The Yolo
Land Trust recently welcomed Melissa Harlan and Laurel Harrison to its board of directors.
We are delighted Melissa and Laurel has joined the Board of Directors of the Yolo Land Trust. Both of these lovely women bring many different insights and new ideas to our board. We are excited to see what is in store for their future here with us at the Yolo Land Trust.
Melissa Harlan is a Yolo County native who has had a lifelong connection to agriculture. She grew up on a large-scale family farm, watching and learning from her grandfather and father, and working in their office. Melissa then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development, along with her teaching credential, from UC Davis. She taught at the elementary level for 13 years in the Woodland Joint Unified School District.From that point forward Melissa has assisted her husband, Blake, in the running of Harlan Family Ranch. Their farm is a sixth-generation diversified crop operation located in Woodland and farming throughout Yolo County.Melissa has served on numerous local boards and committees, including the Ag Advisory Committee, the Woodland High School Greenhouse Committee, Woodland FFA Boosters, and School Site Councils.
Laurel Harrison has worked on land use, natural resource and agribusiness issues throughout her career as a public affairs consultant. Laurel’s work spans the communications spectrum, from corporate communications and media relations to message development and reputation management. Laurel has worked with clients including Kubota Tractor Corporation, Vulcan Materials Company, Corteva Agriscience, the California Prune Board and Albertsons Companies, among others. Additionally, Laurel has worked with local food-focused groups, including Sacramento’s Food Literacy Center and the UC Davis Olive Center, in supporting their public relations efforts. A Yolo County native and Pioneer High School graduate, Laurel returned to her Woodland roots after receiving her B.A. in Classics and English Language from UCLA. In her downtime, Laurel enjoys spending time with her family at their farm outside of Woodland.
Check out this article in the Davis Enterprise welcoming our new board members!
