Water
Board staff stated that some regulation of grazing will come. Complaints were made
about the original listening sessions being by invitation only, and that the additional
sessions avoided the central valley – the largest agricultural area in the state. It was
announced that additional sessions will be held in each of the nine water board
regions to better gather input throughout the state.
o Shaun asked for the board to donate a gift basket to TuCARE for their annual dinner.
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o
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
A motion to provide a gift basket for the TuCARE annual dinner was
properly moved, seconded and carried.
A letter commenting on the proposal to acquire Ackerson Meadows for expansion of the
National Park was sent from the Farm Bureau before the deadline to comment had
passed.
Information on the Social Economic Roundtable in Chico on Feb. 26th was shared.
Executive Director’s Report
o We made our membership goal for November due to a second chance opportunity
given by CFBF. We have also met our membership goal for December and January.
We are two shy of our membership goal for February.
o Elena has developed a Marketing Membership plan that she would like to bounce off
of our Membership Committee. Dick Gaiser, Bob Brennan, Rachel Castongia and
Lettie Beeman agreed to serve on the membership committee.
o Elena reported that the mailing of duplicate newsletters issue has been identified and
should be resolved before the February newsletter mailing.
o Our Umpqua Bank accounts can allow for Elena to have an online administator role.
 A motion to assign Elena Linehan adminstrator status on both Umpqua
accounts was properly moved, seconded and carried.
o

Elena confirmed with the board that Rose Engler should be listed as an honorary
board member.
Committee Reports:
o Budget – Proposed 2014/2015 budget was shared with the baord.
o A motion to accept the proposed budget was properly moved, seconded
and carried.
o

Annual BBQ -- Fund Raising is set for Friday, July 24 at Hurst Ranch. Sponsorship,
insurances, liquor license and rental of out houses was discussed. Back Country
Horsemen will provide desserts. We will start work on the event sponsorships.
Old Business
o Product to Buyers: Following discussion it was agreed to open participation to Farm
Bureau Members in neighboring counties.
TCFB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – February 9, 2015 – continued -- page three
o
Raffle Fund Raiser: Discussion centered around having four to five items and selling
tickets for $10 each, launching ticket sales at the Home and Garden Show in April
and holding the drawing at the Annual Dinner in October. One of the prizes would be
a gun purchased by the Farm Bureau for approx. $350. Other prizes would include a
lamb, a cord of wood, tires, overnight stay with dinner. Those items would be
donated. Purchasers can check the box on the ticket for the prize they would like to
win.

o
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o
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
A motion to host a Fund Raising raffle was properly moved, seconded and
carried.
Home and Garden Show: Our Farm Bureau booth has been arranged with a request
to be next to a wall with access to electricity. Elena will coordinate gift baskets from
Covers and Locals Make Good. A request will go to Melinda Fleming for copies of
Range Magazine to distribute at our booth. Elena will ask for additional materials
from CFBF.
County Fair: The theme for the fair will be Art and Agriculture. Our plans are to have
a featured booth for competition. Discussion was held over whether to also have a
non-profit information booth as well.
Special Board Meeting: The Board will meet with Congressman Tom McClintock on
Thursday, Feb.19 at 4 p.m. The meeting will be for TCFB Board Members – a
public meeting is scheduled for Tom McClintock later in day.
CFBF Leaders Conference/CAC: The event will be held in Sacramento on March 9 –
11 and will include visits with legislators. TCFB can send three Farm Bureau leaders
plus the county managers in addition to the members assigned to CACs.
March TCFB Board meeting will be rescheduled to March 16 due to the conflict with
the Leaders Conference.
Scholarships: Terri is coordinating with other agricultural organizations to promote
the scholarships for agricultural students.
New Business
o Rachel Castongia developed a new Farm Bureau website that looks great. The FFA
students at Summerville High School will keep it up to date as one of their projects.
The board went into closed session 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elena Linehan
Executive Director / Office Manager