Flexible Learning Through Monthly Webinars
Expanding Vision, Expertise and Impact
In 2025, Western Growers University (WGU) continued to expand access to high-quality, agriculture-focused training for member organizations across the West. This year marked a significant step forward with the launch of WGU’s at-cost training model, a major initiative designed to reduce financial barriers and make professional development more accessible to farming operations of every size. Under this structure, members pay only for travel and materials while gaining access to standardized, bilingual training in compliance, leadership and supervisory development, ensuring that employees at all levels can participate in meaningful, relevant skill-building. Expanding Access Through Onsite Training Throughout 2025, WGU delivered more than 40 onsite training sessions across California and Arizona. These in-person programs reached hundreds of supervisors, managers and front-line employees, offering hands-on, scenario- based learning tailored to agricultural environments. Core offerings included Harassment Prevention; Workplace Violence Prevention (SB 553); Supervisory Skills and Leadership Foundations; Performance Management and Employee
To further increase accessibility, WGU launched a new monthly webinar series available to all members at no cost. These virtual sessions provided a flexible option for organizations with dispersed teams or demanding seasonal schedules and served as a valuable complement to onsite programs. Highlighted 2025 webinars included: • Having Tough Conversations • Being Accountable for Your Results • Effective Employee Performance Management For the first time, WGU also introduced Spanish-language webinars, significantly expanding access for Spanish-speaking supervisors and front-line employees. This addition reflects WGU’s ongoing commitment to meeting members’ needs and supporting the diverse workforce that drives the agricultural industry.
In 2025, Western Growers University welcomed Teresa McQueen as the new leader of its training and development initiatives. An experienced employment attorney, educator and workplace investigator, McQueen brought a fresh, strategic perspective rooted in compliance, legal best practices and organizational effectiveness. Her expertise in labor law, conflict resolution and culture-building strengthened WGU’s curriculum and guided the expansion of programs and updated compliance training. Under her leadership, WGU continued to refine its offerings to better support the evolving needs of member companies and the industry’s emerging leaders. Testimonial Western Growers University demonstrates a strong commitment to meeting our compliance training requirements for both general employees and supervisory staff. The provision of bilingual instruction, delivered by an educator who is highly relatable to our workforce demographics, greatly enhances employee engagement and participation. Priscila Cisneros demonstrates a capacity to encourage active involvement from employees at every level, an achievement that is both notable and greatly appreciated. ”
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WG University Your Partner in Ag Workforce Development.
LUPITA RENTERIA Ocean Mist
Coaching; and Communication, Collaboration and Trust-Building.
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