Global avocado and fresh produce company Calavo Growers hired Anna Kirsch as director of business development. She will focus on strategic growth initiatives in the avocado business . She previously worked in avocado sales and marketing at Westfalia Fruit and Avocados From Mexico. Kirsch reports to Gordon Breschini, vice president of fresh avocado sales.
Sheldon Jones joined the Arizona Department of Agriculture as deputy director for programs. He previously worked at the Soil Health Institute, Farm Foundation, and both Colorado and Arizona state departments of agriculture. 
Carlos Castañeda, California Ag Leadership Foundation award recipient
The California Ag Leadership Foundation honored two individuals with the 2024 Profiles in Leadership Award for the actions of program alumni for actions that better the industry, community, business, government, education and/or the environment. Carlos Castañeda of San Luis Obispo County, a class 36 participant, was selected for his work providing opportunities to farmworker communities. He helps individuals from Mexico find jobs in the U.S. through the H-2A program and hires 1,100 individuals annually to work in the U.S., with more than 95% of his workforce returning annually. Steve McShane of Monterey County, a class 33 participant, was selected because of his leadership in public service as a volunteer and tenure as a city council member. He worked for former State Sen. Bruce McPherson, served on the Salinas City Council for 14 years and as CEO of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce for two years. He operated a nursery and landscape supply business in Salinas.
Church Brothers Farms hired Tracy Carranza as vice president of retail sales, responsible for growth and strategic direction of the company’s retail channel with focus on value added products. Carranza worked for 10 years on the sales team for Taylor Farms Retail Inc.
Francois Girin joined the Nabaco board of directors. The company is expanding its technology platform, including the flagship NatuWrap line, and focusing on commercializing in the U.S. and European Union. 
Steve McShane, California Ag Leadership Foundation award recipient
Stephen Farmer is the new chief administrative officer for the Westlands Water District. He will oversee the district’s finance and administration, operation and maintenance, energy and power and resources departments. He has been with the district for 13 years, lately as interim deputy general manager for finance and administration.
United Dairymen of Arizona appointed Craig Caballero as chief executive officer. He has been interim CEO. Caballero moved through the ranks from a co-op member board chairman for the past seven years.
Matthew Jaffe was tapped as acting assistant U.S. trade representative for trade policy coordination. He will lead the U.S. Trade Representative’s interagency authority in developing and coordinating trade policy. Jaffe was senior associate general counsel in USTR’s Office of General Counsel. He replaces Laura Buffo.
Marion Ag Service hired Dan Dumler as director of sales and distribution. With 30 years of experience, he will lead Marion Ag’s sales growth objectives. A native Oregonian, his career has included roles in agronomy, key account management, and managing regional sales teams across the West. He will be based in Colorado to assist Marion Ag’s geographic expansion.
Westfalia Fruit Group tapped Chris Bush as CEO effective Oct. 28. He will succeed interim CEO Rian du Toit, who will return to chief financial officer. He was most recently divisional CEO at DFI Retail Group South East Asia directing 1,500 retail stores across seven countries.
Matthew Nobriga received the 2024 Brown-Nichols Science Award from the Bay-Delta Science Conference. He is an assistant field supervisor with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and recognized expert on aquatic ecology and fish biology in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. He has led a nearly 30-year career in state and federal service with extensive peer-reviewed publications and reports on native fish, including the life histories of Delta and Longfin Smelt, and has mentored other agency staff.
The National 4-H Council hired Natalie Godwin as vice president of corporate communications. She brings diverse industry experience to the nation’s largest youth development organization from past positions at NASA, General Motors, UPS, Hilton and most recently Lowe’s. Godwin is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Natalie Godwin, National 4-H CouncilThe Meat Institute elected officers, executive board members and its full board of directors for 2025. Hormel Foods CEO James Snee was elected chairman. He has been a board member since 2017 and an officer since 2022. Peter Bozzo of Michael’s Finer Meats & Seafood was elected vice-chairman of the board; Jon Amidei, COO of Swaggarty’s Farm, as secretary; and Randy Huffman from Maple Leaf Foods as treasurer. Eric Gustafson of Coast Packing Co., is immediate past chairman. Corteva appointed Judd O’Connor executive vice president of the company's seed business unit effective Dec. 1. He succeeds Tim Glenn, who will transition to be a strategic adviser to the executive leadership team until his retirement in the first quarter of 2025. O’Connor has worked at Corteva for 25 years, most recently leading the North American business.
The Senate Ag Committee's top Republican, John Boozman of Arkansas, named Matthew Webster as communications director in the senator's personal office. Webster has worked in Boozman's office since 2015, most recently as press secretary/digital media coordinator.
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The National Chicken Council elected officers. Bill Griffith, chief operations officer at Peco Foods, will serve as 2024-2025 chairman. He brings more than 25 years of food industry management experience from Peco, Keystone Foods U.S., Perdue Foods and Tyson Foods. Additional officers include David Jackson, chief operating officer of Simmons Foods, as vice chairman, and Kevin McDaniel, chief operating officer at Wayne-Sanderson Farms, as secretary-treasurer. Gary Kushner will continue to serve as interim president of NCC after replacing Mike Brown, who left the position over the summer.
Morgan Beach was promoted to government affairs lead at Nestlé Purina North America. Based in St. Louis, Beach led issues and crisis communications for the company and previously worked for the Pet Food Institute, National Milk Producers Federation and Farm Credit Council.
The Rural Investment to Protect our Environment added Brandon Hunnicutt and Loston Rowe to the board of directors. Hunnicutt is a Nebraska farmer who has been involved with Field to Market and the Nebraska On-Farm Research project. Rowe was raised on a family farm in Mississippi and recently served as the interim director of the National Black Growers Council.
Consumer Brands A
Melissa Hockstad, Consumer Brands Associationssociation hired Melissa Hockstad as the trade group’s next leader. Hockstad was more recently president and CEO of the American Cleaning Institute and has been in leadership roles with the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and Plastics Industry Association. CBA’s past leader, David Chavern, departed in August to lead the American Council of Life Insurers.
Tiffany Erickson joined the Irrigation Association as brand, engagement and growth vice president. She will lead the group’s brand presence, member engagement and overall business growth. Erickson brings more than 15 years of communications experience to the IA, including working for the American Counseling Association, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and recently as executive vice president of strategic communications at Forum for Youth Investment.
Larry K. Anderson died on Oct. 13. He was 79. Anderson began a career in journalism and retired in 2012 from AgStar (Compeer) Financial Services after a career in rural development in Minnesota. He spent 40 years on the board of United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Minnesota, and was vice president of the Rural Housing Preservation Associates. His funeral was Oct. 21.
Former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan died on Oct. 18. He was 80. Nolan represented two of Minnesota’s congressional districts in Washington during stints 30 years apart. The Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor party described Nolan as a “champion for the Northland who fought fiercely to protect working people from corporate interests.” His services will be Saturday.
Scott Braswell, third generation CEO of Braswell Family Farms, died Oct. 15. He was 68. Braswell took leadership in the family company in 1991 and led the specialty eggs and feed company through growth, including sustainable farming, diversifying product and positioning the business to meet consumer demands. Services will be Saturday in Nashville, North Carolina.
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