Leadership Farm Bureau graduates are ready to lead

From left, Angelica Smith, Paul La Follette, Amanda Berry, Amanda Battle, Mark Avilla, Katie Byrne and Katerina Kronauge make up the Leadership Farm Bureau class of 2021.
Photo/Courtesy Leadership Farm Bureau

An intensive, months-long training program has concluded for seven Farm Bureau members from California who participated in the Leadership Farm Bureau program. The LFB Class of 2021 graduated during the 103rd California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Garden Grove.

The class acquired enhanced background in communication, team building, advocacy and the Farm Bureau organization during 20 months of virtual and in-person instruction. The program adapted in 2020 due to the pandemic and held virtual meetings and sessions through 2021. The class returned to in-person meetings in March 2021.

Participants advocated on behalf of Farm Bureau virtually with lawmakers in Sacramento and in person in Washington, D.C. The class took a field-studies trip to Texas and participated in training on agricultural issues, governmental policy and personal development.

Graduates of the 2021 Leadership Farm Bureau class include:

• Mark Avilla of Modesto is a walnut farmer and owner of Grafted Tree Public Relations. He works to connect agribusinesses and organizations to the nonagricultural community and serves as chairman of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

• Amanda Battle of Sacramento is a fourth-generation cattle rancher and crop insurance adjuster with Rural Community Insurance Services. She previously served on the California Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee.

• Amanda Berry of Murphys is a territory manager for Elanco, a company that produces medicines and vaccinations for pets and livestock. She serves as president of the Calaveras County Farm Bureau and co-founded the Gold Country Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

• Katie Byrne of San Diego is membership coordinator and policy associate at San Diego County Farm Bureau. A San Diego native, she does not come from a farming background, but quickly learned about the many issues facing agriculture and the importance of advocacy to keep farmers farming.

• Katerina Kronauge of Dixon grew up in Redwood City, where she learned about agriculture in high school while working at Hidden Villa Ranch as a student intern. She previously worked for the Colusa-Glenn Resource Conservation District, specifically on their irrigated lands program.

• Paul La Follette of Brentwood is a fifth-generation farmer from Contra Costa County. He grows winegrapes and raises game birds. He is a member of the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau board of directors and works to preserve agriculture.

• Angelica Smith of Sacramento grew up in Oakhurst and her family was involved in wildland firefighting. She is program and membership coordinator for the Sacramento County Farm Bureau and is active in the county's Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

The class represented the 21st group to graduate from the LFB program since its inception in 2000.

Applications for the 2022 Leadership Farm Bureau class will be accepted through Dec. 17.

For information and the application form, see www.cfbf.com/ leadership-farm-bureau/.

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.