52nd Class Selected for California Agricultural Leadership Program

MONTEREY – Twenty-four individuals have been selected for Class 52 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, an advanced leadership development experience for emerging agricultural leaders. The new fellows will be inaugurated into the program on Oct. 6 at the DoubleTree Fresno Convention Center.

Through dynamic seminars during an intensive 17-month program, fellows will study leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical and strategic thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and complex social and cultural issues. Seminars are delivered by four partner universities: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis. Fellows will participate in approximately 55 seminar days, including a 10-day national travel seminar and a 14-day international travel seminar.

“The California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF) grows leaders who make a difference and go on to make a positive impact in agriculture, their businesses, communities and families,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson. “We assemble a diverse and inclusive class of fellows who represent a broad cross section of the California ag industry and the state’s population.”

CALF invests more than $50,000 per fellow to participate in the program, which is underwritten by individual and industry donations. Ag Leadership is considered to be one of the premier leadership programs in the United States. Since it was first delivered in 1970, more than 1,300 agriculturalists have participated in the program and have become influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture and other areas.

Class 52 Fellows:

• Michelle Allen-Ziegler, Pactiv Evergreen LLC, San Clemente
• Cornelio Blanco, Rio Farms LLC, Oxnard
• Jeff Borum, East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, Modesto
• Grant Cremers, Delicato Family Vineyards, Salinas
• Kasey DeAtley, California State University, Chico, Chico
• Seth Fiack, Fiack Family Farms, Glenn
• Andrew Genasci, California Farm Bureau, Oakdale
• Amanda Gorter, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, Paso Robles
• Christopher Greer, Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Visalia
• Jeff Iniguez, Wonderful Orchards, Bakersfield
• Mallvinder Kahal, Atlas Almonds, Madera
• Anna Nakamura Knight, Old Grove Orange, Redlands
• Arima Kozina, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento
• Sean Landberg, Gallo Vineyards Inc., Turlock
• Jeannette McClure, Rabo AgriFinance, Paso Robles
• Chris McGlothlin, California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association / Western Agricultural Processors Association, Fresno
• Anne Megaro, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis
• Diana Melero, California Farmworker Foundation, Fresno
• Danny Murillo, Agriland Farming Company, Madera
• David Ogilvie, Wilson Farms and Ogilvie Merwin Vintners, Clarksburg
• Reid Robinson, Sierra Gold Nurseries, Davis
• Jacylyn Stokes, Stokes Vineyards, Lodi
• Katey Taylor, Constellation Brands, Napa
• John Wiersma, San Luis Canal Co., Turlock