Ag Council Hosts Successful 106th Annual Meeting

Ag Council recently held its 106th Annual Meeting in Napa, March 17-19 in conjunction with CoBank’s Pacific West Customer meeting. The event featured presentations from various legislative and regulatory decision-makers, as well as business leaders.

The event kicked off with an Annual Dinner and a keynote address from Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters). Drawing on her roots in a rural, farming community, Aguiar-Curry said, “We can never forget our people. Affordability is important to everyone, whether you are a consumer or grower,” she said. Her address recognized the role that agriculture plays in California’s economy, and the importance of creating a path for the next generation.

Ag Council President Emily Rooney delivered her annual address and discussed advocacy work with the State Legislature and regulatory agencies. “Ag Council’s membership creates meaningful change in California. We’ve had several successful wins, whether it is defeating the statewide minimum wage ballot initiative or funding climate-smart ag programs — the leadership on those issues has come from this group,” Rooney said.

Rooney thanked outgoing Ag Council Chair Darren Hoff for his “thoughtful leadership.” Hoff is a raisin grower with Sun-Maid and serves on their board of directors.

The 106th Annual Meeting featured a lineup of prominent speakers addressing multiple issues of importance to the membership, including:
*Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry
*California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot

* CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller
* Circular Action Alliance Executive Director Rachel Machi Wagoner

* California Association of Retailers President Rachel Michelin
* California Department of Food & Agriculture Undersecretary Christine Birdsong

* Merlot Marketing CEO Debi Hammond

Ag Council celebrated Jeana Hultquist as the 2025 recipient of the California Cultivator Award during the Annual Meeting, which is a recognition given to a person who has gone above and beyond to serve the agricultural sector. Jeana is a valued and respected advocate having spent over 40 years working on behalf of American AgCredit, CoBank and the Farm Credit system prior to her retirement. She also volunteered her time to serve on the boards of the Center for Land-Based Learning and the California State FFA Foundation, as well as Ag Council’s board.

Thank you to all attendees and sponsors for supporting the event.

 

To continue reading an overview of the 106th Annual Meeting, please click HERE. View photos from the event by going to the Learn More link below.

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