By: Regina Pozzi
In December, 11 Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers & Ranchers attended the California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and YF&R Conference in Monterey where they got to meet other county Farm Bureau or YF&R leaders from throughout the state. Meeting other YF&Rs, County Farm Bureau leaders, other county Farm Bureau staff, California Farm Bureau staff, and American Farm Bureau leaders was a great way to learn more about agriculture, programs, and opportunities.
YF&Rs attended workshops, earned Continuing Education hours, listened to key-note speakers, went on Monterey and Santa Cruz County farm tours, and had fun meeting other young people in agriculture from around the state.
Jennifer Beretta was First-Runner-Up in the 2022 California YF&R Discussion Meet in Monterey, a state and American YF&R professional development event.
Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers & Ranchers held their annual officer elections at their November Meeting at Bodega Bay Oyster Company. YF&R’s enjoyed BBQ dinner prepared by the BBQ Committee and heard from speaker Lindsey Strain of Bodega Bay Oyster Co. Elections followed, the 2022-2023 officers are: Daniel Charles, Chair; Matt Vosseler, Vice Chair; Robbie Bisordi, Treasurer; Brooke Parsons, Secretary; and Regina Pozzi, Public Relations. The new BBQ Committee members are Cameron Dale, Max Manoukian, Steven Pozzi, Tim Sheehy, Eric Gutierrez, Tony Brazil, Amanda Charles, Nicolas Hernandez, and Stephanie Vassallo.
YF&R extends great thanks to the 2021-2022 YF&R Officers: Mia Stornetta Leighton, Chair; Daniel Charles, Vice Chair; Robbie Bisord, Treasurer; Matt Vosseler, Secretary; and Regina Pozzi, Public Relations. Past BBQ Committee members include: Cameron Dale, Max Manoukian, Steven Pozzi, Tony Brazil, Amanda Charles, Nicolas Hernandez, Dakota Kantala, and Brooke Parsons.
In 2022, Sonoma-Marin YF&R was proud to facilitate professional development, agricultural networking, and community service opportunities for young farmers and ranchers in Sonoma and Marin. YF&R hosted monthly meetings at agricultural venues, volunteered or participated in Sonoma, Marin, or California Farm Bureau events and programs, awarded $5,000 in scholarships to local agriculture youth, purchased $5,000 of Junior Livestock Auction products at the Sonoma County Fair and donated the meat to local food banks, hosted ag tours or meetings and invited surrounding counties’ YF&Rs, amplified the Farm Team voice, helped 10 YF&R’s attend the California Farm Bureau and YF&R Annual Meeting, and hosted the Saralee McClelland Kunde Memorial Vine Pruning Contest, tractor pulls, and the Sporting Clays Shoot Fundraiser, just to name some highlights from the year. YF&R thanks all the local businesses and patrons that supported the YF&R program in 2022. In 2022, Sonoma-Marin YF&R also had two members compete on behalf of California YF&R at the American YF&R Discussion Meet and Excellence Award contests, Steven Pozzi and Jennifer Beretta. YF&Rs participated in numerous other community events, Farm Bureau meetings, and benefitted from agricultural connections fostered in YF&R.
The Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee is a program for agriculturalists between the ages of 18 and 35 involved in production, banking, business, and many other areas of the industry. YF&R provides opportunities to develop leadership skills through involvement in Farm Bureau at the county, state, and national levels. YF&R members are a vital part of the organization. Each member’s efforts help California Farm Bureau to effectively represent the diversity of farmers and ranchers across the state.
