Board of Directors

Director Jeff Marchini is the Chief Executive Officer of J. Marchini Farms. Mr. Marchini’s involvement with agriculture began at an early age, working for his father and uncle in the farming business on weekends and in summers. He began working full time in the family business in 1985 after attending Fresno State and studying Ag Business. Mr. Marchini is a past president of the Merced County Farm Bureau, as well as having served on the Board of Directors for Le Grand Union High School and the Minturn Nut Company. He was elected to the MID Board in November 2014, and his current term expires in June 2024.

Director Mario Bandoni is a Co-Owner of Louie & Mario Bandoni Farms, where he is a fourth generation farmer working on the family farm since childhood.  Mr. Bandoni attended local schools and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fruit Science and a Minor in Plant Protection Science.  Mr. Bandoni is a member/grower for Blue Diamond Almonds where he serves on the District 7 Liaison Committee.  Mr. Bandoni was elected to the MID Board in December 2019, and his current term expires in June 2026.

Director Dave Long is the owner of Hilltop Ranch, Inc., an almond huller-sheller, with almond processing plants he constructed and has operated for 30 years. On the Almond Board of CA he has served as Director, Administration & Finance Chairman, and Reserve Chairman. He is a member of the Farm Bureau, Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, and the Merced County Chamber of Commerce. Currently, he serves on the County of Merced Workforce Investment Board and was first elected Director of the Eastside Water District in 1996. He holds an active Class A Engineering License issued by the State of California. Mr. Long was elected to the MID Board in 2009 and re-elected in 2014, and his current term expires in June 2024.

Director Eric Cabral was elected to the MID Board in June 2022. Director Cabral’s full bio is coming soon.

David Souza was appointed by the MID Board of Directors on September 6, 2022, to fill the vacant seat in Division 5. His term will continue until the next District election, scheduled for June 2024. Mr. Souza is a third-generation farmer from Atwater whose family has been farming in the region for more than 100 years. He is a partner of D&S Farms in Atwater.