COMMITTED. EXPERIENCED. TRUSTED.
2022 Director Candidate BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
In the ordinary course of business, Farm Credit West may enter into loan transactions with directors and director nominees, and other organizations with which directors and director nominees may be affiliated. Such loans are made on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated borrowers.
2022 Farm Credit West Board of Director Candidates On behalf of the nominating committee, Farm Credit West is pleased to present the 2022 slate of candidates for the association’s Board of Directors. Four qualified candidates are seeking election to two open seats on the board. Members can vote for two candidates of their choice, one from each region.
The Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee consists of 8 members, two from each of the four nominating regions. The association membership elects the Nominating Committee as part of this election process. This committee works hard to identify qualified candidates to ensure that the association attracts a skilled and diverse board. In addition, the committee makes every effort to recommend at least two candidates for each open seat.
Election Process We provide the information you need to make an informed voting choice for the 2022 Farm Credit West Board of Directors, including: •
This pamphlet’s profile of candidates
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An annual meeting information statement, which voting members received in the mail
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Statements by each candidate on our website at: FarmCreditWest.com/About-Us/Board-of-Directors/ Director-Candidate-Videos
Ballot material will be mailed to voting members after the annual meeting.
Every Vote Counts! By voting, you convey your continued commitment to Farm Credit West and thanks to fellow members who are seeking election to the board.
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Director Candidates
Position 1 SELECT ONE CANDIDATE (5 YEAR TERM)
Region – Sacramento Valley Includes Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, El Dorado, Yuba, Sutter, Placer, Nevada Counties and a Portion of Butte County
Blake Harlan (age 55)
Resides In: Woodland, California Business Name: Harlan Family Ranch, Harlan Feed and Wilson Bend Farms 37587 Harlan Lane, Woodland, CA 95695 Description: Mr. Harlan is president of Harlan Family Ranch, which farms processing tomatoes, alfalfa, rice, wheat, corn, sunflowers and almonds. He also does business as Harlan Feed, which manufactures and distributes hay cubes to the livestock industry. Mr. Harlan is also a partner in Wilson Bend Farms, a rice operation in Colusa County. Personal Info: Blake Harlan has been married for 27years to his wife Melissa. They have three children. Blake farms with his father Bernell in an operation which has continued for six generations in Yolo County. Farm Credit Member Since: 1988
Leadership Positions (Former): • Board of Directors, Chair, Farm Credit West •
Board of Directors, Vice Chair, Farm Credit West
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President, Yolo County Farm Bureau
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Treasurer, Yolo County 4H Leaders Council
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Committee Member, Yolo County 4H Auction
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Committee Member, Willow Oak 4H club
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Honorary Member, Emergency Medical Technician/ Firefighter, Willow Oak Volunteer Fire Department
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Committee Member, Woodland High School FFA Boosters
Why I am seeking election to the Board: I have thoroughly enjoyed my service as a director of Farm Credit West. I had served as Chairman of Farm Credit West until March of 2016 when the board leadership had transitioned as planned. As the PastChairman, I had been closely involved with many exciting events and accomplishments of the Association, including the merger with Southwest Farm Credit Services. I have grown personally through my service on the Farm Credit Board and in turn believe that I still have much to offer the organization. Why vote for me: I would be honored to serve another term as director. Having started with Sacramento Valley Farm Credit in 2003, I have seen many changes in the Association that began my service in. I recognize that like the agriculture business that we serve, challenges are always right around the corner. I look forward to working together with management and fellow directors towards the continued success of Farm Credit West.
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Director Candidates
Position 1 SELECT ONE CANDIDATE (5 YEAR TERM)
Region – Sacramento Valley Includes Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, El Dorado, Yuba, Sutter, Placer, Nevada Counties and a Portion of Butte County
Paul R. Squires (age 50)
Resides In: Yuba City, California Business Name: Squires Ag. Consulting, Inc. 638 Gabriel Ave., Yuba City, CA 95993 Description: I have provided production advisory services for thirty years and have owned and operated Squires Ag. Consulting, Inc. for twenty years. I have been a partner in a farming entity for fourteen years. Additionally, I am the general manager of a ranch that grows 3500 acres of rice, 190 acres of almonds, 250 acres of walnuts and 110 acres of pecans. Personal Info: My wife Tami is an assistant district attorney; we have been married for thirteen years. We have two children. Farm Credit Member Since: 2005 Leadership Positions (Current): • Director, Meridian Farms Water District
Leadership Positions (Former): • Director, State Board of Directors, California Association of Pest Control Advisors •
Director, Natomas Basin Conservancy Board
Why I am seeking election to the Board: Farm Credit has provided many opportunities for me to expand my exposure and knowledge in the agricultural industry. I have served on the nominating committee for Farm Credit West, and from 2009 to 2018 I was a member of the Farm Credit West Local Advisory Committee. Working collectively with the committee, board and staff, I was fortunate to have nine years of exposure to the FCW system. I respect the ability and effort that staff, board and committee members provide for the benefit of the stock holders, and would like to continue to be a part of the process. Why vote for me: It is important to reflect on the current strength and knowledge that the directors employ on our behalf; I respect all of them. Abilities are developed through consistency and effort; as stock holders, we have benefited from their efforts. I would provide a different perspective considering my background as a sole proprietor that started an agricultural business on my own.
