MONTEREY, Calif. — An intensive, months-long training program concluded today for seven Farm Bureau members from California who participated in the Leadership Farm Bureau program. The LFB Class of 2022 graduated during the 104th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey.
The class acquired enhanced background in communication, teambuilding, advocacy and the Farm Bureau organization during 10 months of instruction. Participants advocated on behalf of Farm Bureau with lawmakers in Sacramento and in person in Washington, D.C. The class also took a field-studies trip to North Carolina and participated in training on agricultural issues, governmental policy and personal development.
Graduates of the 2022 Leadership Farm Bureau class are:
- Amanda Berry is a territory manager for Elanco in its poultry business unit. She is president of Calaveras County Farm Bureau and cofounded the Gold Country Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. She attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has a degree in animal science.
- Abigail Fair is the membership coordinator for Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. She also owns Blumen Flower Farm, a direct-to-consumer flower operation, and owns cattle with her husband. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, and has a degree in agricultural communications.
- Daniel Jones of Solano County is farm manager for Monk and Son Farming in Dixon. He also oversees his family’s orchard and cattle operation and is establishing his own almond operation. He serves on the California Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee. He attended Oregon State University, where he played basketball and earned a degree in agricultural business.
- Kathleen Merrill is an eighth-generation Californian and member of a farming and ranching family on the Central Coast. She works part-time as the special programs coordinator for the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and is completing a degree in agricultural business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
- Madeline Schenken is the program and membership coordinator for Sacramento County Farm Bureau and is active in the county’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. She was previously communications coordinator for CalAgJobs.
- Stephen Waldron is a field automation supervisor for Plantel Nurseries, overseeing the use of new technologies in agriculture production. He serves on the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in agriculture business.
- Donald Wirz is a winemaker for Delicato Family Wines and president of San Benito County Farm Bureau. He works on his family’s ranch, growing winegrapes and raising beef cattle. Donald has a master’s degree in viticulture and enology from the University of California, Davis, and an animal science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
The class represented the 22nd group to graduate from the LFB program since its inception in 2000.
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 29,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.3 million Farm Bureau members.
–California Farm Bureau
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