California farmer finishes AFBF leadership program

Sonoma County dairy farmer Jennifer Beretta was among 10 leaders honored this month by the American Farm Bureau Federation as graduates of the organization’s 12th Partners in Advocacy Leadership class. 

PAL is designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their engagement abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.

“We’re proud of our PAL graduates and the dedication they’ve shown throughout the program,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “Their commitment to strengthening their advocacy skills will make a meaningful difference in rural communities across the nation.”

The other graduates of PAL Class 12 are: Magen Allen of Arkansas; Amanda Durow of Minnesota; Jessica Graves of Mississippi; Jon Iverson of Oregon; Matt Moreland of Missouri; Jackie Mundt of Kansas; Linda Pryor of North Carolina; Chris Riley of Utah; and Karl Shlagel of Maryland.

PAL training consists of four learning modules focused on developing advocacy skills such as storytelling, policy development and stakeholder engagement. The modules build on one another during the two years of the program and include intensive, in‑person, hands‑on training.

“I learned a lot of leadership skills,” Beretta said of PAL. 

A past president of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau and current member of the board of directors, Beretta helps run the Beretta Family Dairy in Santa Rosa. 

The certified-organic, pasture-based dairy supplies to the Petaluma-based creamery Clover Sonoma and has been recognized for its decades of environmental stewardship and conservation practices. 

In 2022, the Beretta family was awarded the California Leopold Conservation Award for reducing groundwater use, improving soil health, cutting emissions and protecting endangered species.

“My No. 1 goal here at the dairy is to continue to tell our story,” Beretta said. 

She added that she would like to run for elected office or seek a Farm Bureau leadership position in the future. 

“PAL has not only given me people to talk to but also the skills to seek those positions,” she said. 

AFBF started the PAL program to create advocates for agriculture and accelerate personal development for engaged Farm Bureau members. 

The program focuses on taking farmers and ranchers ages 30 to 45 who have already begun their personal development journey and moving them to the next level, according to AFBF. 

The two-year program offers participants opportunities to represent agriculture in the media, on speaking circuits or in testimonial arenas. 

Each state Farm Bureau may submit two applicants who will be evaluated on their knowledge of agriculture issues, leadership desire and the extent to which they offer leadership potential for agriculture’s future. 

A panel of qualified judges then selects a group of finalists who will be interviewed and ranked based on the interviews. The top finalists are named as candidates for PAL, with the remaining finalists named as alternates.