WGS Jan-Feb-2025 Layout FinalDigital ME

greeted by Sophie the Beer Burro and then entertained by pig races, a dress-up photo booth and live music. BBQ and specialty cocktails were available until late into the night! Tuesday, Nov. 5 began with our second invite-only sponsor event, the Diamond Breakfast , where Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia honored company representatives from our top level of sponsorship: Bayer, Farm Credit, John Deere, Nutrien Ag Solutions and RDO Equipment. Each Diamond Sponsor gave a brief presentation in front of the Western Growers Board of Directors to highlight the valuable work they do to advance the agriculture industry. Our second Featured Session of the Annual Meeting, Navigating the Post- Chevron Landscape: Expert Insights on Loper Bright and the Future of the Administrative State in Agriculture, gave attendees an overview of recent actions by the U.S. Supreme Court and how they might impact the regulatory landscape. Moderated by Western Growers Senior Vice President and General Counsel Jason Resnick, panelists included Lynn Jacquez, Of Counsel, JPH Law Firm; Daniel Jarcho, Partner, Alston & Bird and Damien Schiff, Senior Attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, who provided a peek into the crystal ball of the good – and bad – outcomes that may result from the ruling. During the Chair’s Lunch and Keynote Western Growers Chair Stuart Woolf took the reins to thank the assembled Western Growers members, the Board of Directors, sponsors and industry VIPs for their dedication to advancing the specialty crop industry. After the remarks and luncheon, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia conducted a Q&A with Amy Trask , former CEO of the Oakland Raiders and the first female team CEO in NFL history. The so-called “Princess of Darkness” regaled listeners with tales from inside the NFL owner meetings and of working with Raiders Owner and Hall of Famer Al Davis. (No 49er fans were harmed during this event.) Tuesday evening’s activities began with the Award of Honor Reception on the Sonoran Terrace, where attendees networked and mingled over cocktails – and got a sneak peek meet and greet with the evening’s entertainment, mentalist Oz Pearlman . The Award of Honor Dinner Gala focused on the many achievements of Arizona’s own, The Growers Company President Sonny Rodriguez , who became the first non-grower to ever receive Western Growers’ highest honor. After a series of emotional tributes to Sonny, Oz took the stage and proceeded to make everyone in the room question what they thought they knew about…well, everything. (How did Oz know Sonny’s favorite drink?)

After the Award of Honor festivities ended, attendees ended the night at the Election Watch Party , where cocktails, fries and milkshakes were on offer for those celebrating (or wanting to drown their sorrows) at the results shown live on TVs throughout the space. Annual Meeting activities wrapped up on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with the high-spirited Western Growers Cup Golf Tournament & Lunch at the Camelback Golf Course and the second annual surprisingly competitive Western Growers Pickleball Classic at the JW Marriott Camelback Tennis Courts. Western Growers prides itself on providing the premier venue for growers and industry partners to connect and celebrate the enduring legacy of the fresh produce industry. We will continue to drive enhanced value for our members and sponsors next year at the Western Growers 99th Annual Meeting, to be held Nov. 9-12, 2025 at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, Calif.

Sustainable Packaging Panel moderated by Dennis Nuxoll

Stuart Woolf, Ben Palone (CIT), David Gordillo (John Deere), Dave Puglia

VIP Sponsor Reception

18 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January | February 2025

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