News & Resources

California Ag Leadership Foundation to Honor 2025 Lifetime Leadership Award & Profiles in Leadership Award Recipients

September 03, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Ag Leadership Foundation to Honor 2025 Lifetime Leadership Award & Profiles in Leadership Award Recipients

September 3, 2025 – Monterey, California — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious leadership awards.  These awards recognize Ag Leadership Program alumni for leadership actions that have had an impact on our industry, communities, and the Foundation.

“We are honored to celebrate Dr. Peggy Perry, Bart Fisher, Mike Boeger, and Dino Giacomazzi for their outstanding leadership and service,” said Lesa Eidman, President & CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. “Each of these honorees exemplifies servant leadership.  Through their vision, integrity, and commitment, they have advanced California agriculture, enriched the lives of others, and set a powerful example for future leaders. Their impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Lifetime Leadership Award
The Lifetime Leadership Award celebrates alumni who have demonstrated leadership throughout their lives, making significant and lasting contributions to California agriculture, their industries, and their communities.

Dr. Peggy Sears Perry (Class 9)
Professor Emeritus at Cal Poly Pomona, Dr. Perry has dedicated nearly four decades to teaching plant science and leadership. A longtime member of the CALF Education Team, she has advanced agricultural literacy and leadership development for generations of California leaders.

Bart Fisher (Class 5)
A third-generation farmer from Blythe, Bart Fisher has led on Colorado River water issues for more than 30 years, serving on agricultural boards and negotiating landmark agreements. Under his leadership, Fisher Farms successfully transitioned to its second century while he mentored countless leaders and served his community.

Profiles in Leadership Award

Established in 1995, the Profiles in Leadership Award honors alumni whose purposeful and impactful actions have benefited industry, community, government, education, or the environment.

Mike Boeger (Class 7)
A rice farmer and education advocate, Mike Boeger transformed Butte Community College as board president and strengthened the rice industry through his leadership on the California Rice Research Board. His service reflects integrity, innovation, and commitment to future generations.

Dino Giacomazzi (Class 36)
A fourth-generation farmer from Hanford, Dino Giacomazzi is known for innovation and advocacy. He founded organizations to address water, education, and dairy issues, and has been a pioneer in ag-tech and digital outreach, connecting and inspiring California agriculture.

This year’s recipients will be recognized during the Class 55 Inauguration & Awards Dinner on October 3, 2025, in Fresno, California.  The evening will begin with a welcome reception hosted by the Alumni Council at 5:45 p.m., followed by the awards presentation and the inauguration of Class 55. Ticket and RSVP information is available at agleaders.org/events.

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 1,400 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 & Communications Manager

jlara@agleaders.org

55th Class Selected for California Agricultural Leadership Program

August 19, 2025

Monterey, California–The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is proud to announce the selection of Class 55 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), a distinguished group of emerging agricultural leaders who will engage in a 17-month intensive program designed to develop leadership skills and prepare them to lead in California’s dynamic agricultural industry.

The Ag Leadership Program selects individuals who demonstrate strong leadership potential and a deep commitment to advancing California agriculture. Over the course of the program, fellows participate in immersive experiences, including leadership seminars, national and international travel seminars, and hands-on projects that foster personal growth and drive industry impact.

“Class 55 will be challenged to broaden their perspectives, expand their influence, and lead with purpose. They embody the very essence of CALF’s mission, to grow leaders who make a difference. This cohort will carry forward a legacy of service-driven leadership that will help ensure California agriculture thrives for generations to come,” said CALF President and CEO Lesa Eidman (Class 49).

Class 55 represents a wide range of agricultural sectors, including field crops, forestry, rice, tree crops, winegrapes, berries and water and brings diverse perspectives through their work in associations, government, agricultural services, and production.

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation has been cultivating leaders for over 55 years, with alumni contributing to policy development, industry advancement, and community engagement across the state and nation. The Class 55 cohort continues this tradition of leadership excellence.

