2009 Class Participants
Joseph Bacchetti, San Joaquin County
Joe earned his associates degree in ag mechanics and ag business from Modesto Junior College and currently owns and manages a hay farm. Previously, he worked as an equipment operator for Frank Bacchetti Farms and Bert Bacchetti Farms. Joe is the vice president of the St. Bernards Young Mens Institute and served as an officer of the Water Board for Reclamation District 773. Additionally, he is a member of the Banta 4-H Program and serves as a San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation board member.
Robert Blattler, Tulare County
Robert earned his masters and bachelors degrees in plant science from CSU Fresno. Robert interned for T-Systems International and now works as their technical development representative. Robert has taken on several leadership roles and is a member of the California Agricultural Pest Control Advisors and the California Society of Agronomy. Robert has served as the activities chair and philanthropy chair for the Tulare County Young Farmers and Ranchers group.
Jeff Fowle, Siskiyou County
Jeff serves as a director and the second vice president for Siskiyou County Farm Bureau and chairs the CFBF Beef Commodity Advisory Committee, the Siskiyou County Planning Commission and the past chair of the Scott River Watershed Council. Jeff received his bachelors degree in animal science from Cal Poly and now owns and operates the KK Bar Ranch and Siskiyou Percherons with his wife Erin and son Kyle. He raises cattle, horses and farms hay and buys, trades and trains both light and draft horses for clients. Jeff previously worked as an ag teacher and an after school coordinator for Etna High School. He has worked as a herdsman for BB Cattle Company and served as president and director of the Scott Valley Pleasure Park, and as director, second vice president and president for the American Junior Hereford Association.
Rex Houghton, Siskiyou County
Rex currently serves as first vice president for the Siskiyou County Farm Bureau. Rex attended Yreka High School and holds an associates degree in ag crop and beef production from College of the Siskiyous. Rex owns Houghton Ranch where he raises cattle and is a partner in the Harris Ranch Partnership for Quality Program where he received an award for High Yielding Cattle Carcass. In the past, Rex has worked as a sales associate for Moormans Minerals and as a herdsman for various production ag operations. Rex served as president of the Siskiyou County Cattlemen's Association, currently serves on the fundraiser committee for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation where the committee was honored with a regional award for outstanding volunteers, and is past president of the Montague Water District.
Gayle Learned, San Bernardino County
Gayle is the executive director of the San Bernardino County Farm Bureau and was previously employed with the County of San Bernardino, Department of Children's Services, as a clerk processing background checks on foster families. She has also worked as the warden's secretary for the State of Missouri, Department of Corrections. Gayle concurrently attends San Bernardino Valley and Crafton Hills Colleges majoring in English and minoring in criminal justice. She is a member of the San Bernardino County Rural Crimes Task Force and is the vice president of the Inland Empire chapter of California Women for Agriculture.
Irv Leen, Butte County
Irv currently owns 175 acres of mission olives that he farms for oil and raises cattle on his 800-acres of open range. Irv also holds three contractors license classifications and is owner of a cabinet/wood products manufacturing business. Irv is the vice president of the Butte County Cattlemen and serves on the board of directors of the Butte County Farm Bureau and the California Wildlife Festival. Irv is a lifetime member of the California Waterfowl Association and the California Deer Association.
Sarah Reynolds, Butte County
Sarah is currently the program manager for Butte County Farm Bureau. Sarah is part of the family rice operation, KDB Farms. She serves as chair for the Butte County Young Farmers and Ranchers group and also has served as PR chairperson for her local California Women for Agriculture chapter. Additionally, Sarah serves as a director for the California Wildlife Festival, is a member of the Biggs High School Ag Advisory Committee, currently is member of the Butte County Meth Strike Force and Gridley Guardian. In March of 2008, Sarah was awarded the Star Young Farmers and Ranchers award for outstanding local leadership. Sarah attended Chico State studying agricultural business and transferred to University of Phoenix majoring in business management.
Daniel Suenram, Lake County
Daniel serves as chair for Lake County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers and also serves on the board of directors in that capacity. Daniel worked on his associates degree at Santa Rosa Junior College and Mendocino College. Daniel works on his family farm, Suenram Ranch as an assistant manager. His family farms organic dry land walnuts, zinfandel grapes, cabernet sauvignon grapes, has thirty-five acres of permanent pasture, dry land oat hay and also raises cattle. Previously, Daniel worked for Andersen Construction as a carpenter and has also worked for Holdenried Harvesting as a machine harvester operator and for Myrika Pear Shed as a forklift operator. He has been president of the 4-H Junior Leader program and also the student body vice president for AS government in high school. Daniel has participated in the beef cattle breeding project for FFA, raised market and breeding pigs in 4-H and was also an inter-collegiate council representative for SRJC Ag Ambassadors.
Ron Taddei, Napa County
Ron has a bachelors degree in political science from Sonoma State University and also a juris doctorate from Empire College School of Law. Ron owns and manages Taddei Vineyards in Oakville in the Napa Valley. His vineyard produces some of the finest quality fruit for some of Oakville’s high-end wineries. For twenty-two years, Ron served as an associate planner for the County of Sonoma and currently serves as the vice president of Napa County Farm Bureau. Additionally, Ron has been chairman of the CFB’s land use, taxation, labor and rural health committee.
David Van Klavern, Stanislaus County
David earned his associates degree from Modesto Junior College and attended CSU Fresno majoring in accounting. David is currently the co-owner and chief financial officer for Hollandia Nursery, Inc. From 1996-2004, David has been a member and served as president of the Yosemite Chapter Board of the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers. As vice president of the Yosemite Chapter, an award was presented to him for most informative programming.