Since 1983, the Tulare County Farm Bureau (TCFB) has provided a unique opportunity for high school students in Tulare County to develop their leadership skills. Ever since its inception, the Youth Leadership program has trained over 550 students.
This year, 25 students from Tulare County high schools were selected to participate in the 31st Youth Leadership class which kicks off with professional etiquette training on September 22 at the Farm Bureau office in Visalia.
The goal of this program is to select high school students from around the county who have a strong potential for developing leadership skills. Students are not required to have a connection to agriculture or to Farm Bureau, but should demonstrate an interest in developing leadership qualities.
Participants commit to an 8-month program centered around leadership development, agriculture awareness and government processes. Students take part in monthly educational seminars that focus on issues affecting agriculture, various careers in agriculture, community service, as well as county, state and federal governments.
The Youth Leadership program also gives students the opportunity to visit university campuses, tour local farms and concludes with a trip to Sacramento to visit our state’s capitol and meet with our elected representatives.
There is no cost to students who participate; all expenses, including travel, lodging and meals, are paid by Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Education and Scholarship Fund and generous contributions by major program sponsors, Suncrest Bank and the Land O’Lakes Foundation.
High school sophomores are encouraged to apply for the program each year by May 1st. You may contact the TCFB’s Youth Leadership Advisory Committee with any questions at: tcfb@tulcofb.org or visit www.tulcofb.org for more information.
The following are the students selected for the 2015-2016 Youth Leadership Program:
Joslyn Buckley, Monache High School
Christopher Coelho, Woodlake High School
Elijah Ewing, Exeter Union High School
Amanda Farquharson, Strathmore High School
Savanah Gamboa, Monache High School
Karina Gonzalez, Lindsay High School
Luke Gregerson, El Diamante High School
Grace Guthrie, Harmony Magnet Academy
Carolina Hernandez, Farmersville High School
Jonna Lemstra, Central Valley Christian
Kyle Marks, El Diamante High School
Kaitlyn McFarlan, Exeter Union High School
Briana Medina, Tulare Western High School
Ethan Murch, Lindsay High School
Jackie Navarro, Lindsay High School
Dane Nelson, Central Valley Christian
Derrick Nunes, Tulare Union High School
Alexa Pinter, Central Valley Christian
Daniella Renteria, Woodlake High School
Erika Roeloffs, Central Valley Christian
Cort Rowley, Golden West High School
Enrique Sanchez, Farmersville High School
Hannah Seymore, Golden West High School
Claire Stetson, Redwood High School
Jaclyn te Velde, Central Valley Christian