The 24 members of this year’s California Agricultural Leadership Program cohort. Applications are now being accepted for Class 56. The deadline for phase one of the three-phase application process must be completed by March 27. Photo courtesy of Farm Credit Alliance

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Kevin Voorhees is a mid-career ag lending professional who felt ready for a next-level leadership development program at a time when California agriculture is facing significant economic, regulatory and generational challenges.

Out of nearly 40 programs he could choose from, it became clear that the best program for him would be the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Launched in 1970 by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), the program has now trained over 1,500 leaders in agriculture and related fields.

Voorhees, a vice president for AgWest Farm Credit in Paso Robles, said he was talking one day to a colleague who had participated in the program and was encouraged to look into it.

“I’d always heard of it, but I wasn’t aware of the focus. So I researched it and talked to a ton of alums and everyone spoke highly of it – each person said it was a life-changing program. That was enough to make it my No. 1 choice,” Voorhees said.

After an intense application process, he was accepted into Class 55 of the program and is immersed in the 17-month program designed to provide leadership development to up-and-coming professionals in the state’s agricultural sector. 

“The goal is to build a powerful network to keep agriculture a viable and important part of the state’s economy,” said Lesa Eidman, a member of the Program’s Class 49 who became CALF’s president and CEO in February 2025 “We’re one of the premier leadership development programs in the U.S. Our mission is ‘growing leaders who make a difference’ by providing sessions in leadership theory, communications, motivation and change management. But most importantly, it focuses on self-analysis and self-reflection to help participants learn about themselves.”

CALF partners with Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, Chico State and UC Davis to deliver an integrated curriculum throughout the program’s seminars in collaboration with CALF’s education team, led by the Director of Education Dane White.  Participants learn from top educators, subject-matter experts and leaders from diverse fields who challenge them to think differently and grow as influential voices in agriculture.

AgWest Farm Credit California President Kevin Ralph said the program has made a major difference since it was launched in 1970.

“Farm Credit is proud to support the program because participants become lifelong leaders who individually and collectively make a significant difference in the agricultural industry, their businesses, communities and families,” Ralph said.  “We’re also pleased that while CALF focuses on up-and-coming leaders in the production side of agriculture, they also select participants who are ag-adjacent, like our own team member Kevin this year. Lenders, processors, advisors and suppliers play an important role in ag’s future as well.” 

Farm Credit associations supporting CALF are AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit. These organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

The foundation was created in 1962 by the Council of California Growers, and the program was launched after a group of Michigan farmers visited California in the late 1960s as part of an ag leadership program sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The CCG leaders and staff agreed a similar program would be tremendously beneficial for the state’s ag industry. 

Applications open in January and program alums are very involved in the three-series application process. A total of 24 participants are selected each year out of more than 100 applicants. Multiple-day sessions are held at each of the five participating universities, where participants build enhanced critical thinking skills that will help graduates develop creative solutions. 

Eidman added that participants engage in learning experiences grounded in the program’s Diamond Model approach that expand their thinking and perspective. These experiences encourage openness to diverse viewpoints and strengthen participants’ ability to listen and learn from others, while naturally building strong camaraderie within the cohort. 

The program also includes a trip within the U.S. – this year to Chicago and Washington, DC – and an overseas visit to broaden their horizons. Last year’s overseas trip was to southern Africa.

Jacob DeBoer, a senior regional marketing manager with American AgCredit said the program is unique because participants engage in situations and discussions focused on complex social and cultural issues.

“For example, key questions for the current class in their first seminar were ‘Who are we?’ and ‘What does it mean to belong?’ Outside-the-box thinking like this helps shape effective leadership and as importantly helps participants grow as individuals,” DeBoer said.

CALF invests around $70,000 in each participant. The applicants pay a $1,000 fee but money raised by foundations, alums and supporters, and organizations like Farm Credit provide the bulk of the funding

“The program is very well run. I don’t think a minute of the sessions have been wasted,” Voorhees said. “I’m going to get all the leadership skills you can think of, but the bigger aspect will be my growth as a person. I’m being forced out of my comfort zone but that’s like on an airplane – you have to have your mask on before you can help someone else. I want to learn to be confident that I can lead and be authentic and give back and have an impact on people’s lives.”

Applications are now being accepted for Class 56. The deadline for phase one of the three-phase application process must be completed by March 27. Information and the application form are available at https://www.agleaders.org/class56apply/