Participation Opportunities We have some great opportunities coming up, and we hope you can help us spread the word. The Class Challenge is well underway, and some classes are vying for the trophy with gusto. Check out the standings HERE. But it’s not over yet – and we need your help in sharing these great ways to get involved! BECOME A SUSTAINING DONOR One of the easiest and most affordable ways to give back to a program that has strengthened California agriculture profoundly is to become a sustaining donor through monthly giving! Recurring giving is an easy way to provide reliable, sustaining support to current and future fellows of Ag Leadership year-round. No matter the amount, every gift goes a long way, and it’s easy on your budget and beneficial to ours! By providing reliable funding throughout the year, you’ll help ensure fellows receive the world-class leadership education more than 1,400 leaders in California agriculture have benefitted from for the last 53 years. From inauguration to commencement, through monthly seminars, national and international trips, and myriad events throughout the year, monthly donors provide the opportunity to grow leaders who make a difference in a unique way. Sign up here. ALUMNI CONFERENCE: THE FARMER’S TABLE – CELEBRATION DINNER We are looking forward to our upcoming CALF Alumni Conference and are excited to share with you some ideas related to the dinner on Thursday, June 27. The dinner will showcase our Lifetime Leadership Award recipients and feature a fireside chat with Leon Panetta (former White House chief of staff, CIA director, and defense secretary). Sandy Fiack (29) has generously taken on the role of planning the dinner and delivered a brilliant concept to celebrate all of you and the incredible commodities you produce with ILAC and IGWAL leaders from across the globe. What ideas do you have for unique and special products to showcase the bounty of California agriculture? Do you have commodities to share or know someone who does? Help us create an unforgettable meal and show them the Ag Leadership difference! Here’s what is needed: Date: Thursday, June 27, at the Monterey Conference Center (conference center staff will prepare and serve the meal) Meal count: 350 people Meal needs: Salad, protein, starch, veggie, dessert Ideas: Avocado, citrus, pomegranates for salad, Bayliss rice, green onions, mushrooms, butter, Glenda’s Farmhouse taco walnut crumble or Asian crumble, lettuce cups, bag salad, large strawberries or other fruit for chocolate fondue dessert, ice cream, etc. Goal: Have the menu roughly established by April 15, to be finalized no later than May 1. Deadline: We need to know what items we can get donated and have the Questions: Sandy Fiack: 559-260-6499 / sfiack@thezenith.com Jules Struckmeyer: 530-701-7623/ jules@colusanet.com Jodi Litz: 605-222-4277 / jlitz@agleaders.org SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE Sponsorship levels range from a little to a lot, and your class could be an integral part of this incredible event and take the lead in this year’s challenge! More information can be found here. SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS Do you have an item or experience that can be auctioned, or do you know someone who does? Please contact Roxanne Smith at roxannasmith@charter.net. Please help us spread the word and make this one of the best years yet for alumni, fellows, and CALF. Thank you—we appreciate your help! —