2010 Class Participants
Casey Anderson, San Diego County
Casey received his bachelors degree in English and art from Westmont College in 2006. He currently works for the San Diego County Farm Bureau as the membership and marketing Manager. In that capacity, he opened four new certified farmers markets for the San Diego County Farm Bureau—the first in San Diego County to accept food stamps. He also sells 22 varieties of heirloom tomatoes as a joint venture with his mother at two weekly farmers markets. In 2009, Casey was involved in the California Small Farm Conference as a member of the board of directors and is a co-leader/activity planner for the North Coast Calvary Chapel Young Marrieds Ministry. From 2000 to 2002, he was the chapter treasurer for the Valley Center FFA.
Darrell Cordova, Stanislaus County
Darrell received his bachelors degree in agricultural science from California State University, Fresno, his masters from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a community college credential in drafting, agriculure science from Merced College. He currently owns and operates an agricultural business that consists of almonds, corn and grain for silage and grain for seed. He has been a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau since 1989. From 2004 to 2007, he was a part of Dave Cogdill's Ag Advisory Board. From 2000 to 2007, he held various positions within the Growers Harvesting Association; and since 2000 he has served on the Ag Advisory Board for the Denair High School Ag Department. In 2004 he received the Chevron-Texaco Knowledge Grows Scholarship to attend the Executive Program for Agricultural Producers in Austin, Texas. Darrell currently serves on the District 6 Blue Diamond Liaison Committee.
Phillip Cox, Tulare County
Phillip received his bachelors degree in organizational leadership from Fresno Pacific University in 2006. He currently represents the fourth generation of L.E. Cooke Co., a large deciduous bareroot nursery, where he serves as operations manager and sells nursery stock with designated sales areas within and outside of California. Phillip serves as a board member for the California Fruit, Nut and Grape Improvement Advisory Board, which is responsible for administering the virus certification program for California Department of Food and Agriculture. He has been a member of the Young Farmers & Ranchers program since 2009; he is a committee member of the Cal Grown Show, a trade show of the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers; and in 2000 he was involved in the Boy Scouts of America program as an Eagle Scout.
Kory Cultrera, San Joaquin County
Kory received her bachelors degree in agribusiness from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 2002. She currently works as a program director for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau. She has been involved in farming all her life, growing up on her family farm in Colusa County, and is currently involved in a farming operation in San Joaquin County. She is a committee member of Select San Joaquin, a member of San Joaquin Young Farmers & Ranchers, and is serving as a committee member of AgVenture.
Theo de Haan, Kings County
Theo currently partners in a few dairies, livestock operations and a farming enterprise. Since 2007, he has been a Kings County Farm Bureau director, and is currently a director of Kings County Citizens for a Healthy Environment, which he served since 2000. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Kings County Environmental Representative Alternate for the Citizens Advisory Committee, and from 2001 to 2004 he was a board member of Central Valley Christian School—serving the last year as president. From 2006 to 2009, he was a board member of the Hanford Christian School, also serving the last year as president.
Kari Dodd, Tehama County
Kari received her associates degree in general education from Shasta Community College in 2005 and then received her bachelors degree in agricultural science from California State University, Chico, (CSUC) in 2007. She currently works for the Tehama County Farm Bureau as manager. Kari also raises Boer goats. She serves on the Agriculture Service Committee for Red Bluff Kiwanis; she is a board member and secretary for Tehama County United Way; she serves on the Service Committee for the Red Bluff Soroptimists and is active in the Tehama County CattleWomen. Since 2007, she has been an Alumni Representative for CSUC Alpha Zeta.
Stephanie Leimgruber, Imperial County
Stephanie currently works at Ronald C. Leimgruber Farms, her family's hay and grain operation. She is responsible for the office administration work and online marketing and also assists in hay sales and production work. Stephanie also owns and raises a small herd of replacement heifers. She received her bachelors degree in classical civilizations from Duke University in 2008. Her involvement in Farm Bureau includes serving as chair of the Imperial County Young Farmers & Ranchers committee, as district 1 representative for the California Young Farmers & Ranchers committee, and as an advisory director for the Imperial County Farm Bureau board of directors. She is also a member of the Imperial Valley Young Professionals Organization and Christ Community Church.
