alum of the program, I came in with a deep appreciation for what CALF meant to me personally, but I didn’t fully anticipate just how deeply this organization is connected to people’s identities, relationships and leadership journeys. That has made leading it both a responsibility and a privilege,” she said. The foundation is now a team of seven leadership-driven individuals who all share a commitment to strengthening California agriculture. This includes Dane White, Director of Education; Judy Sparacino, Program Manager; Anna Nicholson, Alumni Engagement and Event Manager; Jessica Lara, Marketing and Communications Manager; Maria Angulo, Financial Controller; and Mia Mirasou, Office Manager. As has been the case for all of its history, CALF’s Board of Directors is extremely supportive, embracing new ideas while also honoring the foundation’s history and legacy. One new initiative Eidman has planned for 2026 is the formation of the Strategic Expansion and Engagement Design (SEED)
team, which comprises nine individuals from alumni and broader industry networks. Eidman will once again engage a consortium of experts to thoughtfully chart a path forward for CALF—not just for the next five years, but 10, even 50 years ahead. As for the relationship with Western Growers, Eidman remarks: “Western Growers has been a longtime supporter of CALF, and that support shows up in so many ways beyond just financial investment. WGA employees have gone through the Ag Leadership Program, as well as board members and many WG growers and members. From my perspective, the relationship is built on shared values and a genuine belief in investing in people. On a very practical level, it’s also a partnership I truly value. Knowing I can pick up the phone, ask a question, or get help making a connection, and rely on the great team at Western Growers, means a lot. That kind of collaboration strengthens our work and ultimately the industry we all care about.”
In the time since beginning his fellowship in 2024, Boomgaarden was made Director of Farming Operations at Vann Brothers—one of California’s leading almond producers, where he has worked since 2018. Reflecting on his experience, Boomgaarden said, “The relationships built within Class 54 have been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. Spending time with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints reinforced the importance of trust, empathy and shared responsibility. Many of the most impactful conversations didn’t happen in formal sessions, but in the in-between moments— on buses, over meals and during moments of reflection.” This last year, Eidman has likewise felt more impacts and shifts than what the chief executive role itself lends. After decades inland, and growing up in the mountains, she never imagined she would be living near the beach and at sea level. “What I love most about this part of the state is the proximity to the Salinas Valley and being surrounded by some of the most productive fruit and vegetable fields in the country. That stretch of my drive is always the best part of my day—seeing the crops being grown and the people who make it all possible. I’m still adjusting and settling into the area, but I can say without hesitation that I’ve come to love Monterey weather, especially in June, when it’s 100- plus degrees in the valley and cool and sunny here on the Central Coast.” Sixty years in, the story of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and Ag Leadership Program is still being written—expertly and proudly by a network of about 1,500 alumni, a very engaged Alumni Council, and passionate industry supporters and stakeholders. As felt and embodied by so many who work in our industry, the mission statements of Western Growers and California Agricultural Leadership Foundation orient us toward an unflinching dedication to the stewardship and endurance of California agriculture; to connect sound policy decisions that aid in the protection of agriculture with the leaders confident enough to shepherd these changes; flocking together, a dynamic as ever-evolving as it is familiar.
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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
36 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January – March 2026
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