FCFB recognizes FAACT Class XIV graduates

Fresno, Calif., (June 6, 2017) – Fresno County Farm Bureau (FCFB) hosted today the final session for the Future Advocates for Agriculture Concerned about Tomorrow (FAACT) Class XIV. Participants included:

• Nathan Alonzo, Fresno Chamber of Commerce
• Christina Beckstead, Madera County Farm Bureau
• Gary Chahil, U.S. House of Representatives – Office of Jim Costa
• Brandon Chamberlain, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Trent Diedrich, DDT Farming Services, Inc.
• Justin Holland, Baker Peterson Franklin CPA, LLP
• Jeff Jantzen, Sorensen Harvesting, LLC
• Matt Lindsey, Lindsey Farms
• Jodi Raley, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and Western Agricultural Processors Association
• Jeffrey Simonian, Simonian Fruit Company
• Esmeralda Soria, Fresno City Council, District 1
• Arley Terrence, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department
• Mary Willis, California State University, Fresno
• Muyi Zhou, Fresno Council of Governments

The FAACT leadership development program provides community leaders with a comprehensive education highlighting specific issue areas in agriculture. Both agricultural and non-agricultural, community-minded individuals are encouraged to apply. The eight session topics this past year included:

• Fresno County Agriculture Introduction: Celebrating diversity through the past, present and future
• Cultivating Minds and Ideas: Agricultural education, research and the consumer
• Agricultural Regulation: The good, the bad and the putting you out of business
• Politics and Agriculture: Governments’ roles in the growing of our food
• Water: CVP and Delta
• Labor, Food Safety, Trade & Marketing
• Water: The Kings River System
• Class wrap-up

FCFB is currently accepting applications to be part of the 2017-2018 FAACT Class XV. Beginning on October 2, class participants will meet once-a-month for a day-long seminar to discuss current issues in food and fiber production. Tuition for the program is $550 for Farm Bureau members and $650 for non-members, which will include a FCFB membership for one year. The deadline to apply is July 21. Applications are available here. Questions may be directed to FCFB at 559-237-0263 or info@fcfb.org.