News & Resources

California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Welcomes Two New Board Members

June 23, 2026

MONTEREY, Calif. — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) has named Erin O'Donnell (Class 50) and Michael Frantz (Class 36) to its board of directors. 

O'Donnell is founder and CEO of Sustainable Ag Advisors, a consulting firm that helps California growers and processors capture more value from their sustainability efforts. Before founding the company, she spent more than a decade at Sun Valley Rice, most recently as vice president of sales. A Certified Sustainability Practitioner and Class 50 graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, O'Donnell completed the Chief Sustainability Officer program through MIT Professional Education and holds a master's degree in physics from Brandeis University. 

"I cannot overstate the impact that being a member of Class 50 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program continues to have on my life and approach to leadership," O'Donnell said. "It is an honor to serve on the board of a foundation that has had such a profound impact on California agriculture through its investment in people. I look forward to helping ensure that future fellows have the same transformative experience that I did." 

Frantz is president of Frantz Wholesale Nursery, a second-generation family-owned nursery serving retail and landscape customers across the western United States. A Class 36 graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Frantz is a respected leader in California agriculture and water policy. He chairs the Turlock Irrigation District board of directors and holds leadership roles with AmericanHort, Sustainable Conservation, the San Joaquin River Tributaries Authority and the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Nursery Advisory Board. In 2023, he received CALF's Profile in Leadership Award, one of the highest recognitions for Ag Leadership Alumni. 

"Joining Ag Leadership's board is an opportunity to give back to a program that has profoundly shaped my life and the lives of so many California agricultural leaders," Frantz said. "The fellowship forged relationships that I carry with me daily and made my life immeasurably richer. I am honored to now help cultivate that same experience for others." 

"I am honored to welcome Michael Frantz and Erin O'Donnell to the CALF Board of Directors," said CALF Board Chair Mike Young (Class 35). "California agriculture faces increasing complexity, and our industry needs leaders who can build bridges, create trust and help others navigate change. Michael has demonstrated that kind of leadership through his stewardship of agricultural and water resources, while Erin has distinguished herself as a thoughtful voice on sustainability, innovation and agriculture's connection to consumers and markets. Their perspectives will strengthen our board and help us continue developing leaders who make a difference for California agriculture and the communities it serves." 

O'Donnell and Frantz join 11 current CALF board members representing a diverse cross-section of California agriculture, higher education and agribusiness. 

About California Agricultural Leadership Foundation 

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to cultivating leaders who have the vision and capacity to advance, benefit and promote California's agricultural community. Since its founding in 1970, more than 1,500 fellows have completed the California Agricultural Leadership Program and gone on to serve as leaders throughout agriculture, business and their communities. CALF delivers a comprehensive leadership curriculum in collaboration with its five partner universities: UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Chico State. 

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Applications Available for California Ag Leadership Program Class 56

January 20, 2026

Applications are now open for Class 56 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), a transformative leadership experience for individuals shaping the future of California agriculture. The program invites mid-career individuals from across the agricultural industry to apply.

Led by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), the Ag Leadership Program has spent more than five decades developing leaders who drive positive change. With more than 1,500 alumni, program graduates serve as trusted leaders and engaged citizens across agriculture, business, government, and communities throughout California and across the globe.

“Ag Leadership pushed me to look inward and grow not just as a better farmer, but as a more intentional leader grounded in purpose,” said Jake Barcellos (Class 54), a fourth-generation farmer with A-Bar Ag Enterprises. “It shaped how I show up for my community and my family, reinforcing that leadership is lived every day through the example we set. If you’re ready to grow personally and professionally, Ag Leadership is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up.”

The immersive program is designed to stretch perspectives, strengthen leadership capacity, and deepen understanding of the complex systems that influence agriculture. Fellows engage in a dynamic curriculum focused on leadership development, effective communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and navigating change. Through individualized coaching, experiential learning, and facilitated dialogue, participants gain the confidence and clarity needed to lead with purpose in an evolving global landscape. Each class is limited to 24 fellows, creating a highly selective and personalized leadership experience.

