Mar 24, 2022

Leadership Farm Bureau program announces 2022 class

Seven agricultural professionals have been chosen for the California Farm Bureau’s 2022 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 in general.

The program includes 250 hours of instruction, with seminars on key issues affecting California farmers and ranchers and agricultural businesses.

The 2022 leadership class will also learn about government and legislation, media and communications, public speaking and team building. Participants will attend lobbying sessions in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., immerse themselves in federal and state policy and meet with lawmakers, administrative and regulatory officials.

Here are the members of the 2022 Leadership Farm Bureau Class:

Amanda Berry, Calaveras County
A territory manager for Elanco Poultry, Berry is president of Calaveras County Farm Bureau and co-founded the Gold Country Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. She holds a degree in animal science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Abigail Fair, Stanislaus County
Fair is the owner of Blumen Flower Farm, raises cattle with her husband and is the membership coordinator for Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. She has a degree in agricultural communications from California State University, Fresno.

Daniel Jones, Solano County
Jones is farm manager for Monk & Son Farming in Dixon, overseeing orchard and cattle operations. He serves on the California Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee. He earned an agricultural business degree and played basketball at Oregon State University.

Kathleen Merrill, Santa Barbara County
An eighth-generation Californian from a Central Coast winegrape-growing family, Merrill is a special programs coordinator for the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau. She is completing a degree in agricultural business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Madeline Schenken, Sacramento County
Schrenken is a communications and marketing coordinator for CalAgJobs and serves as the vice chair for the Sacramento County Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. She has a communications degree from California State University, Sacramento.

Stephen Waldron, Santa Barbara County
Waldron is a field automation supervisor for Plantel Nurseries, overseeing new technologies in agriculture production. He serves on the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He earned a degree in agriculture business from California State University, Fresno.

Donald Wirz, San Benito County
A winemaker for Delicato Family Wines, Wirtz is president of the San Benito County Farm Bureau. He has a master’s degree in viticulture and enology from University of California, Davis and an animal science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 31,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 6 million Farm Bureau members.