In November 2009, JoAnn Wall decided it was time. She made the decision to start a new firm, focusing on agricultural use-types with particular emphasis on vineyards and the wine industry. With her innovative new company, she was not satisfied with simply doing the "ordinary". She placed her focus on green business practices and utilizing new technologies to put a different spin on tried and true appraisal techniques. Alongside JoAnn is Mark Miller, an appraiser trainee and specialist in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Together these two Cal Poly grads and Central Coast AgAppraisal, Inc. are looking to modernize rural appraisal services while maintaining the excellent quality their clients have come to expect and rely on.

JoAnn began her appraisal career with American AgCredit in Salinas following college. After nearly ten years, she moved to Templeton to be closer to her family. JoAnn worked with Schenberger, Taylor, McCormick and Jecker, Inc. in San Luis Obispo as an Associate Appraiser/Agriculture Specialist for two years prior to starting her own business. A member of ASFMRA since 1999, JoAnn earned her ARA Designation in October 2008 and is an active member of the California Chapter.

Dan Whisenhunt has successfully completed the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Degree program through California State University of Stanislaus. A 15-month, 36-unit program, Dan attended classes on Saturdays while continuing his full-time position as Sales/Marketing Manager for Monte Vista Farming Company in Denair. According to Dan, the difference between an executive MBA and a traditional MBA is the delivery method. Executive programs are condensed and geared more for the individual who has business experience. A traditional MBA is more theory (as opposed to practical case study work) and are geared toward a person who has had business experience.

CSU Stanislaus President, Hamid Shirvani, was quoted as saying "Our Executive MBA program is drawing high praise because of the genuine experience students gain in applying information to become problem-solvers in both the public and private sector." The program is proving to be immensely popular as it focuses on producing well-trained management professionals who are highly sought after by regional industries and organizations.

Dan has been a member of ASFMRA since July 2000 and is presently taking courses to earn his Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC) Designation. Dan served as Chair of the California Chapter"s Marketing Task Force in 2006 and was instrumental in the development of the chapter"s first comprehensive marketing plan.

Each year, the California Chapter, ASFMRA, presents the Distinguished California Agriculturalist and Agricultural Stewardship Awards to outstanding inviduals and/or companies at its Spring Ag Outlook Confernece. The Distinguished California Agriculturalist Award honors an individual who has, through accomplishment, contributed in a significant and highly visible way to the betterment of California agriculture throughout his or her career. The Agricultural Stewardship Award was developed jointly by the California Chapter, ASFMRA and Western Agricultural Services to give recognition to an agribusines in California that has demonstrated excellence in conserving, maintaining and improving our natural resources and environment by using innovative and progressive business practices.

2010 Distinguished California Agriculturalist - Alfred G. Montna

Al Montna owns and operates Montna Farms, Montna Farms Rice Dryer, A & G Montna Properties, LP and the Dingville Duck and Social Club, all located in Sutter County, CA where he actively farms rice. Montna is also a partner in and Chairman of American Commodity Company, a rice milling and marketing company. His rice industry experience includes service as Chairman of the Board of Farmers Rice Cooperative (FRC), from 1984-1998, FRC Board Member from 1982-2000, Chairman of the U.S. Rice Producers Group from 1991-1994, Board of Directors of the California Rice Industry Association from 1991-1996 and the California Rice Commission from 2006-2009. Montna was the Chairman of the USA Rice Federations Conservation Committee from its inception until 2006. At that time, he stepped down when he was elected to a two year term as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federation and currently serves on the Federation Board.

Montna serves as President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture for Governor Schwarzenegger; President/Manager of Garden Highway Mutual Water Company; Director on the Boards of Levee District One in Sutter County, and the California Chamber of Commerce. He currently sits on the California Polytechnic State University Foundation Board and sits on the Cal Poly, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Advisory Council. Montna was a founding member of the Northern California Water Association, and Board Member for numerous years. He is very active in Republican activities both state and nationally.

Mr. Montnas recognition for his commitment to U.S. agriculture includes receiving the 1992 USA Rice Industry Grower Achievement Award; The Honored Alumnus of the Year for Cal Poly University, College of Agriculture 1996; Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen by the Golden Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America 1998; Rice Meritorious Service Award 2001; California Agriculturist of the Year 2004; and in 2008 and 2009 he was named a finalist for the Leopold Conservation Award. In 2008, Montna was inducted into the California Agriculture Heritage Club recognizing Montna Farms family farming legacy which began in 1895 in Sutter County. In 2009 he received the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award.

Al and his wife Gail have two grown daughters, Nicole Montna Van Vleck and Michelle Montna Vogt, and six grandchildren. They are members of St. Johns Episcopal Church, and are life sponsors of Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited.

2010 Agricultural Stewardship Award Recipient - Hilarides Dairy / Rod Hilarides

The Hilarides Dairy, located just northwest of Lindsay in Tulare County, is one of the largest Jersey cow herds in California. The Hilarides family milks 9,000 cows, primarily Jerseys, which produce milk that is especially suitable for making cheese. An additional 9,000 support stock (dairy heifers, calves and dry cows) are part of the operation. The Hilarides family also raises about 4,000 beef steers. Rob Hilarides and his son-in-law, Anthony Simoes, manage day-to-day operations of the dairy. In addition to the dairy, the family operates an on-site farmstead gourmet cheese manufacturing facility. Marisa Simoes, daughter of Rob and Jeannie, manages the cheese operation and markets her prize-winning Three Sisters Serena and Serenita cheeses in specialty markets around the world.

Environmental sustainability has been a hallmark of the Hilarides family dairy from day one. The now-defunct Lindsay Olive Growers cooperative once operated a series of brine treatment ponds where the milking facility and cheese operation stand today. When the olive operation was sold, the City of Lindsay inherited the site, which was essentially a 160-acre bowl that captured rainwater runoff, exacerbating infiltration of salt to local groundwater. Remediation costs were $10 million...something the city could not afford. The Hilarides family was able to provide a viable alternative by filling in the former brine ponds with compacted soil, capping them with concrete and clay, creating the footprint of the milking facility. Rain no longer can infiltrate the brine pond, and the threat to groundwater has been greatly reduced.

Another sustainable feature of this dairy is its biogas digester, a covered lagoon which captures biogas from manure to generate renewable green energy that is used to supply the dairys fuel and electricity needs.

The Hilarides family has a long history in the dairy business. Robs grandparents, Bob and Maaike, both Dutch immigrants, first operated a dairy in the Long Beach area in 1930. Robs parents, Frank and Lois, operated dairies in Cerritos and Ontario. Rob and Jeannie moved to Tulare County in 1980 to raise their family. They operated a milk-hauling business and heifer ranch prior to opening the new dairy in 2003.