Salinas, CA – The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation has announced fellows accepted to the 2014 AgKnowledge Program (Class VIII). These 23 community members will participate in a nine-month executive learning program focused on the heritage, diversity, stewardship and complexity of Monterey County agriculture and the interdependencies of agriculture, local government and the community.
The AgKnowledge curriculum focuses on issues affecting and influenced by our local agricultural industry, including food safety and security, labor and immigration, technology, marketing, conservation, urban/agriculture interfacing, air, water and much more. Fellows will spend ten Fridays between March and November attending forums and visiting farms, processing facilities and meeting leaders and innovators in the ag industry. One of the program’s most popular facets is “Day with a Farmer” – a full day, spent with a local grower, being immersed in agriculture from a boots-on-the-ground perspective.
AgKnowledge is co-sponsored by the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and the County of Monterey – Agricultural Commissioner's Office.
AgKnowledge Class VIII fellows include:
- Joyce Aldrich, Executive Director, Workforce Investment Board, County of Monterey
- Jesse Avila, Deputy County Counsel, County of Monterey
- Katharine Ball, Digital Editor, Salinas Californian
- Priscilla Barba, Board Aide, Supervisor Simon Salinas, County of Monterey
- Janet Barnes, Board of Education, Trustee, District 4
- Pete Delgado, President/CEO, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
- Mark Dias, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, County of Monterey
- Veronica Diaz, Political Coordinator, Teamsters Joint Council 7
- Irma Gomez, Assistant Director of Customer Service, Markon Cooperative
- Linda Gonzalez, District Director, Office of Assembly Member Luis A. Alejo
- Grey Hayes, Director Coastal Training Program, Elkhorn Slough Foundation
- Shimat Joseph, IPM Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension
- Shyam Kamath, Dean, School of Business, California State University, Monterey Bay
- Philip Molnar, Reporter, Monterey Herald
- Edward Moreno, Heath Officer, Health Department, County of Monterey
- Martina Nino, Manager, Hayashi & Wayland
- Ignacio Ornelas, Special Assistant, Stanford University
- Susan Pheasant, Director, Ag, Business & Technology Institute, Hartnell College
- Cammie Ramsey, Marketing Assistant, Mann Packing Company
- Sierra Ryan, Researcher & Program Coordinator, Central Coast Wetlands Group
- Karen Stahlman, Chief Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, County of Monterey
- Brian Turlington, New Executive Director, Monterey County Business Council
- Steve Wotherspoon, Senior Vice President Relationship Manager, Pinnacle Bank
About Grower-Shipper Association Foundation:
The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and educate about the health, social, cultural and economic benefits of agriculture to the community and society as a whole. For more information please visit GrowerShipperFoundation.org.
Source: Grower-Shipper Association Foundation
