August 17, 2026 (Monterey, CA) — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) has selected Class 56 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), bringing together 24 individuals from across California agriculture for the foundation’s signature 17-month leadership development experience.
Now in its 56th year, the Ag Leadership Program continues to use a rigorous application process to identify individuals across California’s agricultural industry who demonstrate exceptional promise as leaders and a strong commitment to the future of the state’s farms, ranches and rural communities.
Through in-state leadership seminars held with CALF’s five partner universities, national and international travel seminars, fellows strengthen their ability to navigate complexity, lead through change and make a lasting impact on their businesses, organizations, communities and California agriculture.
“Class 56 honors our founders’ vision by strengthening the representation of production agriculture among our fellows,” said Lesa Eidman, president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. “It is especially meaningful that, for the first time in our history, women make up the majority of the class.
“These fellows represent the evolving face of California agriculture and embody the bold, capable and diverse leadership needed to navigate change and build a stronger future for the industry and the communities they serve.”
Class 56 represents a wide range of sectors within California agriculture, including farming and ranching, agricultural labor, crop inputs and services, water and natural resource management, conservation, state government, regulatory programs, agricultural technology, and food production.
Class 56 Fellows
- Amran Bath — Sunrise Ag Labor, Yuba City
- Lindsay Cederquist — Diversified Land Management, Clovis
- Brooks Craven — Wilbur-Ellis, Lemoore
- Betsey Cunningham — WorkWise Strategic Solutions, Penngrove
- Krystal Del Bosque — Del Bosque Farms, Los Banos
- Nolon Doss — Doss Agricultural Services, Madera
- Hector Hernandez — Reiter Affiliated Companies, Winnetka
- Jenny Holtermann — Water Association of Kern County / H&H Family Farms, Shafter
- Virginia Jameson — California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento
- Hannah Johnson — HJ&Co, Fresno
- Gabrielle Katanic — Lundberg Family Farms, Sacramento
- Ritta Martin — Glenn County RCD / Martin & Millsaps Ranch, Orland
- Tawny Mata — California Department of Food and Agriculture, Winters
- Wyatt Maysey — Taylor Farms, Pacific Grove
- Tamar Melkonian — Nichols Farms, Fresno
- Julia Michaels — Native Seed Group, Sacramento
- Jenna Morales — California Department of Water Resources, Folsom
- Andrew Nickus — Rockwood Ag Services, El Centro
- Daniel Ostrowski — Land IQ, Davis
- Andrew Parolini — Monterey Pacific, Inc., Santa Rosa
- Ruben Ramirez — Wonderful Citrus, Bakersfield
- Alyssa Rolen — California Rangeland Trust, Colusa
- Katharine Rosser — Montna Farms, Marysville
- Mariah Taylor Garcia — California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Clovis
Founded in 1970, CALF has spent more than five decades growing leaders who go on to shape agricultural policy, strengthen their organizations, and serve their communities. Class 56 joins a network of more than 1,500 alumni who carry that mission forward across the state and globe.
Class 56 fellows will be formally welcomed at an inaugural ceremony on October 2nd in Fresno, California. For more information about the Ag Leadership Program or to learn more about the Class 56 Fellows, visit agleaders.org. Tickets and additional event details are available at agleaders.org/events.
About California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is dedicated to growing leaders who have the vision and capacity to advance, benefit, and promote California’s agricultural community. Since its founding in 1970, more than 1,500 fellows of the California Agricultural Leadership Program have become lifelong leaders, serving as catalysts for a vibrant agricultural industry and making lasting contributions to their businesses, communities, and families. CALF delivers a comprehensive and diverse leadership curriculum in collaboration with its five partner universities: UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Chico State.
