Category: News Releases

Dr. Joel Kimmelshue succeeds Mike Young; Fidela Irigoyen and Rob Goff join Kimmelshue on executive board

MONTEREY, Calif. — October 16, 2026 — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) announces Dr. Joel Kimmelshue (Class 37) as its new board chair, succeeding Mike Young (Class 35) following the completion of Young’s term. Joining Kimmelshue on the foundation’s executive board are Fidela Irigoyen (Class 21) as vice chair and Rob Goff (Class 45) as secretary-treasurer.

The transition comes as CALF begins implementing its 2026–2031 strategic plan, which outlines priorities for developing leaders, engaging alumni, expanding awareness of the foundation’s impact and strengthening its financial future.

Young’s tenure as chair capped more than 20 years of service on the foundation’s board, preceded by involvement with its Alumni Council. A steadfast advocate for Ag Leadership, he helped strengthen the foundation, advance its mission and shape a vision for its future. His dedication, generosity, and belief in the power of leadership development have left a lasting mark on the organization and the generations of agricultural leaders it serves.

Kimmelshue is owner and principal agricultural scientist at Land IQ. As a member of the team that helped shape the foundation’s new strategic plan, he steps into the chair role with a clear understanding of its priorities and the partnerships needed to achieve them.

“When asked to consider being the board chair for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, not only was I humbled and honored, but I also had great excitement for the opportunities the Foundation, the Program, and our alumni base have moving forward; specifically, those opportunities outlined in our new 5-year strategic plan,” Kimmelshue said. “To help facilitate and lead the quest for those plan milestones and goals is a challenge taken seriously. I greatly look forward to working with Foundation staff, fellow Board members, alumni, current and future class members, and the growing number of supporters in not just meeting, but hopefully exceeding those expectations.”

Together, Kimmelshue, Irigoyen and Goff will work with the board to advance the foundation’s mission of growing leaders who make a difference.

About the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to growing 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.

For more information about the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and the California Agricultural Leadership Program, visit agleaders.org.

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MONTEREY, Calif. — October 7, 2026 — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is pleased to announce that Cherie (Cher) Watte, executive director of the Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA)/California Grown and a Class 25 alumna of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, has joined its board of directors.

Watte brings decades of experience in agricultural marketing, public policy, international trade, water policy and industry advocacy. Since 2020, she has served as executive director of BCMA/California Grown, an advisory board to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The organization combines industry and government resources to increase awareness, consumption and value of California agricultural products. Since 2015, Watte has also served as executive director of Imperial Valley Water (IVH2O), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting the Imperial Valley’s water rights.

“The Foundation Board of Directors is excited to welcome Cher Watte to our diverse group of members. Cher brings lifelong experience in production systems, marketing, business operations and community service, along with a deep commitment to California agriculture. As a program alumna, she will bring valuable skills and perspective to the board,” said Dr. Joel Kimmelshue, board chair.

“I am incredibly honored to join the board. Having participated in various aspects of the organization for nearly 40 years, I know firsthand how deeply Ag Leadership influences personal and professional development. I look forward to working with the board to expand our impact on individuals and the industry,” said Watte.

Watte joins 14 CALF board members: Dr. Joel Kimmelshue (37), Land IQ, chair; Fidela Irigoyen (21), vice chair; Rob Goff (45), Wonderful Orchards, secretary/treasurer; Yissel Barajas (40), Reiter Affiliated Companies; Nikki Cossio, Measure to Improve LLC; Michael Frantz (36), Frantz Wholesale Nursery; Erin O’Donnell (50), Sustainable Ag Advisors; Sal Parra Jr. (46), Bowles Farming; Paul Parreira (44), Parreira Almond Processing Co.; Davidson Pattiz, The Zenith; Dr. Ashley Stokes, UC Davis; Gladys Wotring, J.G. Boswell; and Mike Young (35), Wegis & Young.

The number in parentheses after a name indicates the member’s Ag Leadership Program class.

About the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to growing 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.

For more information about the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and the California Agricultural Leadership Program, visit agleaders.org.

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MONTEREY, CA, September 15, 2026 — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) announces Gladys Wotring, vice president of human resources at J.G. Boswell Company, has joined its board of directors.

Wotring brings more than 25 years of HR experience, with a focus on leadership development and operational strategy. At J.G. Boswell, she partners with executive leadership to build training and development programs that strengthen supervisory capability and drive operational performance across the company’s agricultural operations.

