Leadership Farm Bureau selects 13-member class

» March 12, 2007 «

Training, trips and team building await the members of the California Farm Bureau Federation 2007 Leadership Farm Bureau program. Thirteen Farm Bureau members begin their participation in the program this month. They will receive 250 hours of specialized training to hone their leadership skills and delve into issues facing the state's family farmers and ranchers.

The program includes trips to Washington, D.C., to focus on national issues; to Mexico, to discuss agricultural trade; and to Central Valley water facilities, to learn about the state's water-supply system. Participants will also attend lectures and group discussions designed to enhance leadership and collaboration.

The 2007 Leadership Farm Bureau class includes:

• Corrin Amaral, Stanislaus County, program director for the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau;
• Amy Christensen, San Joaquin County, director of alumni relations and communication for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation;
• Jim Crisp, Kings County, farmer and owner of a company that markets, handles and processes cereal grains;
• Linsey Dale, Imperial County, natural resource coordinator for the Imperial County Farm Bureau;
• Lesa Eidman, Sacramento County, executive director of the California Wool Growers Association and the California Pork Producers Association;
• Molly Fagundes, Fresno County, assistant director of development for the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno;
• Brad Goehring, San Joaquin County, winegrape grower and owner of a vineyard-and-orchard management company;
• Rachael Johnson, San Bernardino County, Southern California field representative for the California Farm Bureau;
• Stanton Lange, San Joaquin County, winegrape grower;
• Mike Miya, Kings County, diversified farmer;
• Kathye Rietkerk, San Bernardino County, part owner of a greenhouse business;
• Chris Thomsen, Monterey County, mushroom grower;
• Ranetta Van Klaveren, Madera County, program director for Madera County Farm Bureau and operations coordinator for her family's diversified farm.

"By identifying and training new leaders, the Leadership Farm Bureau program benefits both the people who participate and the Farm Bureau organization statewide," California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar said.

The program's 2007 class will conclude its activities at the CFBF Annual Meeting this December in Sparks, Nev.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.