2012 Class Participants
Tara Brocker, Yuba-Sutter County
Tara Brocker is a rice farmer in Sutter County. After receiving a degree from Sacramento State University in communications and business, she served as the executive director of the Yolo County Farm Bureau from 1992 through1998. Some of previous roles include serving on the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Committee and the Sutter County General Plan Update Committee. She is currently active in the Sutter County Republican Central Committee where she serves as a delegate and is very involved in water and flood issues representing agriculture on many fronts. Tara is the second vice president of the Yuba-Sutter County Farm Bureau.
Jack Hamm, San Joaquin County
Jack Hamm is the manager at Lima Ranch, a 1,600-cow dairy. He is also a partner in Lima-Hamm Farms, where he farms corn, alfalfa and forage. Jack is the first vice president of San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation. He has a bachelor's degree in dairy science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Eric Heinrich, Stanislaus County
Eric Heinrich farms almonds and walnuts and, along with his family, owns and operates a walnut huller and drier in Modesto. Additionally, Eric operates a custom spraying business and is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau board of directors.
Kristen Krohn, Lake County
Kristen Krohn is the administrative assistant at the Lake County Farm Bureau, where she also serves as the market manager for LakeCountyGrown.com. Kristen received her associate degree in general education from Yuba Community College in May 2008.
Daniel Meza, San Joaquin County
Daniel Meza is a commercial lender at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Lodi and is a first-generation college graduate. While studying agribusiness at CSU, Fresno, Daniel became involved in the Hispanic Business Committee and created the HBC scholarship fund to help other Hispanic students continue their education. In 2010 he co-founded a new non-profit called Sus Finanzas, which will provide financial education to underserved communities. Daniel is a member of the San Joaquin County Young Farmers and Ranchers.
Sam Mudd, Tehama County
Sam Mudd holds a bachelor's degree in agronomy from CSU, Chico, and is the co-owner of AG-LAND Investment Brokers. Sam is also a first-generation walnut grower farming on the banks of the Sacramento River near Red Bluff. He is the president of the Tehama County Farm Bureau.
Toni Scott, Butte County
Toni Scott is an agribusiness consultant with Morrison and Company, a firm providing specialized consulting services to the agriculture community including business planning and grant writing. Prior to her work with Morrison and Co., Toni was a staff writer for the Chico Enterprise Record, where she was recognized with the Butte County Farm Bureau's Media Partner of the Year award in 2009. Toni has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in political science from CSU, Chico.
Mindy Sotelo, San Benito County
Mindy Sotelo is the executive director of the San Benito County Farm Bureau and is a recent graduate of the Leadership San Benito County program. She is very involved with her family and community and combines both of those interests in her capacity as president of the Hollister Little League. Mindy has a bachelor's degree in communications from CSU, Monterey Bay.
Jake Wenger, Stanislaus County
Jake Wenger is a fourth-generation walnut and almond farmer in Modesto. He attended Modesto Junior College before transferring to CSU, Fresno where he studied agricultural business. Jake has a long history of involvement in Farm Bureau at all levels. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and has been involved in Young Farmers & Ranchers programs at both the state and national level. Additionally, Jake is a former president of the California FFA Alumni Association and is currently serving on the National Ag Science Center Board.
Jennifer Scheer, Santa Clara County
Jennifer Scheer is the executive director of the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau and a fourth-generation rice and walnut farmer from Butte County. Jennifer's passion for agriculture and politics can be seen in her previous experiences as a legislative aide for Assemblyman Roger Niello, charter member of the Sac Metro Young Republicans and her day-to-day work advocating for members of Farm Bureau in Santa Clara County. Jennifer is a 2008 graduate of CSU, Chico and has a bachelor's degree in agriculture business.