Perla Delgado
2024 Scholarship Recipient
Perla Delgado is a dedicated and driven leader committed to agriculture and education. A senior at Santa Maria High School, she has taken on leadership roles as ASB President, Student Senate Vice-President, and Santa Maria FFA Chapter Sentinel. She has organized school events, competed in agricultural competitions, and volunteered over 150 hours in her community. Perla plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Agricultural Science with aspirations of becoming an agriculture teacher. Her work ethic, enthusiasm, and commitment to mentoring make her a standout future leader in the field.
Yesenia Delagoadilo Moreno
2024 Scholarship Recipient
Yesenia is a resourceful leader with a strong dedication to community service, agriculture, and cultural advocacy. As president of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA), she has organized school events, led fundraising efforts, and fostered cultural awareness. Her involvement in Harvesting Hope, soup kitchens, and agricultural initiatives highlights her enthusiasm for service and sustainability. She also plays an active role in her community church and educational programs. Yesenia looks forward to further developing her leadership skills and expanding her impact through higher education and continued community engagement.
From the mentor's perspective
Investing in the next generation of Ag Leaders
Members of Class 50 take pride in the opportunity to give back to California agriculture by mentoring college students. We recognize the invaluable gift the California Ag Leadership Foundation provided us through its program, shaping our growth as leaders in the industry. Paying it forward to the next generation of agricultural leaders is not just a responsibility—it’s an important commitment for Class 50 members. These impressive young students inspire us to be committed leaders focused on continual growth. By sharing our knowledge, experiences, and support, we help ensure that the future of California agriculture remains strong, innovative, and driven by capable leaders dedicated to its success.
Elizabeth Reed
2023 Scholarship Recipient
Elizabeth is an ambitious and committed leader with a strong focus on animal science and agriculture. A senior at Coast Union High School, she has actively participated in FFA, serving as Chapter President and Sectional President, where she led events, fundraisers, and leadership initiatives. She has gained hands-on experience raising livestock, managing a rabbit breeding business, and working at K & K Cleaning. Elizabeth plans to attend CSU Chico to pursue a degree in Animal Science with the goal of becoming a livestock veterinarian. Her dedication, leadership, and resilience make her a strong advocate for agricultural education and animal care.
Melany Tovar
2023 Scholarship Recipient
Melany is a hardworking and service-oriented leader with a strong commitment to agriculture, community service, and entrepreneurship. She has held leadership roles in organizations such as FFA, Campus Life, FCA, and UC Farm Smart, where she has organized events, led workshops, and contributed to community outreach efforts. In addition to managing responsibilities in her family’s catering business, she has gained hands-on experience through internships and volunteer work. Melany plans to continue expanding her leadership skills and agricultural knowledge through higher education, with a focus on community impact and business development.
From the mentor's perspective
Nurturing Growth and Success in Agriculture
"Working with Elizabeth was a pleasure. She is passionate about agriculture and took every opportunity to learn, grow and connect with others. She quickly immersed herself into college life by getting involved in agriculture clubs and local organizations such as Young Farmers and Ranchers to grow her network. Working with Elizabeth allowed me to better understand how I can better serve the next generation of agriculture leaders." Kris Costa
Isabella Riberio
2022Â Scholarship Recipient
A graduate of Tulare Western High School, Isabella had a rich FFA experience competing on career development event teams, participating in speaking events, and seeking leadership positions. She was a graduate of the Farm Bureau Youth Leadership Program and served as the San Joaquin Regional President. Isabella attends Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as an Agricultural Communications major working towards a career in agriculture marketing. Isabella's Class 50 mentor is Megan Netwon.
Joseph Aguiar
2022 Scholarship Recipient
A graduate of Winters High School, Joseph served in officer roles for Winters FFA and served as chapter president and president of the Yolo section. In addition to working on the family farm, Joseph also assists at Berryessa Gap Vineyards earning experiences in customer service and enology. He attends Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as an Agricultural Communications major with a career goal of sales or marketing in the California agriculture industry. Joseph's Class 50 mentor is Jonathan Merrill.
From the mentor's perspective
Guidance, Growth & Inspiration
In typical Ag Leadership style, each mentor pushes their mentee to go beyond the surface in exploring what excites them about agriculture, identifying their career goals, and helping determine what brings them fulfillment. As Megan Newton said, "I am very lucky to get to serve as a mentor for the California Ag Leadership Class 50 Scholarship recipient. This element allows us alumni to connect with students who are new to the industry and provide any insight we have on available opportunities or resources we know of to help with their development. In turn, we get to be inspired by some of the most ambitious future leaders - it is a win-win scenario in my opinion!"