In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Dayna Ghiradelli, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.
Dayna Ghirardelli is a lifelong advocate for agriculture and the Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. Raised on her family's dairy farm in Petaluma, California, she developed a deep-rooted connection to farming from an early age. Her active participation in 4-H and FFA, where she showed dairy cattle and raised market lambs, further solidified her passion for the industry.
Dayna attended Tomales High School and went on to study at Chico State University. After earning a degree in animal industry from Chico State University, Ghirardelli began her career with the University of California Cooperative Extension, serving as the dairy program representative for Marin and Sonoma counties. In this role, she assisted dairy farms with ranch planning, environmental regulations, and compliance. She later worked as a consultant, helping local dairy farmers with water quality permits and transitioning to organic practices.
Ghirardelli spent 12 years at Clover Sonoma, a Petaluma-based dairy processor, where she advanced to the position of producer relations manager, working closely with 30 dairies across Northern California. In 2020, she joined the California Milk Advisory Board as director of producer relations, focusing on industry advocacy and farmer outreach.
In 2022, Ghirardelli returned to her roots by becoming the Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. In this role, she leads efforts to advocate for and protect the region's agricultural community, addressing challenges such as water preservation, drought, and regulatory measures.
Notably, she spearheaded a robust campaign against Measure J, a proposed regulation on concentrated animal feeding operations, highlighting its potential economic impact on local farms. Ghirardelli's leadership emphasizes the importance of connecting food production with consumers and fostering resilience within the agricultural community.
And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!
