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Sacramento, Calif. (March 1, 2019)-The prestigious 2019 California Cultivator Award will be presented to California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross during Ag Council’s 100th Annual Meeting and Centennial Celebration to be held March 4-5, 2019 in Monterey, Calif. 

“Karen has been committed to agriculture her entire life,” Ag Council Chair and Butte County Rice Growers Association President and CEO Carl Hoff said. “She is passionate about our industry and that has been proven time and time again throughout her impressive and esteemed career.” 

Ross describes herself as a 4-H kid that grew up on a farm in western Nebraska. She and her husband Barry still own 800 acres of the family operation where her younger brother, a fourth-generation farmer, raises dryland wheat, feed grains and cattle. She attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and is a graduate of the Nebraska Ag Leadership program.  

“Anyone who knows Karen, knows her boundless energy and enthusiasm for agriculture,” Ag Council President Emily Rooney said. “She always works to promote the interests of farmers in the midst of some very tough issues, including climate change and water quality. Her ability to find pragmatic solutions has contributed to not only agriculture, but the general interest of all Californians.” 

Karen Ross was appointed secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in 2011 by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., and was recently reappointed to that position by Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to CDFA, Secretary Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in 2009. Her connection to Ag Council is very deep as she was the vice president from 1989 to 1996. She also served as president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996 to 2009. Ross’ professional career began in her home state of Nebraska as director of government relations for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and as field representative for U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky. 

Secretary Ross will be formally recognized by Ag Council during its Annual California Cultivator Luncheon on Tuesday, March 5. 

Photo available upon request. 

Visit www.agcouncil.org for more information about the 100th Annual Meeting.

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