Steve Bontadelli has been elected as President of the agricultural education organization,
Agri-Culture. Steve is a big supporter of the 49ers. In fact, the last four numbers of his cell phone are 4949! Agri-Culture’s purpose is to educate the public about local farming. It’s best known program is Focus Agriculture, which educates 20 community leaders each year about local agriculture during a nine month period. Over the last five years, the organization has earned two national awards for its unique programs. The organization has seven endowed funds at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. The purpose of the funds range from scholarships to building farmworker housing.
Steve Bontadelli was born and raised in Santa Cruz. He is a premiere Brussels sprouts grower. His companies, Phyffer Associates and Bontadelli, Inc. grow and pack Brussels sprouts which are shipped domestically and internationally.
The Agri-Culture Board of Directors is composed of growers, educators and community members. Elected at the same time as Steve were the following officers and directors:
Other officers elected:
John Pisturino, Cattle Rancher, Vice President
Bill Ringe, Real Estate, Vice President
Elia Vasquez, Strawberry Grower, Secretary/CFO
Directors Elected to First Year Terms
Jane Nelsen – Driscoll’s
Michael Watkins –Superintendent, County Office of Education
Julie Thiebaut – Financial Services Retired
Stephany Aguilar – Councilmember, City of Scotts Valley
Other current directors include:
Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp, Cowles Berry Farm
Nita Gizdich, Gizdich Ranch
Laurel Jones, President, Cabrillo College
Carol Shennan, Professor, Environmental Studies, UCSC
Lori Bigras, Mann Packing Co.
Nancy Korach, Vice President, Union Bank
Steve Duke, McSherry & Hudson Insurance
Thomas Am Rhein (Director Emeritus), Naturipe