Step 1 of 5
Confirm eligibility
You work in California agriculture or an allied industry, you have demonstrated leadership potential, and you have sponsor or employer support for the 17-month commitment.
Eligibility details
Class 56 applications open
Your path to the fellowship.
Five clear steps from interest to your first seminar. Start with the readiness check below, then build your application.
Step 2 of 5
Submit the application
Online application opens annually and includes work history, leadership experiences, and references. Class 56 applications are open now.
Application portalStep 3 of 5
Screening interview
Selected applicants are invited to a screening interview with the foundation education team and current/former fellows. This is a conversation, not a quiz.
Step 4 of 5
Cohort selection
Final selections build a cohort of ~24 fellows balanced across regions, commodities, and roles. Notifications go out in late summer.
Step 5 of 5
Begin your fellowship
Your class is inaugurated, monthly seminars begin, and you join the longest-running ag leadership program in the United States.
About the curriculumIs this right for you?
5-question readiness check.
Not a test — just a quick gut-check on fit. Answers stay in your browser.
From the fellows
What graduates say.
"The 17 months reshape how you think about your business, your industry, and your responsibility to the next generation."
"Ag Leadership pushed me into rooms I would not have entered on my own — and changed how I lead every day after."
"I came in confident in my work. I left confident in my voice. That is the difference Ag Leadership makes."
Class 56
Build your application.
The online application is the next step — start it now and save your progress.