Nine graduate from Leadership Farm Bureau program

An intensive, monthslong training program concluded for nine California Farm Bureau members who participated in the organization’s Leadership Farm Bureau program.

The class learned about communication, team building, advocacy and the Farm Bureau organization during 10 months of instruction. They participated in training on governmental policy, personal development and key issues affecting California farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses. They also advocated on behalf of Farm Bureau with lawmakers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

“The members we grow today through Leadership Farm Bureau are the future leaders of this organization, and I look forward to seeing all that they do in their counties and for California Farm Bureau,” said Ryan Amaral, who manages the leadership program.

Graduates of the 2024 Leadership Farm Bureau class are:

• 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, the 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 who owns Honig Farms and is a pest control adviser.

• Jackie Kennedy of Glenn County, the founder of Knaughty Farms Olive Oil and the 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., which focuses on strawberry nursery production.

• Rachel Nettleton of Kern County, the 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 LFB class , which graduated during the 106th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey last week, represents the 24th group to graduate from the program since its inception in 2000.