Sacramento, Calif., (March 8, 2017) – The Leadership Farm Bureau Class of 2017—formally introduced today—has begun a year-long series of activities and training sessions focused on issues affecting California agriculture. The nine Farm Bureau members in this year’s class appeared at the annual California Farm Bureau Federation Leaders Conference in Sacramento.
The Leadership Farm Bureau program, sponsored by CFBF, includes six intensive sessions on relevant agricultural issues plus field-studies trips to both Northern and Southern California. Class members participate in personal-development, teambuilding and communications training, and advocate on behalf of Farm Bureau in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
This year’s class includes:
- Christina Beckstead of Atwater, executive director of the Madera County Farm Bureau;
- Jennifer Beretta of Santa Rosa, assistant herdsman at Beretta Dairies and second vice president of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau;
- Mark Chesini of Meridian, director of operations for the Rice Growers Association of California and second vice president of the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau;
- Jill Damskey of Elk Grove, program and governmental affairs coordinator for the Sacramento County Farm Bureau;
- Kelton Fleming of Lodi, owner of Duck Creek Nursery;
- Laura Gutile of Madera, pistachio grower and secretary of the Madera County Farm Bureau;
- Lindy Keilson of Potter Valley, marketing and membership coordinator for the Mendocino County Farm Bureau;
- Ryan Rice of Fortuna, owner of R.P. Rice Construction and president of the Humboldt County Farm Bureau.
- Katie Veenstra of Escalon, director of marketing at Gloriann Farms.
The Leadership Farm Bureau class will complete its program of activities in December, with graduation during the CFBF Annual Meeting in Garden Grove. For further information about the program, see www.cfbf.com/lfb.
