Deborah M. Thomas has been rooted in agriculture since childhood — from traveling with her parents as fruit pickers across California, Washington and Montana, to tending poultry barns in Arkansas as a teen. Her path deepened when she married a crop consultant/researcher whose passion for soil health and plant nutrition led them both away from conventional methods and towards converting just under 500 acres to regenerative practices. With over two decades of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she brings experience in organizational development, resource cultivation, and collaborative leadership. Today, she helps lead a farmer-driven Regenerative Ag initiative through the Farmer Ag Network—bringing together growers across the San Joaquin Valley to build community, share knowledge, and drive grassroots change toward a more resilient future.