2011 Class Participants
Peter Bauer, Mendocino County
Peter received his associate degree in agriculture business from Reedley College and continued his education by receiving his bachelor's degree in agriculture business with a concentration in farm and ranch management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 2001. He is a fifth-generation owner and operator of a commercial cattle ranch out of Covelo. In 2009 he was elected to the local school board and served as President. He serves on the Mendocino County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is the representative for the CFBF Commodity Advisory Committee for Public Lands. He is a member of the Covelo Lions club and the Covelo FFA Ag Advisory Committee. In 2010 he joined Mendocino County Resource Advisory Committee as the public lands representative.
Amanda Carvajal, Merced County
Amanda received her bachelor's degree in political science from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina in 2005 and is currently the executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau. Previously Amanda worked in a variety of capacities within the political arena, including serving as a member of the research team on the "Texans for Kay" campaign and as a field research analyst for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Additionally, she served as a legislative assistant for Chaney & Associates, a state and local lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.
Bruce Fry, San Joaquin County
Bruce received his bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 1995 and currently serves as the first vice president of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation. He is the fifth generation to carry on his family's business, Mohr-Fry Ranches, which farms 12 varieties of winegrapes, two varieties of cherries and more than 20 varieties of heirloom dry beans. He currently is the vice president of operations for Mohr-Fry Ranches. He has served on the board and as vice president and then president of the Lodi District Grape Growers Association from 1999 to 2010. From 2001 to 2010 he served on the board and as treasurer and then vice chairman of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. From 2004 to 2009 he served as vice president and then president of the Winegrape Growers of America. He also is currently on the California Winegrape Inspection Advisory Board and a member of the City of Lodi Community Separator/Greenbelt Task Force.
Sara Hansen, San Joaquin County
Sara received her bachelor's degree in agriculture studies from California State University, Stanislaus, in 2007. She currently works for San Joaquin Valley Crop Management as field support and also works for NAU Country Insurance as a crop insurance claims adjuster. Throughout the 1990s she served as an officer for 4-H and from 1998 to 2001 she served as chapter and sectional officer for FFA. She also received her State and American FFA degrees.
Marc Hooper, Lake County
Marc received his associate degree from Northwestern Michigan College in 1972, his bachelor's degree in fruit science (Pomology) from Michigan State University in 1977 and continued his education by receiving his master of business administration in Integrative Management from Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, MSU, in 1996. He is a Pest Control Adviser and Certified Crop Adviser and works as a consultant for Ag Unlimited, a division of the Lyman Group Inc. In 2008 he joined the Rotary Club of Kelseyville Sunrise where he is the webmaster, a member of the board of directors and president elect (2012-2013). In 2009 he became chairman of the Genetically Engineered Crops Advisory Committee, advising the Lake County Board of Supervisors. He currently serves as Lake County Farm Bureau's first vice president and director at large.
Mary Junqueiro, San Joaquin County
Mary received her bachelor's degree in agricultural studies from California State University, Stanislaus, in 2008. She is the Central Valley regional coordinator for California FarmLink, after having served as executive assistant for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation since 2009. She joined the San Joaquin Farm Bureau's Young Farmers & Ranchers in 2009 and currently serves on the board of directors for the SJFB Foundation for Agricultural Education.
Luke Reimers, Glenn County
Luke received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Saint Mary's College of California in 2001. He continued his education by receiving his master's degree in business administration from California State University, Chico, in 2005. He is currently employed by Umpqua Bank as a commercial relationship manager. He has cattle and walnuts.
Nick Short, Stanislaus County
Nick received his associate degree from Cuesta College in 2001 and his bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Monterey Bay, in 2003. He currently is ranch manager of Short Ranch, where he grows almonds and walnuts. He was elected to serve on the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 2010. He is also a member of the Stanislaus County Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.
Lyndi Smith, Tulare County
Lyndi received her associate degree in agriculture from College of the Sequoias in 1999 and her bachelor's degree in agronomy from California State University, Fresno, in 2002. She is now employed by Innovative Ag Services LLC as an account manager, where she assists dairy producers in complying with environmental regulations. In addition to attending seminars and conferences to stay current on dairy regulations, she also maintains pest control advisor and certified crop advisor licenses. Since 1995 she has been a member and held several positions with the Tulare County Young Farmers & Ranchers. She is a current/founding member of the Visalia Farmers Market Volunteer Committee and volunteers with FoodLink for Tulare County, Habitat for Humanity and as a run mentor with Team in Training.
Darin Titus, Glenn County
Darin majored in plant science at California State University, Chico. He was an active member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, serving as chaplain and chairman of membership development. In 1999 he was hired by Peterson Ranch/Chico Nut Co. as a field manager. In 2005 he accepted the job of general manager of farming operations for Hart Farms. In 2006 he was elected to the Glenn County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and now serves on the executive board, holding the office of second vice president. In 2008 he became a school board member for Plaza School District. He maintains active roles on both boards.
Jordan Whaley, Tulare County
Jordan received his bachelor's degree in agricultural business with a concentration in agricultural policy from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 2006. He also attended Allan Hancock College and received Basic P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) in 2006. He is currently employed by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department as an agriculture crime detective. From 1998 to 2002 he held several positions within FFA, including regional vice president and sentinel, sectional president and several chapter positions. From 2003 to 2006 he was involved with Collegiate Agriculture Ambassadors, holding the positions of president, vice president and conference chairman. He has been a member of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Executive Committee since 2008.