Derrick Lum, Solano County
Derrick received his associates degree in business from Sacramento City College in 1984. He is a third-generation family farmer and currently owns/leases Lum Family Farms, a combination of 600 acres of row crops and orchards. He is an active consultant for Blondies Organic Farms. In 2007, he became a director for the Solano County Farm Bureau and was appointed to first vice president in 2010. In 2009, Derrick was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Solano County Farm Bureau for his outstanding service.
Monica Rosenthal, Lake County
Monica received her associates degree from Santa Rosa College in 1995. She has continued her education by attending many seminars regarding winegrape growing, land use and water issues. She owns and operates Rosenthal Vineyards, which she and her husband have owned since 1996. She is also currently serving as the executive director for the Lake County Winery Association. In 2009, she served as the Lake County Farm Bureau director as well as the excom director for the Sierra Club. From 2007 to 2009, she served as the district 1 planning commissioner for the Lake County Wine Grape Commission 2005 to 2007, she served as the vice chair on the board of. In 2007, she was honored as the Wine Grape Grower of the Year.
Tom Stewart, Modoc County
Tom studied EMS courses at Klamath Community College as well as Firefighter 1 at College of the Siskiyous. Since 1995, he has owned a hay and cattle ranch that handles approximately 150 mother cows. He also runs a seasonal cattle transportation business. He has been a board member of the Modoc Farm Bureau since 2003. Since 2000, he has been an EMT and served as a board member, currently vice president, of the Basin Volunteer Ambulance Service. In 1997, he became involved in the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department where he is rated as a Firefighter 1. From 1988 to 1995, he was a Merchant Marine working as an Able Seaman on oil tankers and containerships.
Liza Teixeira, Tulare County
Liza received her bachelors degree in agricultural science with minors in ag business and ag communications from California Polytechnic State University in 2008. While at Cal Poly, she received the Outstanding Ag Communications Senior award, was on the Dean’s Honor List, served as president of the Ag Communicators of Tomorrow group and was secretary of the Ag Education/Communication Department’s student fee committee. After graduation, Liza served as public relations specialist for the California Strawberry Commission and is currently working as the program coordinator for the Tulare County Farm Bureau. She also serves as communications chair for Kings County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers committee.
Michael Vasey, Tehama County
Michael received his bachelors degree in psychology in 1986 and his masters degree in industrial relations in 1991 from the University of Oregon. He is currently the manager/partner of Lindauer River Ranch, which contains 600 acres of prunes and walnuts. Previously, he worked as an employee relations manager for Hewlett Packard. In 2008, he was recognized as the Tehama County Farm Bureau Member of the Year; in 2007, he was a deacon for the Antelope Home Fellowship; in 2003, he served as a board member and chair of the Government Affairs Committee for Tehama County Farm Bureau and in 1991, he was the vice president of the Society of Human Resource Management. In 1986, he was recognized by Phi Beta Kappa for Academic Excellence.
Kenny Watkins, San Joaquin County
Kenny Watkins was elected first vice president of the California Farm Bureau Federation in December 2009. A cattle rancher and farmer from Linden, Kenny chaired the CFBF Beef Advisory Committee, served on the American Farm Bureau Beef Advisory Committee and represents Farm Bureau on the California Beef Council. A former president of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation, Kenny raises beef cattle and grows alfalfa, processing tomatoes, walnuts and grain hay. He attended Modesto Junior College and studied animal science at California State University, Fresno. He served on the Farm Service Agency County Committee, dealing with the local impact of conservation programs in the federal Farm Bill. He has also served on the California Dry Bean Advisory Board and the Stockton District Kidney Bean Growers board.