Before joining J.G. Boswell, Wotring held HR leadership roles at prominent agricultural companies, including The Wonderful Company and Del Monte Foods. A Fresno State agribusiness graduate, she has lived in California’s Central Valley for more than 25 years and brings a deep understanding of the region’s agricultural workforce. She is passionate about developing people and strengthening the industry’s leadership pipeline.

“I’m honored to join the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation board,” said Wotring. “CALF’s work developing the next generation of agricultural leaders is vital to our industry’s future, and I look forward to supporting that mission.”

“Gladys will be an outstanding addition to the CALF board,” said Mike Young (Class 35) “Her experience developing people and leaders within California agriculture aligns directly with our mission and brings a perspective that will strengthen our board. As Joel Kimmelshuel (Class 37) prepares to take the chair, I am excited about the leadership this group will bring to the Foundation. CALF is in very good hands.”

Wotring joins 13 CALF board members, including Mike Young (35), Wegis & Young, chair; Dr. Joel Kimmelshue (37), Land IQ, vice chair; Correen Davis (45), The Gorrill Ranch, secretary/treasurer; Yissel Barajas (40), Reiter Affiliated Companies; Nikki Cossio, Measure to Improve LLC; Michael Frantz (36), Frantz Wholesale Nursery; Rob Goff (45), Wonderful Orchards; Fidela Irigoyen (21),; Erin O’Donnell (50), Sustainable Ag Advisors; Sal Parra Jr. (46), Bowles Farming; Paul Parreira (44), Parreira Almond Processing Co.; Davidson Pattiz, The Zenith; and Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, Fresno State.

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

About the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation: The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation develops leaders for California agriculture through the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), a 17-month fellowship offered in partnership with UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State and Chico State. Learn more at agleaders.org.

Annual celebration recognizes outstanding leadership and service to California agriculture. 

MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 25, 2026 — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) will honor five alumni for their leadership, service and contributions to California agriculture during the 2026 Ag Leadership Awards Ceremony and Class 56 Inauguration on Friday, Oct. 2, in Fresno. 

“Our alumni demonstrate the lasting impact of Ag Leadership through the ways they serve, lead and strengthen California agriculture,” said Lesa Eidman, president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. “This year’s five honorees, representing Classes 1 through 45, reflect the enduring legacy of the program and the many ways our alumni continue to make a meaningful difference across the industry and in their communities.” 

Lifetime Leadership Award 

The Lifetime Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose careers demonstrate exceptional leadership and a sustained commitment to strengthening California agriculture, their communities and the people around them. 

Alfonso “Al” Guilin, Class 1 –  A member of Ag Leadership’s inaugural class, Al Guilin built a distinguished career at Limoneira Company, serving as vice president and championing innovations in farmworker relations, training and workforce development. His lifetime of service includes nearly three decades as a deacon at St. Sebastian Church and more than 50 years with the Santa Paula Rotary, where he established a scholarship program that supports local students. For more than five decades, Al has remained a dedicated ambassador for Ag Leadership, mentoring others and inspiring generations of agricultural leaders to participate in the program. 

Steve Heringer, Class 9  – A fifth-generation Clarksburg farmer and Ag Leadership Class 9 alumnus, Steve Heringer has carried his family’s agricultural legacy forward through Heringer Estates Family Vineyards & Winery. His impact extends beyond the farm through service to organizations including the Yolo County Farm Bureau and efforts to preserve Clarksburg’s agricultural heritage for future generations. 

Doug Circle, Class 25 – Doug Circle has demonstrated a lifetime of leadership as an agricultural entrepreneur, industry advocate and mentor. He built Sunrise Growers and Frozsun Foods into major strawberry enterprises, provided decades of leadership to California’s strawberry industry, and organized more than 100 Central Coast landowners to protect their water rights. Through his family foundation and board service, Doug supports more than 50 faith-based and humanitarian causes in numerous countries, while continuing to mentor emerging agricultural leaders and invest in the Ag Leadership community. 

Profiles in Leadership Award 

The Profiles in Leadership Award recognizes Ag Leadership alumni who exemplify the values of the program through their leadership, professional accomplishments, service and commitment to making a difference. 

Correen “Corrie” Davis, Class 45, As managing partner of Gorrill Ranch and board president of the Western Canal Water District, Corrie Davis has demonstrated exceptional leadership in agriculture, water management and environmental stewardship. She has made Gorrill Ranch a model for collaboration through its nationally recognized role in the Butte Creek Salmon Restoration Project. Corrie has also provided dedicated leadership to CALF as a board member, helping strengthen its educational programming and prepare future generations to lead and serve California agriculture. 