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Director Candidates
Position 2 SELECT ONE CANDIDATE (5 YEAR TERM)
Region – Coastal Includes Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties
Tom Ikeda (age 62)
Resides In: Arroyo Grande, California Business Name: IkedaBros P.O. Box 518, Oceano, CA 93475 Description: Ikeda Bros is a 4 generation farm producing 850 acres of fresh vegetables and 150 acres of citrus and avocados. We are located along the coast in Southern San Luis Obispo County. This temperate climate allows us to produce 365 day a year. Personal Info: I manage our ranches along the coast while my cousin manages the ranches inland. Also involved are my son, nephew and two other cousins. Farm Credit Member Since: 1980 Leadership Positions (Current): • President, Fukuhara Farms •
Corporate Secretary, Ikeda Bros
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Enterprise Risk Management Committee Chair, Farm Credit West Board
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Leadership Positions (Former): • President, San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau •
Chair, California Leafy Greens Research Board
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Chair, Grower Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties
Why I am seeking election to the Board: I am seeking election to the Board as a way to serve agriculture, the industry that has given my family a good life. Helping to ensuring available finance to the agricultural industry is critical in today’s world to maintain a healthy industry for all of us producers. It is also an opportunity to expand my knowledge base so that I can be a better leader in all my endeavors. Why vote for me: I bring a “big picture’ view to the board. In a complex world, understanding how things work and their interrelations is important, especially when serving on a board. The understandings gained in my first term will be the basis for further knowledge and greater effectiveness in Board functions. This desire for constant improvement and my passion for agriculture are reasons to vote for me.
Director Candidates
Position 2 SELECT ONE CANDIDATE (5 YEAR TERM)
Region – Coastal Includes Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties
Fred Van Wingerden (age 65)
Resides In: Santa Paula, California
Farm Credit Member Since: 1979 - PCA then!
Business Name: Pyramid Flowers, Inc 3813 Doris Ave., Oxnard, CA 93030
Leadership Positions (Current): • Variance Committee, Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency
Description: I Started this business in 1991. And presently grow cut flowers on 80 acres of land in greenhouses, hoops and open land. We specialize in hydroponic Gerbera daisies, Lilies, Asters, Freesia, Statice, Ranunculus and Sunflowers. We market our product to the Mass Market and Wholesale Customers. I am President/CEO of Pyramid Flowers, Inc and my son Marcos works with me as Production Manager. I am also president of B-Fresh Floral, Inc, a company I own along with 3 cousins, that markets our product to the Mass Market. We employ over 140 team members as well as seasonal contract employees I live on a lemon ranch in Santa Paula and we market our lemon fruit through Sunkist.
Leadership Positions (Former): • President, Ventura County Farm Bureau
Personal Info: I was born in the Netherlands and immigrated with my family to the USA to grow cut flowers in 1967.
Why vote for me: I would be honored to serve as your Director to Farm Credit West. My background as an immigrant business owner, my experience and involvement in Agriculture gives me a unique perspective to lend to discussions and decisions that need to be made.
I attended Cal Poly SLO. And after college worked in Horticulture in New Zealand for 6 months. In 1979 I was given the opportunity by my father to start my own business growing cut flowers. I am married to Edith and have a son and daughter and 4 grandchildren. My son Marcos works with me as Production Manager. I enjoy travel, soccer and running and was fortunate to run the Boston Marathon in 2004.
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President, California Cut Flower Commission
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Society of American Florists-Growers Council
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Testified before the International Trade Commission in Washington DC on Anti dumping petition on Roses and Chrysanthemums
Why I am seeking election to the Board: To add value to the organization Board through my expertise in business and the Horticulture industry as well as my passion to Agriculture and it’s sustainability.
