Category: News Releases

Davidson Pattiz, CEO of Zenith Insurance Company, has joined the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) board of directors.

Pattiz has worked for Zenith Insurance Company, a leader in property and casualty insurance for the California agriculture industry, since 2005. He began his current role in January 2025 after spending 19 years in various roles within the company, including president and chief operating officer. As CEO, he is responsible for overseeing a nationwide operation comprised of more than 1,400 professionals. Pattiz earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from Brown University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

“I am extremely honored to welcome Davidson to our dedicated board of directors,” said CALF Board Chair Mike Young (35). “An enthusiastic champion of Ag Leadership for many years, he has a strong appreciation for its impact on California agriculture. Davidson’s depth of business experiences as well as strategic perspectives, leadership skills and positive attitude will be instrumental as we continue advancing our mission and vision.”

Said Pattiz, “I am honored to serve as a board member for the California Ag Leadership Foundation. Over many years, I have witnessed the impact of the exceptionally high-quality leadership program CALF provides. Building new leaders and sustaining California’s vital, multigenerational agriculture industry are worthy efforts that I look forward to helping advance with my new colleagues.”

Pattiz joins 11 CALF board members, including Mike Young (35), Wegis & Young, chair; Cameron Boswell (42), J.G. Boswell, vice chair; Correen Davis (45), The Gorrill Ranch, secretary/treasurer; Yissel Barajas (40), Reiter Affiliated Companies; Nikki Cossio, Measure to Improve LLC; Rob Goff (45), Wonderful Orchards; Fidela Irigoyen (21), Wells Fargo; Dr. Joel Kimmelshue (37), Land IQ; Sal Parra Jr. (46), Burford Ranch; Paul Parreira (44), Parreira Almond Processing Co.; and Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, Fresno State.

The number in parentheses after a name indicates Ag Leadership Program class.

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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MONTEREY – Applications are now being accepted for Class 55 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP). Applicants should be mid-career growers, farmers, ranchers, horticulturalists, foresters and/or individuals working in other areas of California’s diverse agriculture industry.  

The Ag Leadership Program, operated by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), is considered to be one of the premier leadership development experiences in the United States. Through the program, fellows learn leadership skills that help them expand their impact. More than 1,400 individuals have participated in the program and are influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture, communities, government, business and other areas.  

Over the course of the intensive 17-month program, fellows are immersed in numerous topics, including leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and other skills and tools that contribute to improved performance. Along with individualized leadership development coaching, fellows engage in situations and discussions focused on complex social and cultural issues. They are provided with opportunities to build enhanced critical thinking skills that, combined with a broader perspective, help graduates guide creative solutions throughout their lives.  

“For 55 years, the Ag Leadership Program has cultivated a remarkable legacy of growing leaders who make a difference,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson.  “Those in California agriculture who want to increase their leadership capacity and bolster their positive impact in agriculture, their communities and beyond are strongly encouraged to apply to Class 55.” 

The program includes approximately 55 days of formal program activities. CALF delivers an integrated, comprehensive and diverse curriculum with support from its four partner universities: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis. Fellows learn from first-rate educators and subject authorities from many professions and backgrounds. As a valuable extension to the monthly seminars, fellows participate in national and international travel seminars that provide further opportunities to understand interconnected systems and governments, dialogue with policy leaders and compare and contrast cultural dynamics.  

CALF invests more than $50,000 per fellow to participate in the Ag Leadership Program, thanks in large part to donations made by individuals and industry organizations and companies. Candidates are strongly encouraged to talk with Ag Leadership alumni about the program and to attend an informational event.  

More information and the application are available at www.agleaders.org/class55apply/. Phase one of the three-phrase application process is due no later than April 1, 2025. Individuals are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible.  

CONTACT
CALF Programs Manager Judy Sparacino / jsparacino@agleaders.org or 831-585-1030. 

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MONTEREY – The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) announced that Lesa Eidman has been selected as its new president and CEO, effective Feb. 18. Eidman will succeed Dwight Ferguson, who has served in the position since October 2020.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lesa to the Ag Leadership team as our new president and CEO,” said CALF Board Chair Mike Young. “Lesa brings to the role a deep connection to Ag Leadership, as a graduate of Class 49 and an actively engaged alum, as well as an inspiring vision for the future of Ag Leadership and California agriculture as a whole. Her passion and expertise will build on the strong foundation laid by Dwight and propel CALF to even greater heights.”

Young also expressed his gratitude for Ferguson’s contributions over the past four and a half years. “Dwight has been instrumental in professionalizing our organization, leading our last strategic plan and positioning the foundation for long-term success and sustainability,” said Young. “His leadership has set the stage for an exciting future, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication and service. On a personal note, Dwight has become a close friend and mentor, and I am truly sad to see him go.”

