Agriculture leaders recognized with YF&R awards

A program manager, a farm manager and a specialty crop grower were awarded top prizes for their commitment to the California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program. The YF&R Excellence in Agriculture, Achievement and Discussion Meet awards were announced at the 107th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Anaheim last month in conjunction with the California YF&R State Conference.

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award

Leah Groves, a program manager in Trinity Center, in Trinity County, is the winner of the California YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Groves graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a master’s degree in viticulture and enology in 2023. She has been the program manager for agriculture and innovations at the Siskiyou Economic Development Council since 2023. She also manages marketing, customer engagement, social media and on-site events for her family’s winery.

She currently serves as a board member and secretary of the Trinity County Farm Bureau.

YF&R Achievement Award

Ben Abatti, a farm manager in Holtville, in Imperial County, is the winner of the California YF&R Achievement Award.

Abatti graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor’s degree in bioresource and agricultural engineering. He worked for the Boswell Co. as a shop engineering manager before returning to his family’s farm.

He serves as a board member and is a past YF&R chair for Imperial County Farm Bureau.

YF&R Discussion Meet Award

J.P. Beall, a farmer-owner of a specialty crop company in Redlands, in San Bernardino County, earned top honors in the California YF&R Open Discussion Meet. During the contest, Beall spoke about the impacts of urban sprawl on farmland, how digital engagement can improve member-policymaker communication, how to enhance access to succession-planning resources, and strategies to help members better understand and use Farm Bureau benefits.

Beall emerged as the winner of the $6,000 first prize in the competition held Dec. 8. He will represent California in the national contest during the American Farm Bureau Federation annual conference Jan. 9-14 in Anaheim.

The Open Discussion Meet featured YF&R participants from across the state. They advanced to the final competition from earlier rounds in which they were challenged to demonstrate their abilities in exchanging ideas and offering detailed opinions on important issues for agriculture.

Jynel Gularte, from Gonzales in Monterey County, is controller and compliance officer for Rincon Farms Inc. She was first runner-up in the meet, receiving $2,000. The other finalists were Brendan Black of Clovis, in Fresno County, and John Tamayo of Holtville, in Imperial County, winning $1,000 each. Black is an agriculture teacher at Clovis East High School. Tamayo is relationship manager at AgWest Farm Credit.

A significant investment by El Dorado County farmers Jim and Normita Spinetta supports the Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet through a fund established by the California Farm Bureau. Kubota awards the Achievement Award winner a one-year lease on a tractor of their choice. The Farm Credit Alliance also sponsors YF&R awards.