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Nominating Committee Member Candidates The following 2022-2023 Nominating Committee Candidates will appear on the ballot. SACRAMENTO VALLEY REGION – POSITION 1
COASTAL REGION – POSITION 1
Matt Mariani Mr. Mariani is actively involved in his family’s walnut and almond growing, processing & marketing operation and is a customer of our Woodland Branch.
George Adam Mr. Adam is a vegetable grower in the Santa Maria Valley where his family has been farming for six generations. He is a customer of the Santa Maria Branch.
Anthony Van Ruiten Mr. Van Ruiten is actively involved in the farming community. He farms rice, wheat, and walnuts in Sutter County and is a customer of our Yuba City Branch.
William Terry Mr. Terry is involved in growing fruits and vegetables and is a customer of our Ventura Branch. COASTAL REGION – POSITION 2
SACRAMENTO VALLEY REGION – POSITION 2 Jonathan Lavy Mr. Lavy is an owner of Lavy Brothers Farming out of Biggs, CA. They farm walnuts, rice, pecans, and almonds in Butte and Sutter Counties and is a customer of our Yuba City Branch. James Reamer Mr. Reamer manages his family’s third generation wine grape farming operation in Clarksburg and is a customer of our Woodland Branch.
Brian Naumann Mr. Naumann is actively involved with his brother Michael in their partnership that consists of custom row crop vegetable farming and nursery transplant operation in the Oxnard area and is a customer of our Ventura Branch. Nicholas Miller Mr. Miller is a fifth-generation farmer of wine grapes, lemons, avocados and berries and is a customer of our Templeton Branch.
SOUTHWEST REGION – POSITION 1
SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGION– POSITION 1
Mike Blohm Mr. Blohm grows Forage crops for export and retail markets and various seed crops. He is a customer of our Yuma Branch.
Dino Giacomazzi Mr. Giacomazzi is a fourth generation farmer currently growing almonds and tomatoes in Kings County, CA. He is a customer in our Hanford Branch.
Matt Palmer Mr. Palmer is an active grower in his families cotton operation in Graham County Arizona. He is a member of the Rural Arizona branch.
Brian Medeiros Mr. Medeiros is actively involved in his family’s walnut, almond and row crop farming operations and is a customer of our Hanford Branch.
SOUTHWEST REGION – POSITION 2
SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGION – POSITION 2
Kim Grizzle Mrs. Grizzle grows field crops-alfalfa, sudan, bermuda, and kleingrass as well as vegetable crops and is a customer of the Imperial Valley Branch. William Plourd Mr. Plourd owns a trading operation dealing in Hay, Grain, Seed, Cattle and Transportation for Export and Domestic markets and is a customer of the Imperial Valley Branch.
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Michael Dias Mr. Dias grows tree nuts and wine grapes and is a customer of our Hanford Branch. Mike Frey Mr. Frey grows almonds and pistachios, wine grapes and field crops including carrots, chipper potatoes, cotton, corn silage, wheat and alfalfa. Mr. Frey is a customer of our Kern County Branch.
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Territory and Office Locations
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 3755 Atherton Road Rocklin, CA 95765 916.780.1166 DINUBA 940 W. El Monte Way Dinuba, CA 93618 559.591.9378 HANFORD 1111 W. Lacey Boulevard Hanford, CA 93230 559.584.2681 IMPERIAL VALLEY 485 Business Park Way Imperial, CA 92251 760.355.0291 KERN COUNTY
TEMPE
19628 Industry Parkway Drive Bakersfield, CA 93308 661.399.7360
3003 S. Fair Lane Tempe, AZ 85282 602.431.4100
RURAL ARIZONA/SAFFORD
TEMPLETON
VENTURA
YUBA CITY
1120 S. 20th Avenue Safford, AZ 85546 928.348.9571
175 Cow Meadow Place Paso Robles, CA 93446 805.434.3665
2031 Knoll Drive Ventura, CA 93003 805.477.1020
1800 Lassen Blvd. Yuba City, CA 95993 530.671.1420
SANTA MARIA
TULARE
WOODLAND
YUMA
1178 Tama Lane Santa Maria, CA 93455 805.922.7991
200 E. Cartmill Avenue Tulare, CA 93274 559.684.1478
440 Pioneer Avenue Woodland, CA 95776 530.666.3333
2490 S. 5th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 928.344.3200