CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Blue Diamond also supports the next generation of ag leaders by providing college scholarships to local high school students through the Blue Diamond Growers Foundation. Over 200 scholarships have been awarded by the Foundation since 2011. The awards provide students with a greater chance for success in achieving their goals of becoming ag professionals. Thank you to the Foundation’s president, John Monroe, for his infectious passion and hard work on behalf of the next generation of farmers. We’ve also had an amazing partnership with Future Farmers of America (FFA) since 2017. (Please read more about this on page 32.) I’m very excited to present my first Grower Ambassador of the Year award. The Blue Diamond grower I’ve selected has been a Blue Diamond member for over 40 years and is a constant realistic advocate for the almond industry. He has adapted the Neal Kinsey methodology of soil health for California almonds.
The Chairman’s Ambassador of the Year award was Bill Brush, a well-respected agronomist, water expert, and plant nutritionist. In 2005, Bill established B&B Ag Consulting to assist farmers with soil fertility and water treatments. Bill knows soil better than anyone else and has served as a soil consultant for many of our growers spanning from Chico to Bakersfield. He even consults around the world in countries like the Philippines, Japan, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Australia to name a few.
Bill spent 18 years serving as either an alternate or a board member for the Almond Board of California. During that time, he also served on their PR & Advertising and Finance & Audit Committees. Bill and his grandson created a podcast called “Agriculture in a Nutshell” which helps farmers and gardeners produce higher quality, more nutritious, sustainable solutions to feed the growing population. Bill has dedicated his life to the farming community and considers it a privilege to share his knowledge with farmers and represent Blue Diamond in a positive way. Thank you, all, for making my first year as Chairman of the Board so meaningful and such a pleasure. It’s an honor to serve and I look forward to what this next year holds for all of us as Blue Diamond members.
Steve Van Duyn Chairman of the Board
Steve Van Duyn and Bill Brush
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ALMOND FACTS
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