Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 15, 2018) – Tristan Benson has joined the Board of Directors for Sonoma County Farm Bureau.
Benson, 34, joins the board as the chair of the Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R), a committee of Sonoma County Farm Bureau for active agriculturists between the ages of 18 and 35 who are involved in production, banking, business, and many other areas of the agriculture industry.
Benson succeeds Andrew Ryan who served on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Board for the 2016-2017 term. Benson’s term on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Board will coincide with his one year term as chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers committee. The YF&R committee chair began serving on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau board last year when Sonoma County Farm Bureau saw an increased need to involve future leaders in the current issues and regulations facing Sonoma County agriculture.
Benson is the foreman of Benson Ranch, a family business that produces plums, Asian pears and grain. Benson produces seed grain with a business partner that gets sold to millers. Benson also considers himself a mechanic, repairing equipment for his custom farming operation and other people.
He feels 4-H and working alongside his parents are the reasons he wants to support all forms of agriculture from raising livestock to small engines to grain production. Benson is passionate about agriculture and wants to see the industry thrive.
“We have some challenges but we have so many opportunities here in Sonoma County,” said Benson. “I think the most important agricultural issue for me is how do we encourage the next generation of farmers and make sure they have the right skills to be successful.”
Sonoma County Farm Bureau currently has 17 board members, with one spot reserved for the chair of the Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. A full list of board members is available at sonomafb.org/directors.
