Leadership Farm Bureau class announced for 2027
Leadership Farm Bureau Class of 2027, from back left: Jill Miller of Sacramento County; Kristina Knobloch of Napa County; Kurt Sheppard of Butte County; Alyssa Drake of San Joaquin County; Ashley McWilliams of Colusa County; Louise Lampara of Ventura County; from front left: Tasha Ardalan of San Diego County; Lillian Smith of Sutter County; Adriana Toste of Sacramento County; Leah Groves of Trinity County
September 3, 2026
Ten agricultural professionals have been chosen for the California Farm Bureau’s 2027 Leadership Farm Bureau program.
Leadership Farm Bureau class members will participate in a 17-month educational and development initiative that prepares them for leadership roles within Farm Bureau and agriculture. The program includes 200 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 professional development. 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 are:
Tasha Ardalan of San Diego County, program coordinator for the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group, where she oversees compliance and education for more than 900 farmers.
Alyssa Drake of San Joaquin County, an agricultural finance and accounting professional who owns and operates a vineyard in Lodi with her husband and is involved in her family’s cherry operation.
Leah Groves of Trinity County, program manager of agriculture and innovations at the Siskiyou Economic Development Council and marketing and hospitality coordinator for her family’s multigenerational winery, Alpen Cellars.
Kristina Knobloch of Napa County, membership director for the Napa County Farm Bureau, where she works to build member relationships and strengthen the county’s agricultural community.
Louise Lampara of Ventura County, chief executive officer of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, where she leads advocacy, strategic initiatives and member engagement.
Ashley McWilliams of Colusa County, a pest control advisor for Wilbur-Ellis who works with farmers across Colusa, Sutter and Yolo counties on a variety of crops.
Jill Miller of Sacramento County, program director for the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, where she leads statewide agricultural literacy programs for educators and students.
Lillian Smith of Sutter County, a second-generation rice and almond farmer in Sutter County who farms alongside her family and manages her own farming operation.
Kurt Sheppard of Butte County, a relationship manager at AgWest Farm Credit who works with farmers and ranchers and is a fourth-generation rice and walnut farmer.
Adriana Toste of Sacramento County, an agricultural communications and public affairs professional with Cogent Consulting & Communications who was raised on her family’s dairy farm in Gustine.
California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches as part of a nationwide network representing more than 5 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at www.cfbf.com or follow @cafarmbureau on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.
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