Directors at Large
Steve Arnold
Former president of the SLO County Farm Bureau (1995-1997), Steve Arnold has served as a Farm Bureau director since 1989. He and his wife, Debbie, own and operate Pozo Valley Vineyard. The family vineyard produced its first harvest in 1998 with varietals including Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Arnolds also manage a commercial cow/calf herd at the ranch. Steve is a Class 20 graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership program. Steve was selected as the Agriculturist of the Year in 1999.
Jeff Buckingham
The Buckingham family operates a small family sized cow calf operation on Turri Road near Los Osos. Jeff graduated from Cal Poly in 1981 with a Dairy Science degree and has stayed active in SLO County ever since. Jeff has served as a board member and past Chair of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. He is a board member of the Cuesta College Foundation, The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and serves on the board of Softec. Jeff also serves as Co-Chair of the competitive telecommunications trade association for California, CALTEL.
Steve Carter
Third-generation viticulturalist, Steve Carter is the vineyard manager of J. Lohr Vineyards in SLO County. Arriving in Paso Robles in 1989, Steve went to work for Jerry Lohr, and today oversees 740 acres primarily planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other red varietals. He also manages his own 100-acre vineyard contiguous to the J. Lohr vineyard, consisting of Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah. He has served as a Farm Bureau director since 2001.
Don Clark - Rural Health & Safety Director
A SLO County Farm Bureau Director since 1991, Don Clark is a resident of Creston where he owns and operates D. Clark Trucking. He and his wife, Lorraine, run a commercial Angus cross cow/calf operation and grow hay at their farm in Creston. Don and his wife Lorriane recieved the Freddy of the year award in 2006.
Chris Darway
Lifelong Edna Valley resident, Chris Darway is a fourth-generation native of San Luis Obispo County. A former president of SLO Co. Farm Bureau (1997-1999), he first became involved in the organization in 1976, when elected to serve as Edna Farm Center. Chris later joined the Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 1983. Chris is a Class 25 graduate and Region Two District Director of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Most recently, at Cattlemen and Farmers Day 06, Chris received the Agriculturalist of the Year Award.
Joe Guidetti
Lifelong cattleman, Joe Guidetti is a third generation SLO County agriculturalist with local family history spanning well over 100 years. At their family ranch southeast of San Luis Obispo, Joe and his son Terry work as partners operating the Guidetti Land and Cattle Company. Joe was honored as the 1998 San Luis Obispo County Agriculturalist of the Year. Joe's unique brand of cowboy cuisine received national attention when he was showcased in a 1993 feature article in Sunset Magazine.
Gary Ketcham
A former SLO County Farm Bureau president (1989 to 1991), and cattle rancher. Gary has been avid supporter of the organization for nearly 33 years. Gary was a state director for California Farm Bureau from 1991 to 1998, and first became involved with the organization when he was appointed as the Pozo-area district representative in 1977.
Tom Ikeda
Former president of SLO Co. Farm Bureau (2004-2006), Tom Ikeda is a third generation farmer in the Arroyo Grande Valley. He is the vice president of operations for Ikeda Bros. farming operation along with serving as secretary for the Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange. Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science and Management from U. C. Davis. He is also a graduate of Leadership SLO and the California Agricultural Leadership Program. In addition to serving on many community and professional committees, Tom has coached youth basketball for the past twenty years.
Dee Lacey
North County cattle rancher and community philanthropist, Dee has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2006. She is a past president of the California Mid-State Fair Board and has been active with the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce serving as president in 1992. She, along with friends, founded a group called the Women's Power Lunch which has awarded over $50,000 to local charities.
Kate Loftus
Fifth-generation native of San Luis Obispo County and a Farm Bureau member since 1987, Kate Loftus is a lifelong cattle rancher and a fifth-generation agriculturalist from the Central Coast. For the past 25 years, Kate has been involved in preserving and promoting the history of the Santa Margarita Ranch, along with extensive research into the ranch's history. The Santa Margarita Ranch has become a premiere destination for all types of events.
Charles Mehlschau
A director for over three decades and former president of SLO Co. Farm Bureau (1981 to 1983), Charles Mehlschau is a third-generation farmer of the Nipomo area. Charles also is a supervisor of San Ysidro Farms, which operates over 1,200 acres between Oso Flaco and Guadalupe. Charles has been a Farm Bureau Director since he joined in 1970.
Robert Nadeau
Paso Robles resident since the late nineteen seventies, Nedeau entered the wine industry in 1987 after serving in the U.S. Air Force as an Avionics Technician. In 1997, Nadeau with his wife, Patrice, developed Nadeau Family Vintners focusing on the production of Rhone Varietals. In 2004, Nadeau was elected San Luis Obispo County "Winemaker of the Year" by his wine industry peers.
Walt Nielsen
Paso Robles cattlemen and farmer, Walt Nielsen has been an avid supporter of agriculture for over 30 years. A Farm Bureau director for many years, Walt was chosen for the Agriculturist of the Year Award by Farm Bureau in 1996. Walt and his wife, Pam, reside at the 250-acre Twist Ranch in Paso Robles, specializing in purebred Red Brangus range bulls. Walt currently serves as president of the SLO County Agriculture Education Committee.
Hugh Pitts
A director at large since 2001, cattle rancher Hugh Pitts is a former SLO Co. Farm Bureau president (1999-2001) and a native Texan. He and his wife, Leslie, run a cow/calf operation at their home on Chimney Rock Ranch in the Adelaida area. Hugh stepped into Farm Bureau involvement back in the late 1980s as chairman of the Adelaida Farm Center.
Bill Struble
Nipomo avocado grower Bill Struble has been a Farm Bureau Director since 1992. Bill and his wife Laurie own and operate Erwin Farms and Nursery, a family-operated avocado farm located on their home ranch on the Nipomo Mesa. The family sells their produce to packing houses in Oxnard and San Diego.
Donald Warden
Former president of SLO Co. Farm Bureau (1977-1979), Don currently raises Angus beef cattle, and grows a variety of vegetables. His ag operations are integrated both on his own Highland Ranch, plus additional leased property within the Los Osos Valley area. Don currently serves as a representative on a number of local organizations and is a member of the College Advisory Council at Cal Poly. Don was the very first recipient of the Agriculturalist of the Year award in 1988.