California Agricultural Leadership Program

Today, we bid farewell to Minneapolis with our minds swimming with all that we have taken in over the past three days (how does three days feel more like three weeks?) and hearts full of questions, doubts and conflicting emotions. The town truly is a living, breathing contradiction. Lakes and rivers, friendly people and vibrant communities all greet you as you experience the bustle of a big city. But, like the dusting of brilliant white snow from Tuesday that covered the slippery ice below lulled you into false confidence, this patina of harmony covers a city that is deeply fractured by the tensions that run through our country. Those fractures were on full display over the past few days – as you know if you have been reading this blog – and have left me with a rattled sense of confidence in some of the rock solid beliefs I have held for over 45 years. Enough waxing poetic, on to our day!

The day opened with a late start, giving each fellow an opportunity to practice a little self care and reflection. Over the last six months, Class 52 has learned about the ways in which our health and wellness contribute towards how we show up as leaders. Dr. Debbie Fetter’s talk on setting healthy goals, Sal Parra Junior’s remarks on wellness habits, and UC Davis’s Nature RX program loom large in our collective memory. What did wellness look like for us? 

• Walks through town and morning yoga
• Morning coffee with close fellows
• Choosing foods that fuel us 
• Quiet time alone to digest the trip
• A special call to a loved one back home
• A little extra shut eye (a vanishingly rare occurrence at any session!) 

We reconvened at the Broadhead building at 9:30 for a class meeting to hear from our committees. Finances are looking good, and the gifts committee reported that 120+ gifts were purchased and assembled for this trip! The class project committee continues to gather potential project ideas, and we’ll begin the process of paring down our list next session in Pomona. Our blog committee has incorporated key lessons we’ve learned over these last few days to refine our process and distribute the workload more equitably. 

Truthfully, class meetings have been hard for Class 52. It took us time to figure out how to run our meetings in a way that honored people’s voices, while also completing key deliverables. We leaned into the Diamond Model of Leadership – addressing our issues openly, leading from a place of love and trust – to create the committee-based structure we have today. What was once an exercise we dreaded has become an incredibly positive, effective activity. I feel so proud of my fellows and the ways in which we’ve grown! 

Our class meeting was followed by synthesis…and it was a rough one. Our experiences over the last few days have built on the lessons we’ve learned at previous seminars. Stories of inequality, racism (both covert and overt), the lived experiences of those from disadvantaged groups, the impact culture has on the way folks show up in the world, and our own fellows’ experiences have weighed heavily on us all. Our time in Minneapolis challenged us. Hearing people’s stories, acquiring new knowledge, looking at facts and data – it opened our eyes and left some of us feeling confused.

One fellow shared, “This experience made me rethink how I introduce myself as a Class 52 fellow. I’ve always introduced myself with pride as a ‘fifth-generation farmer’…but it was facilitated by opportunities that were not available to every ethnic group. Something that I am proud of is also something that now feels shameful. I’m now calling into question my identity.” 

While the EdTeam planned for an “extra long” session – and gave us additional time to continue connecting – we found that it still wasn’t enough time for us all to properly express our feelings, doubts, hopes, disappointments and experiences. Tears fell and enough tissue was consumed to provide a healthy bump to Kleenex’s earnings for the quarter. As this class always does so well, we comforted each other where possible, knowing that these conversations are far from over and will likely continue between roommates long into the night. 

Extending synthesis was necessary, but it did put us behind schedule in heading to the airport! Our fellows worked together like a well oiled machine to not only check in, but to navigate a gate change that sent some fellows to one side of the terminal and the rest of the class headed to the other! After a quick but bumpy ride to DCA, we worked around the Yellow Line closure to arrive safely at our hotel-home for the next few days. A few delicious meals, a couple night walks through the National Mall, and some warm showers later, we’re ready to face our first full day in DC.