
Who are We?
“True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” -Brené Brown, Braving the Wilderness: The Question for True Belonging and the

“True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” -Brené Brown, Braving the Wilderness: The Question for True Belonging and the

One of my staff remarked when they learned of our Class 54 International Seminar in Africa, “that sounds amazing. I look forward to meeting you when you return”. A simple

Our journey through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa became far more than an international seminar; it became a profound and deeply moving experience in leadership, connection, and discovery that

We began just after sunrise, loading the bus in the soft quiet of a Botswana morning and making our way toward the Kazungula border. The journey into Zambia — just

Travel has a way of reshaping what we think we understand. In Botswana, what began as a straightforward look at farming quickly became something richer — a reminder that leadership

Today offered a fresh reminder that leadership rarely arrives with fanfare. More often, it shows up in the small exchanges that shape how we live alongside one another — the

We began the morning at Dimbangombe Ranch, home to a bold idea that is reshaping not just land, but mindsets. Founded by Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield through the Africa

There is a quiet holiness in farewells — in the moment between what has been and what will be. This morning, we said goodbye to our friends from Imvelo Safari

In the heart of Hwange, we found that leadership, at its best, is both service and delight. In a world where we adults so often forget to play, to wonder,

Reflections from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe Leaving the comforts of Victoria Falls, our journey carried us deeper into Hwange National Park—a place of raw beauty, resilience, and revelation. Beneath a

This morning carried us once more into motion—an early departure from the hotel to OR Tambo International Airport and onward to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It was a bittersweet farewell to

Day 6: Diamonds Shine in the Darkness We spent the day in Soweto—South Africa’s largest township and, in many ways, its beating heart. The contrast between Soweto and Sandton, where

Understanding the Past: British Colonialism and Leadership Lessons Our morning unfolded under the guidance of Professor Fransjohan Pretorius of the University of Pretoria, a historian whose voice carries both the

Our fourth day of the international seminar, and our third full one in Pretoria, began with a storm. Thunder rolled across the city and heavy rain fell — a welcome

Today’s experiences in Johannesburg were powerful and eye-opening. The day began with a city tour that revealed the city’s many contrasts—modern developments and jacaranda-lined neighborhoods in Sandton just miles away

We rose before the sun—an early rhythm that felt familiar to many of us from our lives in California agriculture. The air was cool with rain on the horizon, and

As the sun rose over the City of Angels, Class 54 gathered at LAX, still shaking off sleep but alive with energy and purpose. The familiar chaos of the United

With Class 55, the California Agricultural Leadership Program continues to evolve its structure, seminars, and learning tactics to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The first seminar for
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
Our final day in Washington DC was impactful and emotional, centering around the question we all have in our minds: Where do we go from here? We were fortunate to
We began the day with a visit to the capitol, which culminated in a House gallery tour. Thanks to Congressman Ami Bera, our class was able to view the floor session
Our time in Washington, D.C. has reinforced how critical storytelling is in agriculture. Whether it’s farmers, ranchers, researchers, or industry leaders, our personal stories bring agriculture’s challenges and innovations to
As our journey continued, Day 5 brought us into deep conversations about democracy—not just as a system, but as an institution that demands active participation, self-awareness, and a commitment to
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you,” attributed to Maya Angelou. Our minds are drawn to themes and patterns in the world around us, often
“To understand a system, we need to step back and watch how the system behaves. All systems have a structure, and those structures matter.” -adapted from Menendian & Watt Our
Standing here in Minnesota, we’ve been reminded of their famous “Minnesota Nice” reputation—but also the flip side some call “Minnesota Nice Nasty.” It’s that complex mix of warm welcome on
“We’ve forgotten that the right wing and the left wing are actually part of the same bird.” – Brode Johnson, Communications Director, Assemblymember Soria Kicking off our National trip, we
September 09, 2024 MONTEREY – Twenty-four individuals have been selected for Class 54 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, an advanced leadership development experience for emerging, mid-career leaders in agriculture.