Class 54’s final hours in the Nation’s Capital unfolded in a pre-dawn blur of a March morning. Early alarms, one last round of organizing our rideshare groups, and the familiar chaos of luggage Tetris after 12 days on the road kept us all preoccupied—even if we weren’t quite fully awake. But by 6:00 am, we were airborne from Reagan National Airport, and as we settled into our seats for the long flight home, the quiet of the moment gave way to a powerful sense of reflection. It was time to zoom out and take stock of our days together and the humbling journey we have shared.
It might sound a bit oxymoronic to reflect on what is yet to come for us? As we travel home from Washington DC our group get smaller and smaller with connections to the Northern and Southern portions of the state, and the reality sets in that this trip has come to its end. With hearts full of hope and minds in an ever-expanding exercise of questioning what we know and what the future of our democracy looks like, we reflect on this great journey to understand. Because in the end it’s not about right and wrong or winning and losing, it’s about “do we understand”. When we move toward seeking understanding instead of being right, we recognize that connection is possible and that solutions come in the form of commonality and that’s working together.
We return home with excitement—eager to reunite with family and loved ones we’ve missed so deeply. We know it will take time to unpack all we’ve experienced and share these lessons with those waiting for us back home.
Washington, D.C.’s political landscape no longer feels as distant or intimidating as it once did. There is a newfound respect for the often-overlooked populations of moderate legislators and those who work tirelessly, without ego, to bridge divides, find common ground, and serve the American people. A shared takeaway from D.C.: many of us feel a renewed calling to engage more deeply in our democracy—not necessarily through Congress, but by contributing to local community organizations, boards, and other civic agencies.
We have been up the Hill, zoomed out, and gazed down into the valley of democracy. From this new perspective we have gained a greater understanding of, and appreciation for the complexity of our republic, its governance, and its foundational virtues. We have seen the blood sweat and tears invested in its viability and its longevity.
We’ve looked deeply into the mirror, asking ourselves the hard questions that spark true reflection. Through curiosity and a commitment to understanding, we’ve explored the complexities of the world around us. By fostering collaboration and embracing diverse perspectives, narratives, and experiences, we have enriched our understanding of the systems that shape our lives.
Through the lens of systems thinking, we’ve come to appreciate the interconnectedness of every element, recognizing the power of frameworks that guide us in shifting paradigms. With this awareness, we’ve focus on where and how we can ignite meaningful change—by identifying and nurturing the intrinsic motivation in those around us.
And in this journey, we have discovered that love and connection are key: we find ourselves not in isolation, but through the bonds we share with others, allowing those connections to become the foundation for growth, empathy, and transformation.
Travel has been efficient amongst our class 54 family, and we have strengthened bonds and established deeper connections along the way. We all look out for each other and support each other, recognizing that we represent a diversity of backgrounds, social and political views, and that we wouldn’t necessarily have been a group to mix with each other outside of this amazing program. This recognition of interconnectedness and support leads us to question why we don’t see this more in our communities? What social and political systems, and lived experiences prevent us from recognizing the shared human condition and supporting one another? What systems perpetuate separateness and breed the binary thinking that pervades the conversation of us and them?
How can we lengthen our tables to ensure everyone has a seat? How do we widen the circle of inclusion to ensure that those at the margins are enveloped into community and that we recognize our kinship in society; to make our collective time here on earth better for one another? What prevents this harmony? What facilitates its growth? What is the best in each of us that can be called upon at a given moment to make our specks of time on this earth, more just?
One thing we realize in this journey into self and society, is that we all have an obligation to contribute. This reaches beyond the viability of agriculture and the education of our communities to better understand how agriculture is contextualized in the past, present and future success of this great nation. It is about lifting others up, about setting our pride and emotion aside. It’s about making life better for those around us. In exploring the political history of this great nation and some of the personalities and philosophies of our forefathers we recognize our true obligation as leaders in this state and in agriculture. We accept the challenge and the obligation in the name of California agriculture
As fellows of Class 54, we express our heartfelt gratitude for this extraordinary journey. Our sincere thanks go to the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation for their unwavering dedication in providing us with such a transformative experience. We deeply appreciate the foundation’s staff— Dane White, Judy Sparacino and Lesa Eidman—for their meticulous planning and support. A special thank you to core faculty member Dr. Erin Gorter for her guidance, and to Class 53 fellows Ariana Joven and Hillari Bynum for their invaluable contributions in shaping this trip.
We are profoundly grateful to the donors and supporters whose generosity makes these experiences possible, ensuring the future of the program for generations to come. Lastly, we extend our deepest thanks to our families and loved ones for their sacrifices and encouragement. Your unwavering support, patience, and understanding have allowed us to grow as individuals and as members of our communities. We are excited to reunite and share the lessons we’ve learned on this incredible journey.
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
– Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States of America
Signing off with immense gratitude,
-Andrew Smith, Cameron Boomgaarden, Rachael Laenen and Class 54
