Longtime university official recognized for service to agriculture

» December 8, 2009 «

For many years, Steve Nation has aided farmers and ranchers through his work with the University of California. His efforts on land conservation—and as a liaison between the university and the farmers and ranchers it serves—earned him respect throughout the state and led to a special award presented last night at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Anaheim.

The state's largest farm organization presented Nation with the President's Award, an award given at the discretion of the president.

CFBF President Doug Mosebar said Nation, the executive director of governmental and external relations for the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has demonstrated "exemplary" effort on behalf of Farm Bureau and its partnership with the university.

"Steve has worked closely with Farm Bureau leaders and staff to create better opportunities for all of us involved in the business of farming," Mosebar said.

Nation's association with Farm Bureau began in 1979, when he became executive director of the California Integrated Remote Sensing System, a technology-transfer program co-sponsored by UC, NASA and the state of California. He worked with Farm Bureau leaders to promote satellite technology to farmers and ranchers.

Nation joined the state Department of Conservation in 1980, managing the Williamson Act land-conservation program and coordinating Resource Conservation District activities, later becoming the department's assistant director and interim deputy director. He created the state Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, which is considered the most comprehensive of its kind in the country.

Since returning to UC in 1985, Nation has assumed increasing responsibility for governmental, media and constituent relations within the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In that role, he estimates he has made more than 1,000 farm visits and traveled to every county in the state. He has also represented UC at California Farm Bureau board meetings and many other Farm Bureau events. Nation plans to retire from the university at the end of February 2010.

"We wish Steve well in his retirement but we will certainly miss his expertise, counsel and dedication," Mosebar said, as he thanked Nation for his "significant service to the California Farm Bureau and to California agriculture."

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of 81,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5 million Farm Bureau members.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.