Personal Stories: 2026 Common Threads North Honorees, Featuring Anjanette Shadley
Thursday, Apr 9th, 2026
Last week, six remarkable women were honored at the Common Threads North Dinner and Awards Celebration for their leadership, service, and lasting contributions to agriculture and their communities: Anjanette Shadley, Manpreet Bains, Jackie Park-Burris, Toni Scott, Karen Mills, and Rose Tryon VanCott.
(Photo: Hannah Reis Photography)
Each of these honorees brings something unique to California agriculture—whether through advocacy, community service, educationor leadership. Together, they reflect the strength, resilience, and deep sense of responsibility that defines rural communities across our state. It was an inspiring evening, filled with stories of dedication and a shared commitment to something bigger than any one individual.
Anjanette Shadley
Among this year’s honorees is someone very close to our NorCal Water family—our friend, former colleague, and longtime water leader, Anjanette Shadley.
Anjanette’s connection to agriculture runs deep. Raised in the agricultural community of Willows and shaped by a lifelong connection to rural California, she has dedicated her career to supporting farmers, communities, and the water systems that sustain them. Through her work with Western Canal Water District, Colusa Basin Drainage District, and here at the Northern California Water Association, she has been a steady and passionate voice for reliable and affordable water supplies for agriculture.
But what truly sets Anjanette apart is how she shows up—for people, for communities, and for the values that define agriculture.
Her leadership spans across organizations and causes. From serving as Chair of the Agricultural Committee for the Association of California Water Agencies, to helping establish the Water Committee for the Glenn County Farm Bureau, to her role as Vice President of the Glenn County Resource Conservation District, Anjanette has consistently brought people together to move important work forward. At the same time, her commitment to community runs just as deep—whether volunteering at the Orland Town and Country Humane Society, supporting local schools, or contributing her time and energy to efforts that strengthen the fabric of her hometown.
Anjanette is known across California for her authentic and unwavering voice for agriculture. She believes deeply in the people who grow our food, in the values that guide them, and in the importance of telling that story. She was an early leader in using social media to connect people to agriculture and share the realities of rural life.
That belief is what drives her. It’s what makes her such a powerful advocate. And it’s why so many people are proud to stand alongside her.
We are grateful to have been part of Anjanette’s journey and proud to have nominated her for this well-deserved recognition.
Congratulations, Anjanette—and to all of this year’s Common Threads honorees. Your leadership and commitment continue to bring to life the very best of California agriculture and community.
“Anjanette believes—she believes in the amazing capability of California’s farmers and ranchers to produce food and fiber and the incredible values that embody the agricultural spirit. She believes in the honesty, hard work and sheer determination that surrounds a successful farming operation and the network of people and organizations that support these operations. There is no stronger believer in the can-do agricultural spirit than Anjanette and her passion is infectious to both farmers and the many people outside of agriculture she touches, either with direct conversations or through social media. She was one of the early voices on social media and she has been a leader in this arena. It is this strong and authentic belief (a core value) that makes Anjanette such a powerful voice for California agriculture and why people want to work with her to tell our amazing story.” — Corrine Davis
