Leadership Farm Bureau 2014 INNOVATION IN MOTION 1
Leadership Farm Bureau Class of 2014 Sarbdeep Atwal, Yuba-Sutter County Sarbdeep Atwal is an attorney in Yuba and Sutter counties, practicing criminal defense and immigration law. Sarbdeep is a managing partner of his family s farming operation of various tree and nut crops. Additionally, he serves as a board member of the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau and is a board trustee with the Reclamation District 784 and the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Agency in Yuba County. Tod Bartholomay, Ventura County Tod Bartholomay comes from a Central Oregon ranching family. Today, his family is still active raising cattle as well as farming corn, sunflowers, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa in North Dakota. Tod studied business management at Central Oregon University and works as an agriculture representative for Southern California Edison. Melissa Chesini, Solano County Born and raised on a ranch in Northern California, Melissa Chesini has been involved in agriculture her entire life. She attained a bachelor s degree in animal science from California State University, Chico, and a master s in meat science from Colorado State University. Melissa previously managed the food safety program at Harris Ranch Beef Co. and is currently responsible for new product research and development at Superior Farms in Dixon. She is the chair of the Solano County Young Farmers and Ranchers. Mary Diebert, Madera County Mary Diebert has worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. since 1999, serving for the past eight years as an agricultural account manager. She is a member of PG&E s Ag Task Force. Mary has a degree in business administration and finance from California State University, Sacramento. Paul Gilbert, Yuba-Sutter County Paul Gilbert is president of his family s walnut farm and resides in Rio Oso. He is the second vice president of the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau and holds a degree in agriculture business from California State University, Chico. Paul is a licensed skydiver and active in the United States Parachute Association. 6 LEADERSHIP FARM BUREAU 2014
Hans Herkert, Yuba-Sutter County Hans Herkert works as a crop advisor, serving several Northern California counties. He attended Butte College and California State University, Chico, where he was active in Young Farmers and Ranchers and Ag Ambassadors. Hans attained his bachelor s degree in agricultural business and maintains certification as a Pest Control Advisor and Certified Crop Advisor. He was active in FFA, earning the California State and American FFA degrees while serving as chapter president. Hans and his wife, Jillian, farm rice on a family ranch in Colusa. Devon Jones, Mendocino County Devon Jones attended the University of California, Davis, and received her bachelor s degree in animal science and a master s in ruminant nutrition. She has served as executive director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau for the past five years and is responsible for member relations, activism on a number of issues and office management. Prior to her employment with Farm Bureau, Devon worked at a quarter horse breeding and training facility in Covelo. She remains an active member of the American Quarter Horse Association and enjoys riding in her free time. Aimee Meidinger-Smith, Ventura County Aimee Meidinger-Smith is the operations manager for Brokaw Nursery LLC in Ventura. She holds a bachelor s degree in agriculture education/plant science from California State University, Fresno, and a master s in business with a specialization in international relations from California Lutheran University. Aimee currently serves as vice president of the Ventura Chapter of California Women for Agriculture and as secretary of the Ventura County Young Farmers and Ranchers. In addition, she designs websites and is a freelance business writer. Riana Mello, Tulare County Riana Mello grew up on a farm and ranch in Kern County and holds a bachelor s degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in agricultural science. Riana previously worked as a credit analyst for Farm Credit West in several locations and was an active member of Farm Bureau s Young Farmers and Ranchers program in each county. Currently, she works as a commodity salesperson for J.D. Heiskell & Co., a grain and commodity sales and trading business, and is an active member of the Tulare County Young Farmers and Ranchers. Pierre Sleiman, San Diego County Pierre Sleiman is the founder and CEO of Go Green Agriculture Inc., an organically certified hydroponic greenhouse operation in San Diego County. He holds a bachelor s degree in computer science/business administration from the University of California, Riverside, and a master s in business administration from the University of California, San Diego. Pierre serves as a member of the San Diego County Farm Bureau board of directors. This year, he was honored by the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture as being one of 15 Champions of Change paving the way for the nation s next generation of agriculture leaders. Brie Witt, San Joaquin County Brie Witt is a fifth-generation member of her family s cattle feeding, farming and trucking operation in Stockton. Brie graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor s degree in agriculture business and works for Constellation Brands Inc. as a grower relations representative covering the Lodi, Stockton and Delta areas. Brie is an active member and 2014 chair of the San Joaquin County Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. She is also a member of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee and the Young Professionals of Lodi. INNOVATION IN MOTION 7
ARE YOU READY TO J 20 LEADERSHIP FARM BUREAU 2014
JOIN THE CLASS OF 2015? Leadership Farm Bureau is a one-of-a-kind experience and the only program in Farm Bureau that invests in key individuals instead of a demographic. Through LFB, participants receive nearly 300 hours of hands-on advocacy in the halls of our state s and nation s capitols, exposure to dozens of different farming and ranching operations across the U.S., and instruction on key elements of leadership and the inner workings of Farm Bureau at all levels. Leadership Farm Bureau is the one-year experience in California agriculture you ve been looking for. Visit us online and apply today. The deadline to apply is December 19, 2014. www.cfbf.com/lfb INNOVATION IN MOTION 21