The California FFA Foundation is proud to announce the addition of two distinguished agricultural leaders, Shannon Douglass and Mel Machado, to its Board of Directors. Their leadership, experience, and commitment to agriculture and youth development will further strengthen the Foundation’s mission of supporting the more than 108,000 FFA members across California.
Since 2023, Shannon Douglass has led the California Farm Bureau (CAFB) as president, following six years of service on the board’s executive committee as first vice president. A Glenn County farmer and co-founder of CalAgJobs, a company dedicated to connecting agricultural students and professionals with career opportunities, Douglass combines industry expertise with a strong passion for youth development. A proud alumna of the East Nicolaus FFA Chapter, she held numerous leadership roles as a student, including chapter president and sectional officer. Today, her leadership at CAFB centers on supporting California’s farmers and ranchers, while her service on the Foundation board will help cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“I’m grateful every day for what FFA gave me: opportunities to lead, compete, and grow,” Douglass reflected. “Now, as an FFA mom and a Foundation board member, I have the chance to give back—to ensure this program continues to inspire and prepare the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural advocates.”
Mel Machado is the Chief Agricultural Officer at Blue Diamond Growers (BDG), where he serves as a strategic partner on all aspects of agricultural operations. Machado has spent over three decades guiding and assisting BDG’s approximately 3,000 member-growers throughout California’s central valley and has been actively involved in the industry and community, serving as a director on the Almond Board of California and as a member of the University of California Integrated Pest Management Advisory Council and the Board of Directors of Opportunity Stanislaus. He is also a proud alumnus of Livingston FFA, earning his State FFA Degree, and even serving in the National FFA Band in 1974.
“I am so proud to serve as a member of the FFA Foundation Board of Directors,” Machado stated. “The FFA provides students with the best leadership training and skills development of any function in California’s schools and provides a solid foundation for California’s students as they prepare for their careers.”
Douglass and Machado bring invaluable industry insight that will guide the California FFA Foundation and ensure its resources are invested in preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“The California FFA Foundation is honored to welcome Mel Machado and Shannon Douglass as our newest directors,” said Emily Rooney, California FFA Foundation chair. “Their professional expertise and deep commitment to our mission and the agriculture industry will be invaluable as we advance the Foundation’s work and expand its impact. Their involvement strengthens our collective ability to serve and support all facets of agricultural education.”
They now join twenty-five business and industry representatives, nine education and program oversight representatives, and staff members who represent the California FFA Foundation Board.
About the California FFA Foundation: The California FFA Foundation serves more than 108,000 students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about California FFA, visit calaged.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Adriana Toste at news@californiaffa.org or 209-535-5011.