Eidman has extensive experience with agricultural producers and associations over the past 20 years. Since 2015, she has worked for Superior Farms – North America’s top processor and marketer of lamb – first as director of producer resources and sustainability and for the past five years as vice president of sales. From 2003 to 2015, Eidman was the executive director of the California Wool Growers Association and California Pork Producers Association.

Eidman is a third-generation agriculturalist with a family heritage rooted in education and production agriculture. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and management from Fresno State and a master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from UC Davis.

“I am honored and excited to be the 10th president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation,” said Eidman. “CALF has a strong mission of growing leaders who make a difference, and I am eager to build on that foundation. My vision is to elevate the organization’s trajectory, expanding its reach and impact to address the challenges and opportunities facing California agriculture. Together with our dedicated team and alumni network, we will continue to empower transformative leadership and shape a brighter future for the agricultural industry.”

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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MONTEREY – Tickets are available for the Colusa Farm Show Breakfast on Feb. 5 and the Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast on Feb. 13. Over the past three decades, the annual events – which draw several hundred attendees at each venue – have raised more than $2.6 million collectively to help support California Agricultural Leadership Foundation’s (CALF) mission of growing leaders who make a difference, plus other educational efforts.

23rd Annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast
Dr. Joel Kimmelshue, owner and principal soil and agricultural scientist of Land IQ, is the keynote speaker at the 23rd annual Colusa Farm Show Breakfast on Feb. 5. The event begins at 7 a.m. at Saint Bernadette’s Hall at 745 Ware St. in Colusa.

Kimmelshue has more than 27 years of consulting experience focusing on practical and applied solutions for development and management of agricultural-based systems, especially irrigated systems. Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and remote sensing firm, has worked extensively with numerous agricultural, urban and environmental partners. Kimmelshue was raised and worked on a diversified tree and row crop farming operation in Durham and still maintains an ownership and management interest in the family farming operation. He is a member of Class 37 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.

Hosted by alumni of the Chico State College of Agriculture, CALF and Alpha Gamma Rho, the breakfast has raised more than $600,000 for scholarships and leadership programs in its history. Sponsorships are available. Tickets can be purchased for $75 by contacting the College of Agriculture at 530-898-3737 or via the event page. All proceeds go to the Chico State College of Agriculture and CALF.

• Contact: Mackenzie Bressler / 530-898-3737 / mbbressler@csuchico.edu

 

31st Annual Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast
Hans Kabat, president of Cargill’s North American protein business, is the keynote speaker at the 31st annual Ag Leadership Alumni World Ag Expo Breakfast on Feb. 13. The event begins at 6:30 a.m. at the International Agri-Center (VIP Tent South) at 4500 S. Laspina St. in Tulare.

Kabat leads a team of over 30,000 individuals who produce enough protein to feed 90 million people every single day. Having led protein teams in Thailand and China before his current role, Kabat delivers strategic leadership, a bold vision and a global perspective. He navigates through complex challenges to lead the protein industry to new, better and more efficient solutions. Kabat also has deep roots in agriculture having grown up on his family’s farm. He gained firsthand experience and a profound understanding of farming life that sparked his passion for the industry. Those values continue to shape his vision and leadership today.

The breakfast is hosted by CALF alumni with support from Gallagher and sponsored by insurance company partners, including diamond sponsor The Zenith. It has raised more than $2 million for CALF since 1995. Tables of eight for $900 and individual tickets for $125 can be purchased via the event page.

• Contact: Jodi Litz / 831-585-1030 / jlitz@agleaders.org

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MONTEREY – The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) and the Ag Leadership Alumni Council will honor Carlos Castañeda (36) and Steve McShane (33) with the 2024 Profiles in Leadership Award on Oct. 11 in Fresno. The award recognizes Ag Leadership Program alumni for leadership actions that result in the betterment of industry, community, business, government, education and/or the environment.

“I am delighted to watch our alumni making the kind of generational impact that agriculture and our communities need today,” said CALF Board Chairman Mike Young (35). “Carlos and Steve exemplify true servant leadership, and I commend their dedication to creating innovative solutions and partnerships that will leave a lasting mark on our industry and our state.”

This year’s recipients will be recognized during a ceremony on Oct. 11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Fresno Convention Center in conjunction with the Class 54 inauguration. A welcome reception will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by the award ceremony, inauguration and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $40 per person. For event details and to purchase tickets, visit the event page.

ABOUT THE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Carlos Castañeda (Class 36) was selected as an awardee for his dedication to providing opportunities to farmworker communities. He has shown a commitment to giving farmworkers a pathway to work in the U.S. and build a life for themselves and their families. He lives in San Luis Obispo County and is the owner and president of Castañeda & Sons Inc.

“To make a difference you don’t have to have a huge impact on a large number of people, or in a very pronounced and public way,” said Castañeda. “I’ve learned that the most impactful changes we’ve been able to make are on an individual level. The people we help are great parts of our communities who are raising phenomenal kids. What a feeling to make a difference in this way.”

Through a partnership with the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples in Mexico, Castañeda has helped individuals find jobs in the U.S. through the H-2A program. His work has helped transform families and villages in rural Mexico. He has also donated vans in his parents’ home region in Mexico to provide transportation to students who would not otherwise have transportation to school. He hires 1,100 individuals annually to work in the U.S., with more than 95% of his workforce returning year after year. In the U.S., Castañeda has developed and partnered with others to provide housing for thousands of farmworkers.

Steve McShane (33) was selected as an awardee for his leadership in public service. He has demonstrated continued commitment to improving his community through volunteerism and his work as a city council member. He lives in Monterey County and is the director of development and community relations at The Bridge Restoration Ministries.

“Leaders in agriculture need to be bold and step out of their comfort zones,” said McShane. “I’m so grateful for the education and connections made thanks to Ag Leadership. The program propelled me to serve an elected office and taught me self-reliance and the importance of thinking long-term for our industry and communities.”

McShane’s public service began in college when former Gov. Pete Wilson appointed him to the California Postsecondary Education Commission. He later worked for former State Sen. Bruce McPherson, served on the Salinas City Council for 14 years and as CEO of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce for two years. As a city council member, he helped secure more than $200 million in capital improvements for the city and helped establish a community garden, an adopt-a-tree program and $100,000 in annual funding for public art. During many years of his public service, McShane operated McShane’s Nursery & Landscape Supply in Salinas.

ABOUT
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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MONTEREY – Twenty-four individuals have been selected for Class 54 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, an advanced leadership development experience for emerging, mid-career leaders in agriculture. The new fellows will be inaugurated into the program on Oct. 11 in Fresno.

Through dynamic seminars during an intensive 17-month program, fellows are immersed in numerous topics, including leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and other skills and tools that contribute to improved performance. Four partner universities – Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis – deliver integrated, comprehensive and diverse curriculum at the seminars. 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 go on to make a positive difference in their families, businesses, communities and ultimately, California agriculture,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson. “Participating program alumni assemble a class of fellows that represents a broad cross section of the state’s ag industry and demonstrates the capacity to make real impact. We’re excited for the fellows to kick off their Ag Leadership journey next month!”

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 one of the premier leadership programs in the United States. 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. For more information about the program, visit agleaders.org.

Class 54 Fellows

• Marisa Alcorta, Center for Land-Based Learning, Winters
• Jake Barcellos, A-Bar Ag Enterprises, Los Banos
• Megan Bell, Margins Wine, Santa Cruz
• Hunter Berry, Yosemite Farm Credit ACA, Turlock
• Kelly Bishop, Imperial Irrigation District, El Centro
• Cameron Boomgaarden, Vann Brothers, Yuba City
• Hillary DeCarl, Del Rey Avocado Company, Fallbrook
• Allison Dericco, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg
• Will Dyt, Dyt Dairy, Nuevo
• Jarred Greene, Nickel Family, Firebaugh
• Rachael Laenen, Kimball Ranches – El Hogar, Santa Paula
• Lizandro Magana, California Olive Ranch, Red Bluff
• Patty Martinez, Marz Family Farms Inc., Somis
• Timothy “Boomer” Murray, Murray Ag Real Estate Team, Visalia
• Consuelo Fernandez Noguera, Brokaw Nursery, Ventura
• Carson Pettit, RPAC LLC, El Dorado Hills
• Janeth Quintero, Naturipe Berry Growers Inc., Salinas
• Jenny Scheer, Water and Land Solutions, Chico
• Theresa Schneider, A&J Family Farms Inc., Chico
• Tony Shelton, The Wonderful Company, Bakersfield
• Andrew Smith, County of Sonoma, Santa Rosa
• Trevor Tauzer, Tauzer Apiaries, Davis
• Linda Torres, Constellation Brands Inc., Healdsburg
• Jaime Valdovinos, USDA-Risk Management Agency, Windsor

 

Media Contact:
Meredith Rehrman Ritchie (28)
CALF Marketing and Communications Coordinator
mritchie@agleaders.org

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