Feb. 26, 2002

Contact: David Wehner
(805) 756-2161

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture To Head Four-Campus Partnership

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Richard E. Rominger has agreed to lead a four-campus partnership to serve the needs of California's $27 billion agriculture industry.

In a collaborative effort, UC Davis, UC Riverside, Cal Poly at San Luis
Obispo and California State University, Fresno will work with Rominger
to address the expressed needs of production agriculture in the state. 
His work on behalf of the partnership began Feb. 1.

"I'm excited to be working to help make the best possible connections
between California's agriculture and its great universities. In this
global economy, our goal is to do everything we can to preserve
California's leadership role in world agriculture," said Rominger. "I
believe the industry will be pleased that the universities are adding
this effort to the already extensive efforts of the Cooperative
Extension Service."

As a consultant, Rominger will act as a liaison between the
universities and the voices of production agriculture. His role will be
to serve as an expert in agricultural issues and to share information
about the agricultural programs conducted by each campus. Rominger will
also make recommendations to the universities for meeting the needs of
those in farming and ranching.

The universities will work together to strengthen their programs and
policies that contribute to the long-term stability of production
agriculture in California. New initiatives, where specific needs have
been determined, may be developed as a result of this collaboration.

Rominger served as California's secretary of agriculture during Gov.
Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s administration. In 1993, President Bill Clinton
appointed him as the deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. He served in that position until 2001.

Rominger farms alfalfa, beans, corn, rice, safflower, sunflowers,
tomatoes, wheat and other crops near Winters, Calif., with his brother,
sons and nephews.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in plant science summa cum laude
from the UC Davis. He and his wife, Evelyne, have four children, Rick,
Charlie, Ruth and Bruce. 
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