Class 55 fellows’ inaugural ceremony will take place on October 3^rd in Fresno, California. For more information about the Ag Leadership program or to learn more about the Class 55 Fellows, visit agleaders.org Tickets and additional event information are available at agleaders.org/events

Class 55 Fellows

• Claire Aicken – County of San Diego AWM, Oceanside, CA


• Jordan Albiani – Galt High School, Elk Grove, CA


• Tommy Bottoms – Tremont Farms, Davis, CA


• Morgan Campbell – Westside Water Authority, Bakersfield, CA


• Sam Christopherson – Markon, Sacramento, CA


• Natalie Collins – California Association of Winegrape Growers, Lodi, CA


• Drew Crane – Crane Mills, Tehama, CA


• Kelly Damewood – California Certified Organic Farmers, Santa Cruz, CA


• Jared Davit – Jarran Ag Services, Yuba City, CA


• Josh Enos – Carriere Family Farms, Glenn, CA


• Lauren Fann – Almond Board of California, Modesto, CA


• Omar Alexander Gonzalez-Benitez – Planasa LLC, Watsonville, CA


• Lisa Howard – Tolenas Winery, Fairfield, CA


• Casey Kirchhoff – Kirchhoff Family Wines, Clarksburg, CA


• Kiaran Locy – California Prune Board, Sacramento, CA


• Cesar Mendoza – BASF Corporation, Fresno, CA


• Jordon Navarrot – Reclamation District 108, Grimes, CA


• Jon Neugebauer – McArthur Farm Supply, McArthur, CA


• Logan Robertson Huecker – Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Visalia, CA


• Ryan Scott – Monterey Pacific, Templeton, CA


• Emma Sertich – Center Safe Ag, Ventura, CA


• Sadie Strain – Strain Farming Company, Arbuckle, CA


• Kevin Voorhees – AgWest Farm Credit, San Luis Obispo, CA


• Jeremy Wagner – County of San Mateo AWM, Redwood City, CA

 

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 1,400 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:
Media Contact:
Jessica Lara
CALF Marketing and Communications Manager
jlara@agleaders.org

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California Ag Leadership Foundation Hires New Alumni Engagement and Event Manager

July 01, 2025

MONTEREY, Calif. — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is pleased to announce the hiring of Anna Nicholson as its new Alumni Engagement and Event Manager, effective June 26, 2025.

In this newly restructured role, Nicholson will lead statewide alumni engagement strategies, coordinate impactful alumni programming, and strengthen relationships across CALF’s broad network of more than 1,400 program alumni. Her focus will include developing alumni programs, coordinating events, and fostering a culture of lifelong connection, service, and leadership among CALF graduates.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anna to our team,” said Lesa Eidman, CALF President and CEO. “Her background in relationship management and executive search, combined with her strengths in project coordination, communications, and stakeholder engagement, make her a dynamic fit for this position. Her energy and professional experience will immediately support CALF’s mission to grow leaders who make a difference.”

Nicholson brings over seven years of experience in relationship-focused roles, most recently serving as a Client Manager at 3P Partners, a national executive search firm specializing in food and agriculture. There, she partnered with top industry companies and successfully led recruitment efforts across a wide range of roles. Earlier in her career, she worked in donor relations and event coordination at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California, where she supported fundraising events and managed key donor communications.

“It’s an incredible honor to join the CALF team and serve such a passionate and accomplished alumni community,” said Nicholson. “I'm inspired by the impact CALF graduates have across California agriculture, and I’m looking forward to creating meaningful ways for us to stay connected, celebrate each other’s work, and keep growing together.”

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Seattle University and is fluent in Spanish. A Northern California native, Nicholson will be based in Sacramento and travel frequently across the state to support alumni events and initiatives.

ABOUT CALF
CALF is dedicated to growing leadership in agriculturalists who have the capacity and potential to advance, benefit and promote California agriculture. Since 1970, more than 1,400 California Agricultural Leadership Program fellows have become lifelong leaders who individually and collectively act as a catalyst for a vibrant agricultural community and make a significant difference in the agricultural industry, their businesses, communities and families.

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