County Farm Bureaus and Young Farmers & Ranchers committee honored for growth, policy, education
Three California county Farm Bureaus received the County Farm Bureau of the Year Award, and one county Farm Bureau and a Young Farmers & Ranchers committee were honored with the Excellence in Ag Education Award during the 107th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, held in Anaheim in conjunction with the California YF&R State Conference.
County of the Year: Santa Cruz
For county Farm Bureaus with up to 300 agricultural members, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau earned the County of the Year Award for its strong efforts to increase membership.
The board hosted programs, launched initiatives and developed newsletter content while partnering with community groups to promote fundraising and educational events. The annual National Agriculture Day celebration is an example of these efforts, as it fosters local education and community involvement in agriculture.
The Farm Bureau also implemented a strategic plan to strengthen its financial stability by increasing income and reducing expenses. It also hosts annual board retreats featuring new-member orientations that cover the county Farm Bureau's practices and policies.
County of the Year: Yuba-Sutter
For county Farm Bureaus with 301 to 700 members, Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau received the County of the Year Award for membership recruitment and being politically active in its region.
The Farm Bureau successfully met its membership goal of recruiting new members during important time periods. Board member involvement, targeted membership drives and a structured outreach schedule all contributed to achieving this goal.
The Farm Bureau also maintained an active social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, reaching over 240,000 total views across both platforms in 2025. It also distributed a weekly e-newsletter to more than 900 recipients with updates on programs, events and policy issues.
County of the Year: Sonoma
For county Farm Bureaus with 701 or more members, Sonoma County Farm Bureau received the County of the Year Award for providing comprehensive education initiatives and events to the public.
The Farm Bureau's Ag Days event welcomed thousands of kindergarten through sixth-grade students for two days of hands-on agricultural learning at the county fairgrounds. Students interacted with local farmers and ranchers, explored exhibits and participated in creative contests.
The Farm Bureau also awarded more than $122,500 to 56 local students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields through its affiliate foundation's scholarship program.
Excellence in Ag Education: Tulare
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom presented its new Excellence in Ag Education Award to Tulare County Farm Bureau. This award honors one county Farm Bureau for increasing agricultural literacy in their community.
Tulare County Farm Bureau invests $100,000 annually in agricultural education programs serving students and adults across the community. Its efforts include long-standing partnerships, STEM teacher workshops and more than $35,000 in scholarships to support future agriculture leaders.
The Farm Bureau also serves as a regional hub for the "Imagine this..." story-writing contest judging and supports teachers' participation in the California Ag in the Classroom Conference.
Excellence in Ag Education: San Joaquin YF&R Committee
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom also presented the Excellence in Ag Education Award to the San Joaquin Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. This award honors one YF&R committee for increasing agricultural literacy in their community.
Committee members were recognized for helping thousands of students understand where their food comes from, collectively supporting more than 10,000 third-graders with interactive agriculture and nutrition education. They also contributed to initiatives including an agricultural careers summit, a drive-thru fundraiser and an FFA job interview contest.
The committee received $1,000 from the foundation to support its ongoing agricultural education efforts.
California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches as part of a nationwide network representing more than 5 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at www.cfbf.com or follow @cafarmbureau on Instagram, LinkedIn, X or Facebook.
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, a California Farm Bureau affiliate, is a nonprofit reaching more than 39,000 educators each year while increasing awareness and understanding of agriculture among California students. Learn more at www.learnaboutag.org or follow @learnaboutag on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
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Jess Brown, second from left, CJ Miller, Dennis Webb and John Pisturino accept the County of the Year Award on behalf of Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau from Ron Peterson, left, Shannon Douglass and Shaun Crook.
Brian Greathouse, second from left, and Stephanie Younger, center, accept the County of the Year Award on behalf of Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau from Ron Peterson, left, Shannon Douglass and Shaun Crook.
Pat Burns, second from left, and Dayna Ghirardelli, center, accept the County of the Year Award on behalf of Sonoma County Farm Bureau from Ron Peterson, left, Shannon Douglass and Shaun Crook.
Tricia Stever Blattler, center, accepts the Excellence in Ag Education Award on behalf of the Tulare County Farm Bureau from Amanda Fletcher, executive director of California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, left, and Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau.
Alyssa Drake, center, accepts the Excellence in Ag Education Award on behalf of the San Joaquin YF&R Committee from Amanda Fletcher, executive director of California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, left, and Daniel Jones, chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.
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