Conference Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Karen Ross
Hillari Lombard- Bynum
Hillari Bynum - Keynote Speaker
Hillari Bynum is the director of market for the Safe Food Alliance. The Safe Food Alliance provides technical services to growers, packers, processors, and food manufactures. She is also the past director of marketing of the DFA, a non-profit providing support to the dried fruit, tree nut, and kindred product industries. An additional agricultural pursuit includes being a recent fellow of Class 53 of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, in which she went to Vietnam, Loas, and Cambodia as a part of their international seminar. A true agricultural communicator and leader, we are excited to welcome Hillari Bynum to the 2025 Agriculture Ambassador State Conference.
Ceasar Sandoval
Cesar Sandoval is a Digital Sales Advisor for Simplot Grower Solutions. He grew up in Southern Oregon working on an onion and horseradish farm. In 2024, Cesar graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor's in Agricultural Business. Currently, he is finishing a master's in business administration at Chico State. Since a young age, Cesar knew he wanted to continue working in the Agricultural industry. He is proud to help growers with precision tools that allow them to be more efficient and increase yield numbers. On his days off, he enjoys spending time with his family and casting his rod into the lake
Jason Chamberlain
Jason Chamberlain is a Digital Sales Advisor for Simplot Smartfarm in California. He believes precision agriculture is the means to efficient farming practices. Jason was an intern with Simplot Smartfarm in 2022 and worked in the precision department of a competing firm in the 2023 growing season. He attained a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business from California State University Fresno in the spring of 2023. In May of 2024 Jason was privileged to rejoin the Smartfarm team. In his time off he enjoys music, skiing, travelling, and working on his ’53 Studebaker 2R5 pickup truck.
Ryan Amaral
Ryan Amaral manages the state Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, Leadership Farm Bureau, and Rural Health & Safety Committee at California Farm Bureau. Prior to CAFB, he was a program specialist and adjunct faculty at Modesto Junior College working with all Career Technical Education programs providing support to CTE students across campus. He is a graduate of Chico State with a degree in agriculture business. During his off hours you can find him traveling the world, enjoying time with his five nieces, and enjoying everything that Sacramento has to offer.
Braden Crosson
Braden Crosson is a Plant Science student at California State University, Fresno, completing his B.S. with a minor in Chemistry this Fall 2025. Originally from Galt, California and a transfer from Modesto Junior College, he interned with California Blueberry Nursery in Selma as a Genetics and Field Science intern. There he supported nursery and farm management while helping advance the company’s genetics program through field evaluations, data collection, and propagation work. After graduation, Braden plans to continue in agricultural genetics and plant breeding to improve crop performance and on-farm outcomes.