News & Resources

54th Class Selected for California Agricultural Leadership Program

September 09, 2024

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


• Jamie Valdovinos, USDA-Risk Management Agency, Windsor

California Ag Leadership Foundation Hosts Winemaker Dinner at Paso Robles Winery

August 15, 2024

MONTEREY — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is hosting the Dean Brown Winemaker Dinner to celebrate agriculture, winemaking, education and community. The dinner fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Paris Valley Road Estate Winery in Paso Robles, owned by California Agricultural Leadership Program alumnus Craig Stoller. 

The menu, featured below, includes award-winning wines along with an exquisite multi-course meal prepared by chef Joe White, trained at Le Cordon Bleu and certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers.  

• Cocktail hour: Cheese and charcuterie with 2020 Sparkling. 


• First course: Burrata salad with 2021 Chenin Blanc. 


• Second course: Short ribs and scallops with 2019 Le Rendez-Vous. Vegetarian option available. 


• Dessert: Panna cotta with 2020 Fleur D’Orange. 

California Ag Leadership Foundation Announces New Alumni Engagement Manager

July 22, 2024

MONTEREY – The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) has hired Raven Mariani (formerly Castro) as its new alumni engagement manager, effective July 22.

Mariani’s primary responsibilities include the advancement of the foundation through the development and implementation of alumni relations programs and outreach strategies. The position promotes a culture of service volunteerism among the alumni in a supportive and background role.

“We are delighted to welcome Raven to CALF’s dedicated team of professionals, and she will be a key partner in our continued engagement with alumni leaders throughout the state and beyond,” CALF Executive Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva (Class 45) said. “Raven’s background as an educator and her work experience supporting and positively impacting California agriculture complements our mission, vision and values and will positively influence CALF's alumni community today and into the future.”

Mariani joins the foundation after eight years as an agriculture instructor and FFA program coordinator in Northern California. Prior to teaching, she served as the member relations and marketing coordinator at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. Mariani is deeply rooted in the agriculture industry, drawing from her family's six-generation farming heritage in Yolo County. Growing up, her family tended to diverse crops – from rice ranches to walnut orchards – instilling in her a profound commitment to land preservation and sustainable farming practices. Mariani earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural communication from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her master's degree in agriculture education from UC Davis. She is involved with Young Farmers & Ranchers and the Yolo Food Bank.

“As a steadfast advocate for agriculture, I am very excited to embrace a new opportunity as the alumni engagement manager for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation,” Mariani said. “I look forward to leveraging my skills and passion to connect with and inspire alumni, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to advancing agriculture.”

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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