Executive Committee

Matt Merrill - President

Matt Merrill serves as the current President of the SLO County Farm Bureau. Matt is an 8th generation Californian, with family roots tracing to ranchos in what are now San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. He grew up in Paso Robles and learned farming and viticulture while working with his father in Monterey and Paso Robles. 

He graduated from Paso Robles High School, then obtained a BS Degree in Fruit Science with concentrations in Viticulture and Ag Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1998. Working in his family’s vineyard management company, Mesa Vineyard Management, he became a vineyard manager in Paso Robles. Matt and his wife, Nickki, have two children and reside in rural Templeton.

Matt is a Managing Partner in the family owned Pomar Junction Vineyard and Winery in 2008 and has overseen the growth of the brand regionally and nationally. Matt continues the family tradition of being Farm Bureau members and leaders. His uncle, Kevin Merrill, a former President of Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and two time Agriculturalist of the Year in Santa Barbara County.

Sarah Kramer - Past President

Sarah Kramer serves as Past President of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. In addition to her service at Farm Bureau, she is a past president of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen, former board member of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and volunteer with Paso Robles Pioneer Day. Sarah Kramer has served on the Board of the San Luis Obispo County Ag Education Committee since 2014 and has been involved with the Great AgVenture since 2009. Sarah sits on the Agricultural Liaison Advisory Board as the alternate for the Ag Finance Chair and the Paso Robles High School Ag Advisory Committee. Additionally, she is the Past President of the San Luis Obispo County California Women for Agriculture.Sarah graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Agricultural Business in 2015. Sarah is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager for Bank of the Sierra in Templeton. She specializes in Agricultural Lending. She lives in Paso Robles with her dog Henry and cat George.

Wyatt Mello - First Vice President

The Mello Family has a cattle operation in Avila Beach. Part of it is a cow/calf operation, and part of it is a stocking operation. The stocking cattle is yearly and comes to them when the grass is growing, after which they go to a feed lot. Wyatt graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2004 with a degree in Agricultural Business Finance and Appraisal. In addition to running cattle for Mello Land and Cattle, he is also the Principal of the Mello Group LLC, the Executive Vice President of the Laral Group, and the President of Prado Senior Living. Wyatt lives in Atascadero with his wife Davida, and three sons Weston, Benjamin, and Hunter. Wyatt serves as the First Vice President for the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau.

Erin Amaral - Second Vice President

Erin serves as the Second Vice President of the SLO County Farm Bureau. Erin was raised on a farm in Crows Landing, California where her family grows almonds and operates a commercial harvesting business.  She moved to San Luis Obispo in 1995 to attendCal Poly and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Protection Science, focusing on Viticulture.  Upon graduation she began her career with Pacific Coast Farming in 1999 and has grown with the company since.

Erin is a recent graduate of the California Ag Leadership program (Class 46) in which she gained leadership training experience and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau.  She is proud to be a part of a team that is promoting innovative vineyard management and farming philosophies along with the implementation of progressive and sustainable farming practices.

Danilu Jelderks - Secretary/Treasurer

Danilu is a 4th generation California agriculturalist. Her great grandfather farmed in Merced, her grandad managed ranches from Huron to Holtiville and her dad ran a farm labor contracting business in the Imperial Valley where she grew up. 

Danilu knew she wanted to be a PCA in the 6th grade when her uncle who was a crop duster introduced her to the PCA he worked with. Ever since then Danilu has grown in her passion for plants and being and Ag-vocate. Danilu was involved with YF&R during her time at Cal Poly SLO. She graduated with a degree in Crop Science and began her career as a cotton agronomist in the Central Valley. Since then she’s worked in the berries, vegetables and irrigation sales on the coast. Danilu has owned her own consulting business since 2017. She helps growers stay in compliance with Ag Order 4.0 requirements. 

Danilu lives in the 5 Cities with her husband Thomas, and their two Blue Heelers, Blazer and Tahoe. She is currently serving as Secretary/Treasurerof the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau