Twelve Farm Bureau leaders complete training program

» December 9, 2008 «

Following a yearlong training course geared toward improving leadership skills and sharpening awareness of current issues, 12 Farm Bureau members from California graduated today as the Leadership Farm Bureau Class of 2008. Throughout the course, members gained 250 hours of specialized training and were honored during the California Farm Bureau Federation's 90th Annual Meeting in Burlingame.

With a strategic goal of learning how better to protect and promote California's family farms and ranches, the Leadership Farm Bureau participants worked diligently throughout the year to understand the inner workings of California Farm Bureau and its role as the state's largest farm advocacy organization.

"The success of Farm Bureau depends on the strength of our leaders from within, and the Leadership Farm Bureau program ensures that strength continues and increases," said California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar.

The 2008 Leadership Farm Bureau class included Amy Blagg, Sacramento County; Shannon Douglass, Glenn County; Kurt Hoekstra, Stanislaus County; Stephanie Intveld, Stanislaus County; Steve Kafka, Calaveras County; Kevin Kohnen, Tulare County; Robert Lauchland, San Joaquin County; Jim Morris, Siskiyou County; Greg Overton, Glenn County; Kevin Robertson, San Joaquin County; Amy Roberts, Kings County; and Charlie Starr Jr., San Joaquin County.

The graduates took part in leadership and team-building exercises throughout the year, including a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with key government officials and staff to discuss issues pertaining to family farms and ranches. The group also learned about the California water-supply system during a tour of Central Valley water facilities and visited Mississippi and Louisiana to learn about agriculture in the Southern United States.

The 2008 class marks the ninth group of leaders to complete the Leadership Farm Bureau program since it began in 2000.

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.