Brian Talley, Class 30, As president and co-owner of Talley Farms and Talley Vineyards, Brian Talley has spent decades advancing California agriculture through innovation, advocacy and service. He helped establish the SLO Coast AVA, founded the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers, and created the Talley Farms Box to connect families throughout California with locally and regionally grown food. Brian also serves on the AgWest Farm Credit Board of Directors and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to Ag Leadership, including annually hosting current fellows, prospective applicants and alumni at Talley Vineyards. 

Welcoming Class 56 and Honoring Anniversary Classes 

The evening will also mark the inauguration of Class 56 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program welcoming 24 new fellows as they begin their Ag Leadership journey. 

The event will also recognize anniversary Classes 6, 16, 26, 36 and 46, bringing together multiple generations of Ag Leadership alumni to celebrate the program’s continued impact across California agriculture. 

Event Details 

The Class 56 Inauguration and Ag Leadership Awards Ceremony will take place Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel, 2233 Ventura Ave., Fresno. 

Tickets are $60 per person. Reservations are requested by Sept. 30 at agleaders.org. 

About the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation 

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to growing 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. 

For more information about the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and the California Agricultural Leadership Program, visit agleaders.org. 

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California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Announces Class 56 Ag Leadership Fellows

MONTEREY, August 17, 2026 – The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) has selected Class 56 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), bringing together 24 individuals from across California agriculture for the foundation’s signature 17-month leadership development experience.

Now in its 56th year, the Ag Leadership Program continues to use a rigorous application process to identify individuals across California’s agricultural industry who demonstrate exceptional promise as leaders and a strong commitment to the future of the state’s farms, ranches and rural communities.”

Through in-state leadership seminars held with CALF’s five partner universities, national and international travel seminars, fellows strengthen their ability to navigate complexity, lead through change and make a lasting impact on their businesses, organizations, communities and California agriculture.

“Class 56 honors our founders’ vision by strengthening the representation of production agriculture among our fellows,” said Lesa Eidman, president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. “It is especially meaningful that, for the first time in our history, women make up the majority of the class.

“These fellows represent the evolving face of California agriculture and embody the bold, capable and diverse leadership needed to navigate change and build a stronger future for the industry and the communities they serve.”

Class 56 represents a wide range of sectors within California agriculture, including farming and ranching, agricultural labor, crop inputs and services, water and natural resource management, conservation, state government, regulatory programs, agricultural technology, and food production.

Class 56 Fellows

Amran Bath — Sunrise Ag Labor, Yuba City

Lindsay Cederquist — Diversified Land Management, Clovis

Brooks Craven — Wilbur-Ellis, Lemoore

Betsey Cunningham — WorkWise Strategic Solutions, Penngrove

Krystal Del Bosque — Del Bosque Farms, Los Banos

Nolon Doss — Doss Agricultural Services, Madera

Hector Hernandez — Reiter Affiliated Companies, Winnetka

Jenny Holtermann — Water Association of Kern County / H&H Family Farms, Shafter

Virginia Jameson — California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento

Hannah Johnson — HJ&Co, Fresno

Gabrielle Katanic — Lundberg Family Farms, Sacramento

Ritta Martin — Glenn County RCD / Martin & Millsaps Ranch, Orland

Tawny Mata — California Department of Food and Agriculture, Winters

Wyatt Maysey — Taylor Farms, Pacific Grove

Tamar Melkonian — Nichols Farms, Fresno

Julia Michaels — Native Seed Group, Sacramento

Jenna Morales — California Department of Water Resources, Folsom

Andrew Nickus — Rockwood Ag Services, El Centro

Daniel Ostrowski — Land IQ, Davis

Andrew Parolini — Monterey Pacific, Inc., Santa Rosa

Ruben Ramirez — Wonderful Citrus, Bakersfield

Alyssa Rolen — California Rangeland Trust, Colusa

Katharine Rosser — Montna Farms, Marysville

Mariah Taylor Garcia — California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Clovis

Class 56 fellows will be formally welcomed at an inaugural ceremony on October 2^nd in Fresno, California. For more information about the Ag Leadership Program or to learn more about the Class 56 Fellows, visit agleaders.org. Tickets and additional event details are available at agleaders.org/events.

About California Agricultural Leadership Foundation

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to growing 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 & Communications Manager

jlara@agleaders.org

 

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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