Fiscal Year End Gratitude

By CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson

As many of you know, it’s common for nonprofit foundations like ours to do business on a fiscal vs. calendar year basis. This typically allows revenues, expenses and operating plans to be better aligned. It can also help with working capital and avoiding busy calendar year end times for financial reporting. 

For us at Ag Leadership, it also provides an opportunity to express gratitude. Gratitude that’s inherent to leadership. In the fiscal year ending June 2024, we again realized progress on our key strategic priorities (aka “strategic pillars”) that ensure our mission of "Growing leaders who make a difference" – in families, communities, businesses and ultimately, California agriculture. We couldn’t have done this without the guidance, support and engagement that you, our hundreds of stakeholders, generously share with us. For this we are incredibly grateful. We’re also very excited about our early plans for fiscal year 2025, including several that are detailed below.

As always, contact me at dferguson@agleaders.org or 831-585-1030 with any comments or questions.

Alumni Conference Recap

Ag Leadership family and friends came together a few weeks ago for this wonderful event in Monterey. We appreciate the time, talent and treasure that went into the conference: dedicated conference committee and volunteers, amazing speakers and generous donors. We also thank those who attended. A full recap of the event will be featured in the fall issue of Horizons. 

PHOTOS

Check out some of the conference photos! Click the social media icons on the bottom of this newsletter or click here to view the PDF.

Lifetime Leadership Awards

Congratulations again to the 2024 awardees! Pictured left to right – Mike Campbell (3), Paul Martin (10), Ed McLaughlin (11)

and John Muller (8) were honored during The Farmer's Table – A Celebration Dinner at the Alumni Conference. It was a wonderful evening, highlighted by the award ceremony. After the four presenters spoke about the honorees' incredible leadership experiences, each recipient shared positive memories and expressed their heartfelt gratitude. An article will be featured in the fall issue of Horizons.

Leadership Insights

If you haven't read our leadership columns in Morning Ag Clips–California Clips, check them out! Dr. Bob Flores will be writing the next column, to be posted the week of July 22.

• June article by Dr. Amanda Crump – read
• May article by Dr. Louise Ferguson (30) – read
• April article by Dr. Peggy Sears Perry (9) – read

If you wish to subscribe to California Clips, click here and click the California box.

NorCal Sporting Clay Shoot

Aug. 3 / 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Quail Point Hunt Club, Zamora

Register today – and spread the word – for this great event! We're also seeking sponsors, raffle donations and volunteers. The event flyer, registration/sponsor form and other details are available on the event page.

QUESTIONS?

Steve Garland (44) / 916-801-2715

Jodi Litz / 831-585-1030

Region 4 Social with Class 53

Aug. 14 / 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Cabrillo Wine Room

Hotel Mission de Oro

13070 S. Hwy. 33, Santa Nella

$10/person - pay at the door

Join Class 53 fellows at a reception the evening before they depart for their water tour in the region. The social is open to all alumni, adult family members and prospective applicants. Appetizers available and beverages are no host.

RSVP BY JULY 31

Yvonne Sams (45)

Alumni Council Region 4 Director

samsfam1998@gmail.com / 209-202-8305

Region 5 Social in Monterey

Aug. 20 / 5 - 7 p.m.

Dust Bowl Brewing Co. Tap Depot*

290 Figueroa Street, Monterey

*No host

RSVP

James Ewart (49)

Alumni Council Region 5 Director

James.Ewart@delicato.com / 831-682-1235

Dean Brown Winemaker Dinner

Aug. 29 / 5:30 - 9 p.m.

Paris Valley Road Estate Winery, Paso Robles

Dean Brown was one of the founders of the Ag Leadership Program. For decades, alumni honored him through the annual Dean Brown Golf Tournament in Santa Maria. The tournament has transitioned to a new and unique event: a memorable evening of fine wine, exquisite cuisine and philanthropy! Held at the beautiful Paris Valley Road Estate Winery in Paso Robles – owned by Craig Stoller (Class 31) – this special winemaker dinner will feature a curated selection of wines paired with a gourmet multi-course meal crafted by chef Joe White.

Limited seating - reserve your seat today!

Region 9 Golf Tournament

Sept. 9 / 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Las Posas Country Club

955 Fairway Drive, Camarillo

The committee would greatly appreciate sponsorships! Please click the button for sponsorship and golfer registration details.

Recent First Fridays

LEARNING MODULES

Part three of our learning modules (Creating Systems of Opportunity) was added earlier this month. The modules are an educational experience as part of our Lifelong Leadership Learning opportunities. Part one (Uncovering Your Hidden Potential) and part two (Sustaining Long-Term Motivation) are also available via the button below. 

Leaders are Readers Book Club

IMMUNITY TO CHANGE

In our summer book club selection, "Immunity to Change," authors Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey show how our individual beliefs – along with the collective mindsets in our organizations combine to create a natural but powerful immunity to change. By revealing how this mechanism holds us back, Kegan and Lahey give us the keys to unlock our potential and finally move forward. By pinpointing and uprooting our own immunities to change, we can bring our organizations forward with us.

For more information about the book club, contact Mia Mirassou at 831-585-1030.

Update Your Alumni Directory Listing

FIRST TIME on the alumni directory: Use your primary email and click on forgot password. You will receive an email to create your new password and receive your username. Check your spam folder if you don't see the email in your inbox.

RETURNING: To log in, use your username, NOT your email address. For assistance, contact Mia Mirassou / 831-585-1030.

We share our condolences on the recent passing of our alumni:

Candida LoBue (18)

>Obituary



Richard Pidduck (21)

>Obituary

Class Challenge Winner!

We are excited to announce Class 51 as this year’s Class Challenge winner, with a whopping 92% participation! Great job everyone! Coming in a close second was Class 50, with 88% participation, followed by last year's winner, Class 28, in third place with 67%. Congratulations to all!  

We would also like to extend an honorable mention to Classes 29, 33 and 49, which came together to honor and give in memory of their late classmates: Robin Flournoy (29), Paul Davy (33), Sonny Kalkat (33) and Steve Dodge (49). It is wonderful to see you lift your friends up in remembrance and honor their time with Ag Leadership through your generosity. 

All of us at the foundation thank you for helping grow leaders who make a difference!