“For more than 56 years, the Ag Leadership Program has focused on developing leaders who are prepared to make a meaningful impact across California agriculture and their communities,” said Lesa Eidman (Class 49), president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. “We are seeking individuals who are curious, committed, and ready to invest in their own growth while helping shape the future of our industry.”

The program includes approximately 55 days of formal programming delivered over 17-months through an integrated curriculum supported by CALF’s five partner universities: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, Chico State, and UC Davis. Fellows learn from distinguished educators and thought leaders and participate in national and international travel seminars that broaden global awareness, explore public policy, and examine the cultural and economic forces shaping agriculture.

CALF invests more than $70,000 per fellow to deliver this life-changing experience, made possible through the generosity of alumni, individual donors, and industry partners. Prospective applicants are encouraged to connect with program alumni and attend a prospective applicant event to learn more about the Ag Leadership journey.

More information and the application forms are available at https://www.agleaders.org/class56apply/ Phase One of the three-phase application process must be completed by March 27, 2026. Early applications are encouraged.

About California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to cultivating leaders who have the vision and capacity to advance, benefit, and promote California’s agricultural community. Since its founding in 1970, more than 1,500 fellows of the California Agricultural Leadership Program have become lifelong leaders, serving as catalysts for a vibrant agricultural industry and making lasting contributions to their businesses, communities, and families. CALF delivers a comprehensive and diverse leadership curriculum in collaboration with its five partner universities: UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Chico State.

Media Contact:
Jessica Lara
CALF Marketing and Communications Manager
jlara@agleaders.org

Breakfast Fundraisers at Colusa Farm Show and World Ag Expo Set for February 2026

December 09, 2025

MONTEREY, Calif. — December 9, 2025, The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is proud to announce the upcoming Ag Leadership breakfast fundraisers at the Colusa Farm Show and World Ag Expo. These long-standing events bring together alumni, industry partners and friends of agriculture for meaningful connection, inspiration and community. More than just gatherings, these breakfasts are significant fundraisers that directly support CALF’s mission of growing leaders who make a difference across California agriculture. Attendees will enjoy engaging keynote speakers, celebrate industry leadership and contribute to the continued growth of the Ag Leadership Program.

24th Annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast — Feb. 4, 2026
The 2026 Colusa Farm Show Breakfast will be held at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 at Saint Bernadette’s Hall, Colusa.

Keynote Speaker: Don Cameron, President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
Cameron is General Manager of Terranova Ranch and a recognized pioneer in groundwater recharge in the San Joaquin Valley. Farming 25 diverse crops in a district with no surface water rights, he has led innovative groundwater sustainability efforts while serving in leadership roles with the California Tomato Growers Association, California Cotton Alliance, Western Growers Association and the McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

32nd Annual Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast — Feb. 12, 2026
The 2026 breakfast will take place at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in the VIP Tent South, International Agri-Center, Tulare.

Keynote Speaker: David Carr, former Fresno State star, No. 1 NFL Draft pick and Super Bowl champion.
Carr led Fresno State to an 11–3 season, earned the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and became the first overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. Over his NFL career, he played for the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants — winning a Super Bowl title in 2011. Today, he is a lead analyst for the NFL Network, hosts a weekly iHeart Media program and co-hosts the Home-Grown podcast.

These signature events not only fuel CALF’s leadership development programs but also strengthen the network of alumni and supporters who power the future of California agriculture. We invite our Ag Leadership community and industry partners to join us, reconnect and invest in the next generation of leaders who will shape our fields, businesses and communities.

Tickets are available now at: www.agleaders.org/events/

About the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to cultivating leaders who have the vision and capacity to advance, benefit, and promote California’s agricultural community. Since its founding in 1970, more than 1,500 fellows of the California Agricultural Leadership Program have become lifelong leaders, serving as catalysts for a vibrant agricultural industry and making lasting contributions to their businesses, communities, and families. CALF delivers a comprehensive and diverse leadership curriculum in collaboration with its five partner universities: UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Chico State.

Media Contact:
Jessica Lara
Marketing and Communications Manager
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation