Cal Poly Alumni Among New California Agricultural Leadership Program Class

SAN LUIS OBISPO - Eight Cal Poly alumni are among 25 Californians recently selected for the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a two-year fellowship providing leadership development to its participants.

The program's 39th class was inaugurated Nov. 7 in Monterey. The Cal Poly alumni are:
.           Cara Crye, San Luis Obispo, marketing coordinator of Farm Supply Company;
.           Erin Field, Oxnard, agriculture affairs director of the Irrigation Association;
.           Jonnalee Henderson, Davis, policy analyst for the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture;
.           Josh Huntsinger, Grass Valley, deputy agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measure for Placer County;
.           Eric Limas, Tulare, business manager of the Lower Tule River and Pixley Irrigation Districts;
.           James Rickert, Bella Vista, manager of Western Agricultural Services/Prather Ranch;
.           John Schaap, Visalia, principal with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group; and
.           Greg Wegis, Bakersfield, partner/owner/operator of Wegis Ranch.

The program aims to create leaders who can make change for the long-term viability of California agriculture and who can positively influence society and participate in communication networks that enhance the state's agriculture. Seminars delivered over the next two years by four partner universities, including Cal Poly, and other academic institutions, will focus on:
.           inner leadership (understanding self);
.           outer leadership (understanding how to lead others); and
.           global leadership (understanding the inter-related nature of today's issues).

Fellows will participate in a 10-day national seminar during the first year and a 15-day international seminar during the second year.

The leadership program has operated since 1969 and has more than 1,000 alumni, including such influential leaders as Congressional Reps. Devin Nunes and George Radanovich and state Sen. Abel Maldonado - all Cal Poly alumni.

Other prominent Californians who took part in the program include Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman, state Sen. Mike Machado, Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam and former Secretary of State Bill Jones.

For more information about the California Agricultural Leadership Program, visit www.agleaders.org or call 916-928-2202.

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