Johnson selected for California Agricultural Leadership Program
Hannah Johnson, UC ANR Innovate industry lead, has been selected by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) to participate in Class 56 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. She is one of 24 fellows from across California agriculture chosen for the foundation’s 17-month leadership development experience.
Now in its 56th year, the Ag Leadership Program selects individuals who demonstrate exceptional promise as leaders and a strong commitment to the future of the state’s farms, ranches and rural communities.
Through in-state leadership seminars held with CALF’s five partner universities and national and international travel seminars, fellows strengthen their ability to navigate complexity, lead through change and make a lasting impact on their businesses, organizations, communities and California agriculture.
“Class 56 honors our founders’ vision by strengthening the representation of production agriculture among our fellows,” said Lesa Eidman, president and CEO of CALF. “It is especially meaningful that, for the first time in our history, women make up the majority of the class.”
Vice President Glenda Humiston, UCCE advisors Betsy Karle, Sheila Barry, Eta Takele and Tracy Schohr; Anne Megaro, director of government and community relations, and other UC ANR personnel are among the prestigious leadership program’s alumni.
Williams elected fellow of ESA
Professor Neal Williams of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, a pollinator ecologist internationally recognized for his research on bee and pollination biology, is a newly elected fellow of the Entomological Society of America.
The ESA Governing Board elected Neal and eight other scientists as fellows for their outstanding contributions to entomology. The honor acknowledges achievements in insect science via research, teaching, extension, administration, military service, or public engagement and science policy.
His work emphasizes the role of bee biodiversity in providing critical ecosystem services in natural and agricultural systems and informing actionable strategies for conservation of wild insect pollinators in the face of global change.
Read more about Neal’s award and research.
Imperial County honors Martha S. Lopez
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors began its Aug. 18 meeting with a resolution honoring Martha S. Lopez on her retirement after 27 years of service to the County of Imperial with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
The longtime community educator helped Imperial County families learn about nutrition, healthy cooking, physical activity and gardening. Using CalFresh Healthy Living, UC curricula, including “Plan, Shop, Save, Cook,” Martha led hands-on food demonstrations that showed families how to cook healthy meals without stretching already tight budgets.
When she retired in July, Ricardo Vela wrote about Martha’s career.
Blackburn honored with International Year of the Woman Farmer Award
The Alameda County Fair Foundation honored Mary Blackburn, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences, health and nutrition advisor, with one of its 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer Awards recognizing leaders whose contributions continue to strengthen agriculture, food systems and rural communities across the state.
Dr. B, as she is called by colleagues, was honored for enhancing food security, recognizing decades of work improving nutrition education and access to healthy food. “For more than five decades, Mary Blackburn has worked to improve nutrition, public health and access to healthy food for communities that need it most,” the foundation posted on Instagram.
The award was presented on June 18 by Christine Birdsong, California Department of Food and Agriculture undersecretary; Fiona Ma, State of California treasurer; and Cherie Watte, California Grown executive director.
Other award recipients were 3 Calhoun Sisters Ranch, for sustainability, farming legacy and economic resilience; and Carolyn Wente, CEO of Wente Vineyards, for leadership in agrifood systems.
Martial Cottle Park gets $250,000 in federal funding
Santa Clara County officials and community partners gathered at Martial Cottle Park on Aug. 12 to announce $250,000 in federal funding that Congressman Jimmy Panetta secured for the Martial Cottle Park Improvements Project. The community project funding, provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiative, supports the implementation of Phase I of the park’s 31-acre Historic Ranch Site Plan.
“Here in the Silicon Valley, we’re very proud of our innovation and technology, but we’re also proud of our roots in agriculture and the hard work that has defined the Santa Clara Valley. There is no greater place to experience that heritage than Martial Cottle Park, which embodies both the beauty and the bounty that make the 19th Congressional District so special,” said Rep. Panetta. “The significant federal funding secured will carry forward the Cottle family’s legacy by helping repurpose historic buildings, expand opportunities for agricultural education and recreation, and strengthen the park as a gathering place for the entire South San Jose community.”
Andrew Miller, director of UC Cooperative Extension in Santa Clara County, attended and spoke at the event.
“Martial Cottle Park is a very important place for Cooperative Extension because it brings together two missions: keeping farming and ranching viable and connecting the public with agriculture,” Miller told the attendees. “It allows us to take UC research and put it to work in a very visible, hands-on setting.”
At the park, UCCE conducts farm research and hosts events for 4-H youth, UC Master Gardeners, urban agriculture and composting education.
UCCE Santa Clara is partnering on an Agriculture Marketing Campaign to build public awareness of the importance of farming in the Valley.
“Our tagline is ‘Silicon Valley's Original Startup,’” Miller said. “We want to show the valley’s vibrant farming heritage and contribution to all residents’ quality of life.”
The campaign has raised over $400,000 so far.
Kearney REC donates excess fruit to food pantries
Nonprofit organization Offer Kindness organized volunteers to pick peaches and apples left on trees after harvest at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The volunteers came out on Aug. 28 to pick fruit that was donated to food pantries in Fresno. A reporter from Telemundo, a local TV station, interviewed volunteers and Vincent Silva, Kearney REC superintendent of agriculture, at the event.
“Offer Kindness picked around 1,200 pounds of peaches and 1,900 pounds of apples,” Vincent said. “They distributed them to four food distribution sites: Access Church in Fresno, New Beginnings Church, Korean Harmony Church, and The Big Red Church. They also gave away some fruit to local families.”