RCRC wishes to thank the participants of the 2026 Annual Meeting, our generous sponsors, and the expert panelists, industry insiders, and our keynote speaker who, together, made this a memorable event.
This year, over 350 participants, including representatives from RCRC’s 40 member counties, attended the Annual Meeting over three days at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, in Santa Barbara County. The program commenced with a welcome address from Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón.
The event featured experts sharing their knowledge on issues pertinent to rural governance. This included engaging panel discussions with specialists in leveraging outdoor recreation to support tourism, strategies for a healthy rural California, insights for successful tribal-county collaboration, and building meaningful media-county relationships. Strategy Insights CEO, Matt Rexroad returned with a cautionary tale of corruption and how to avoid fostering an environment for corruption to take root. In addition to the panel discussions and insights, attendees enjoyed an inspiring keynote presentation from animal behavior expert and autism self-advocate, Dr. Temple Grandin, who shared about her experience as a visual thinker, how her unique perspective has helped to improve animal care practices in the cattle industry.
“This year’s Annual Meeting highlighted the strength of rural California and the importance of coming together to address shared challenges and opportunities,” said RCRC Chair and Mariposa County Supervisor Miles Menetrey. “From discussions on economic development and community well-being to conversations about governance and innovation, our counties continue to demonstrate a commitment to finding practical solutions that improve the quality of life for rural residents.”
Santa Barbara County Supervisor and RCRC First Vice Chair Bob Nelson, who helped welcome attendees to the region, emphasized the value of gathering in person to share ideas and strengthen partnerships.
“Santa Barbara County was honored to host this year’s Annual Meeting and welcome leaders from across rural California,” said Nelson. “The conversations and relationships built during this event help strengthen our collective voice and ensure rural counties are working together to address the unique needs of our communities.”
During the annual favorite Auction Dinner and Basket Drawing, generosity was on full display as participants raised $168,000 for select charities in the County of the Chair.
Read RCRC’s press release HERE.