2025 Board of Director Candidates

(Incumbent)
Age: 73
Address: 66 Marybill Ranch Road, Chico, CA 95928 

Mr. Nicolaus grows almonds, walnuts and seed crops in Butte County. His family-owned business, Nicolaus Nut Company, provides custom farming, planting and harvest operations. He is a general partner in two farming and land development partnerships in the Chico area. Mr. Nicolaus is chairman of the Zimmerman Scholarship Committee, member of the North State Hulling Co-op, and a Butte County Farm Bureau member.

(Nominee)
Age: 51
Address: 7687 County Road 34, Glenn, CA 95943 

Mr. Mello is a first-generation farmer. He is the founder/owner of Omega Seed International and owner of Schermer Farms, both headquartered in Glenn, CA. During the past five years, he has been farming specialty and high-quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds as well as farming almonds, rice, walnuts and row crops. Mr. Mello holds a seat on the 2140 Levee Board and is a supporter of Butte and Glenn County FFA, Grange, Farm Bureau, and Silver Dollar and Glenn County fairs.

(Incumbent)
Age: 29
Address: 10722 French Creek Road, Palo Cedro, CA 96073 

Mr. Peterson is president and owner of Peterson Timber, Inc., a logging business in Anderson. He has seven (7) years of experience in the forestry industry. Mr. Peterson has been an active member of Shasta County Farm Bureau, serving as a Board Member for the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference and an Advisory Board Member for Shasta College Agriculture and Heavy Equipment program.

(Nominee)
Age: 70
Address: 26750 Vina Road, Vina, CA 96092 

Mrs. Wood has served as Controller for Shasta Livestock and Western Video Market for many years. She and her husband have also raised Angus beef cattle and were owners of an organic beef company. The product was sold in retail markets, including Whole Foods. They sold the business to Perdue Farms in 2017 but continued to supply cattle. She served as an officer for a local cattlemen’s association and was a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Livestock Marketing Council at its inception. Mrs. Wood currently serves as a committee member for the Tehama County Farm Service Agency and Board Member at Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Company.

(Incumbent)
Age: 62
Address: 22045 S. Valentine Riverdale, CA 93656 

Mr. Brown is a fourth-generation dairy farmer, who transitioned to a row crop farmer in 2024. He has been an active member of Fresno County Farm Bureau, Western United Dairymen and Nisei Farmers League. Mr. Brown has served as a Board of Director for California Dairies, Inc. and Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program.

(Nominee)
Age: 46
Address: 5447 Ave 408, Reedley, CA 93654 

Mr. Pauls is the operator and president at Peters Fruit Farms Inc, a stone fruit and citrus growing, packing, and shipping operation located in the Central Valley. The family-owned business, running for nearly 90 years, specializes in custom farming and packing with other local growers. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Immanuel Schools Executive Board. He is a graduate of Reedley College and has completed his Qualified Applicator License through the State of California with an emphasis in post-harvest pest control.