Board Members & Staff
Board of Directors
Walter Hardesty
President
Walt manages his family's cattle ranch, WH Beef, in Elk Grove.
Jerry Spencer
Executive Member
Jerry works for Van Vleck Ranching and Resources Inc. out of Rancho Murieta.
Ken Oneto
Director
Ken farms along the Cosumnes River in South Sacramento County under KLM Ranches. He grows cherries, artichokes, alfalfa hay, wine grapes, tomatoes, field corn, fresh market tomatoes, and dry beans.
Mike Tudesko
Director
Mike runs beef cattle in Sloughhouse.
Kiki Gomes
Director
Retired
Ken Mitchell
1st Vice President
Ken is a fifth generation farmer in Elk Grove. He currently raises turkeys and farms walnuts.
Matt Frank
Director
Matt from Roseville is currently the Senior Director of Vineyard Operations at Trinchero Family Estates.
Michael Neuharth
Director
Michael manages his family's diversified crop farm in Courtland. He also does custom harvesting in the Delta.
Russell vanLobenSels
Director
Russell is a pear, wine grape, and row crop farmer in Courtland, Russell is very involved with current issues surrounding the Sacramento Delta.
Don Hutchison
Director
Don is a construction supervisor for Amador Water Agency.
Pat Kirby
Secretary/Treasurer
Pat currently works for A.L. Gilbert and is from Wilton.
Mike Wackman
Director
Mike is a fifth generation farmer in Elk Grove. He is the owner and winemaker at McConnell Estates Winery. Mike also serves on the Ag Foundation Board.
Dan Roemer
Director
Dan currently farms hay and has an annual pumpkin patch under Roemer Farms in Sacramento.
Virginia Hemly-Chhabra
Director
Virginia is a fifth generation farmer in Courtland.
Adriana Toste
YF&R Representative
Adriana Toste is the current Chair of Sac YF&R.
Office Staff
Amber McDowell
Executive Director
Amber started as a county YF&R, served 3 years on the State YF&R Committee, participated in the Leadership Farm Bureau program, and worked 4 years at San Joaquin Farm Bureau. She has worked at SCFB since January 2022.
Jazmin Cauffield
Member Services
Jazmin graduated from Chico State University with a degree in Agricultural Business. During her time at Chico State, she worked at Llano Seco for their hog department.