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In Touch
an e-newsletter for alumni and friends January 2010
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 Message from Bob Gray
Jan. 11-14 was a busy week for Ag Leadership. Classes 39 and 40 were in Davis for seminars, while in Sacramento the board of directors met all day Wednesday, followed by the Agricultural and Government Leaders Reception, followed by an all-day Fellows Council meeting on Thursday. A lot of important events. The "stakeholder survey" was complete enough to present in summary to the board and the Fellows Council, and strategic planning gets underway in earnest with the leadership and other stakeholders following this mile marker along the way. For those who responded to the survey, a summary of its findings will be provided when it's available (in just a few weeks). |
Class 41 Applications Being Accepted
Applications are due May 14. Encourage your friends and colleagues to apply! Read news release | |
Agricultural & Government Leaders Winter Reception
Thank you to Farm Credit West, CoBank, US AgBank, American AgCredit Associations for their generous sponsorship of our 2010 Agricultural & Government Leaders Winter Reception.
On Jan. 13, nearly 190 people attended the event at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom. The event was hosted by Ag Leadership alumni, Class 39, Class 40, and honorary hosts, including Resources Secretary Michael Chrisman (Class 2), Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura (Class 20), Sen. Abel Maldonado (Class 26), Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (Class 5) and Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam (Class 17).The event is always a terrific opportunity for alumni to meet current class members and to talk with legislators and their staff.
We wish to thank Ehrhardt Estates, Heringer Estates, and the Lodi-Woodbridge Wine Grape Commission for providing wine for the occasion.
   
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 Common Threads Award Honorees Announced
Congratulations to the 12 amazing women who were selected for the 2010 Common Threads Award.
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 D.C. Exchange Fellow Nominations Needed - Act Now!
We need recommendations for the 2010 Washington D.C. Education Fellowship Program (D.C. Exchange), which will tour regions 9 and 10 on July 31-Aug. 7. Please forward names, numbers and email addresses of qualified candidates by Feb. 8 to Nicole at nbell@agleaders.org or 916-928-2202. |
| Alumni Wanted For Farm Show Booths
For the Colusa Farm Show (Feb 2-4) and the World Ag Expo (Feb 9-11), we would appreciate alumni spending two hours in our Ag Leadership booths and speaking to potential applicants about the program. If interested, contact Nicole at nbell@agleaders.org or 916-928-2202.
Colusa Farm Show Breakfast Info
Letter to Ag Leadership alumni.
Sponsorship form.
World Ag Expo Breakfast Info
Event flyer. |
In Memoriam
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to family and friends of Clara Laub, wife of Don Laub (Class 3), who passed away on Jan. 1. Read obituary
Steve Hall (Class 11) passed away on Jan. 19 after a lengthy battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. We offer our sincere condolences to Steve's family, friends, classmates and colleagues. Read obituary |
- Nick Hill (Class 40), Western Farm Press, Jan. 14. Read article
- George Radanovich (Class 21), Bill Jones (Class 6) and Devin Nunes (Class 29), Fresno Bee, Jan. 10. Read article
- Jack Vessey (Class 34), CBS Evening News, Jan. 9. Watch video and read article
- Glenda Humiston, KCO Radio, Jan. 9. Read item
- Paul Wenger (Class 17), Modesto Bee, Jan. 1. Read article
- Joe Pezzini (Class 28), Salinas Californian, Dec. 28. Read article
- Steve Sharp (Class 28), Los Angeles Times, Dec. 23. Read article
- Frank Rehermann (Class 8) and Charley Mathews (Class 26), Western Farm Press, Dec. 21. Read article |
Alumni/Fellows Updates
- George Radanovich (Class 21) will not seek re-election in 2010 after 15 years in Congress. Read his official statement
- Teri Murrison (Class 34) is running for California's 25th District Assembly seat. Read article or visit her website- Vaughn Koligian was appointed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to the agency's Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. Read article or Read news release - Karen Ross (associate) has been named USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's chief of staff. Read article - Craig McNamara (Class 28) received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from UC Davis. Read news release -Michele Clark (Class 37) is the new executive director of the Yolo Land Trust. Read article-Liz Brackmann (Class 22) is the new executive director of Ag Biomass Council, Inc. www.agbiocouncil.org- David Pinkham (Class 4) recently returned from a two-week agricultural volunteer assignment in the Republic of Georgia through CNFA's Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Read article- Last October, Holly Myers and Tyler Dawley (both Class 38), tied the knot at Tyler's family ranch outside of Red Bluff. The wedding was also an Ag Leadership reunion, with numerous alumni in attendance. Read more at Region 1's website |
Thank You Major Leadership Stakeholders
- Western Growers Association: $25,000
- Bowles Farming Company: $10,000
- Denise (Class 37), Tony and Sue Godfrey: $10,000
- Lagomarsino Group: $10,000
- George (24) and Kathleen Myers (Ladera Foundation): $10,000
- Reiter Affiliated Co., LLC: $5,000
- John Colbert (22) and Nan Mensinga: $3,000
- Gary (9) and Diana Cusumano: $2,500
- Jack and June Greening: $2,500
- Raymond Tonella (7): $2,500
- Rose Marie Burroughs (Class 30 Endowment): $2,000
- Benina Montes (36): $2,000
- James (28) and Kristen Finch: $1,500
- Nelson Irrigation Corp.: $1,500
- Berry Pack Inc.: $1,000
- Jeff (32) and April Bitter: $1,000
- Philip Bowles (16): $1,000
- Chieftan Harvesting, Inc.: $1,000
- Pete Colburn/Elkhorn Packing Co.: $1,000
- D'Arrigo Bros, Co.: $1,000
- Errotabere Ranches: $1,000
- Kay Filice: $1,000
- Tom Minnich/FoodSource: $1,000
- Gill Ranch Co.: $1,000
- Victor Smith/J-V Farms: $1,000
- Mark Nickerson (13)/Prime Time: $1,000
- Pacific International Marketing: $1,000
- Richard Pidduck (21): $1,000
- Leland Ruiz (7): $1,000
- Ted Sheely (13): $1,000
- Richard (7) and Claudia Smith: $1,000
- Robert Stovicek: $1,000
- Pierre Tada (22): $1,000
- Rosemary Talley (19): $1,000
- Taylor Farms California, Inc.: $1,000
- The Parnagian Foundation: $1,000
- Ryan (29) and Wendy Turner: $1,000
- Vessey Company, Inc.: $1,000
- Western Precooling Systems: $1,000
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Upcoming Events
FEBRUARY
3: Colusa Farm Show Breakfast
2-4: Colusa Farm Show
3-6: Class 40 Seminar, Pomona
9-11: World Ag Expo
11: World Ag Expo Ag Leadership Breakfast
13-28: Class 39 International Trip
28-March 2: CA Small Farm Conference, San Diego
MARCH
3-5: Class 40 Seminar, Fresno
15-25: Class 40 National Trip to Washington D.C. and Kentucky
14-18: D.C. Exchange Selection Trip
TBD: Class 39 International Trip Synthesis
23: CA Ag Day at the Capitol
31: Common Threads Sacramento Valley Luncheon, UC Davis | |
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| "In Touch" is a monthly email newsletter distributed by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (916) 928-2202. If you have news to share, please contact our Editor, Meredith Rehrman Ritchie (Class 28), at editor_agleaders@yahoo.com or (916)984-4473. | |
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