January 2025

Strategic planning work continues with focus on membership values and youth opportunities

Two task forces have been progressing the priority work identified in CPPA’s strategy plan, and we wanted to provide an update as well as encourage your contributions. If you have any recommendations for the task forces, please send your ideas via e-mail to info@calpork.org.

Membership task force

Task force members Shelby Sopocy, Morgan Wonderly and Rachelle Tucker, have reviewed research conducted in 2024 to understand how other state pork organizations structure their memberships and feedback collected from outreach by CPPA’s summer intern last year.

Clearly outlining membership levels and value as well as solidifying the membership list were top priorities identified during the strategy plan development process. Key findings to date include recognizing the need to offer an option for families with multiple members and streamlining renewals to one time per year.

Task force members Jared Lamle, Brad Mendes, Adam Mendonza and Russell Pedrett also conducted a landscape analysis and reached out to other state pork organizations with youth programming, such as scholarships, internships and junior boards. They captured examples of success and lessons learned.

Youth engagement was highlighted as a strength of CPPA during the strategy planning process and reinforced by the intern interviews this summer, so the task force is looking to identify ways to solidify and implement programming that supports and builds upon this strength.

It has never been more important to connect with lawmakers and ensure that the voices of pork producers are heard on key issues.  

Join us for the LEADR training session hosted by National Pork Producers Council to build the skills and confidence you need to quickly join industry allies in grassroots outreach when critical legislation is debated. 

The training session will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 18, at Modesto Junior College. Lunch is provided. The session is open to everyone ages 18+, including CPPA members and non-members, college students, allied industry professionals and more.

Exciting news ahead!

Policy Update:

Capital Updates from National Pork Producers Council

New year means new laws and regulations for California agriculture

As of January 1, 2025, a number of new state and federal policies and laws go into effect, impacting labor relations, water, air quality, endangered species and other issues for California agriculture.

From the full phase-in of California's agricultural overtime law and an increase in the minimum hourly wage rate through the federal H-2A visa program for farm employers, to state laws changing how agricultural workers can use paid and unpaid time off and increased penalties for unauthorized water diversions and late reporting, there is a lot for farm business owners to understand this new year. An Ag Alert article from California Farm Bureau highlights these regulations, including what changes have gone into effect and the potential impacts on farms and agricultural businesses.

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