LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (LCCWA) held its Fall Installation Social at the Lakeport English Inn on Nov. 14, 2012.

The event marked the inauguration of the chapter’s new officers, including Annette Hopkins, president; Toni Scully, vice president; Sharron Zoller, second vice president; Paula Bryant, treasurer; Cheri Cunningham, corresponding secretary; Claudia Street, recording secretary; and Ellen Heath, Bonnie Sears, Rachel White and Colleen Rentsch, area representatives.

“We’re very excited about 2013,” said President Annette Hopkins. “We’ve been aggressively growing our membership and programs like AgVenture have been extremely popular in getting the word out about who we are and what we do.”

The AgVenture program was created in 2010 to educate local community leaders about the role of agriculture in Lake County.

Treasurer Paula Bryant added, “There are so many facets of agriculture in Lake County and we’re fortunate to have such a dynamic group of women and men involved in making sure that people know about what we have to offer.”

LCCWA is one of 20 chapters in the state and was established in May of 1976. The chapter provides information and networking opportunities so that members can make a difference at local, state and federal levels.

LCCWA was the fifth chapter in the state of California to charter and the inaugural group of 30 women was led by Marilyn Holdenried; the original chapter included Rosalie Sisevich, Frances Seely, Toni Scully, Carolyn Henderson, Loris Keithly, Bernice Thomas, Joanne Ruddock and Vonna McCabe.

California Women for Agriculture exists to ensure that agriculture is protected for future generations through educating consumers, policymakers and their own membership about farming and ranching, advocating on behalf of agriculture and promoting California-grown products within the state.

The founding principal of California Women for Agriculture is to ensure and maintain a seat at the table for all of California’s farmers and ranchers.

California Women for Agriculture is an affiliate of the national advocacy organization American Agri-Women.

For questions about the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, please contact Annette Hopkins at 707-263-3556.