Congratulations to California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross – newly honored 2019 State Fair Agriculturalist of the Year! The Board announced the award last week and she will be recognized at California Ag Day at the Capitol on March 20 and then receive her award at the annual State Fair Gala on June 27, a few weeks before the fair opens its doors. The Gualco Group, Inc. was pleased to place her name in nomination. And this is on top of her receiving the Cultivator Award from the Agricultural Council of California last week at its annual conference in Monterey.
If you’re involved in food and/or agriculture, you know Secretary Ross. Raised as a self-avowed “Nebraska farm girl,” Karen held increasingly responsible and influential leadership positions for the Agricultural Council of California, California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and US Dept. of Agriculture, under President Obama, where she served as chief of staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Gov. Newsom appointed Karen as CDFA secretary on Jan. 9 of this year, continuing her record tenure, which began in January 2011 as Gov. Brown’s CDFA secretary.
Karen, while president of CAWG, helped growers and vintners create a certified sustainability program before sustainability was a thing – in the early 2000s.
There is no one better to lead California agriculture, as farmers simultaneously face a historical high and a historical challenge:
The HIGH…#1 in global production, 400 commodities with a farmgate value >$50 billion.
The CHALLENGE…producing more with less water, fertilizer, and pesticides while adopting new technologies and doing business daily at the mercy of market and natural forces they cannot control.
Let’s follow Karen’s lead, promoting collaboration and achievement.