Leadership Farm Bureau class announced for 2024
Nine agricultural professionals have been chosen for the California Farm Bureau’s 2024 Leadership Farm Bureau program.
Leadership Farm Bureau class members will participate in a 10-month educational and development initiative that prepares them for leadership roles in Farm Bureau and agriculture. The program includes 250 hours of instruction, with seminars on key issues affecting California farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses.
Program participants will learn about government and legislation, media and communications, public speaking and team building. They will also attend lobbying sessions in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and meet with lawmakers and administrative and regulatory officials.
Members of the Leadership Farm Bureau class include:
• Ben Abatti III of Imperial County, a third-generation farmer who grows alfalfa, sugar beets, wheat and other forage crops in Holtville.
• Alex Arroyo of Monterey County, general manager of King City Transplanting in the Salinas Valley.
• Tanya Brouse of Butte County, a program coordinator for the Butte County Farm Bureau who also works with the Butte Agriculture Foundation.
• Sy Honig of Sutter County, a third-generation farmer, owner of Honig Farms and a pest control advisor.
• Jackie Kennedy of Glenn County, founder of Knaughty Farms Olive Oil and office manager for a family farm growing olives, rice and walnuts.
• James Moller of Shasta County, a seventh-generation cattle rancher and a manager for Driscoll’s Inc. focusing on strawberry nursery production.
• Rachel Nettleton of Kern County, executive director of the Kern County Farm Bureau and a marketing and communications professional.
• Harsimerdip “Harry” Sidhu of Sutter County, a vice president of First Northern Bank in Yuba City who grew up on his family’s fruit and nut farm.
• Danielle Vietti of Tulare County, a vice president at AgWest Farm Credit in Tulare who specializes in dairy financing.
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.