We are pleased to announce and congratulate the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Service Awards.

Sponsored by UC ANR and Academic Assembly Council, the Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. The awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership by UC ANR academics.

Award categories include outstanding research, outstanding extension, outstanding new academic, outstanding team, outstanding leader and contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Outstanding Research - Brent Holtz

Brent Holtz has served as a UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems farm advisor for 30 years, including 15 years concurrently serving as the UCCE director for San Joaquin County. His groundbreaking work in whole orchard recycling has revolutionized orchard system management in the valley, influencing state policy and fostering collaboration across local, statewide and international levels.

Leveraging the trust of numerous growers, he has spearheaded multiple orchard recycling trial sites throughout the Central Valley, across various soil types and climates, to improve the understanding of its impact on soil health and crop productivity. Holtz's research program, supported by several grants from commodity boards and governmental agencies, has garnered widespread recognition for its environmental and economic significance in almond orchards. His prolific research output, comprising 90 peer-reviewed publications, coupled with over 500 extension articles, technical reports and abstracts, underscores the profound impact of his research.

His outreach efforts, including extension meetings, webinars and a comprehensive project website, exemplify his dedication to knowledge dissemination. Moreover, Holtz's expertise in orchard recycling extends far beyond state borders. His numerous national and international awards attest to his remarkable contributions, cementing his status as a pioneer in orchard recycling and global authority. Holtz's success serves as a testament to the impactful research achievable through UC ANR, showcasing the vital role of applied research in agricultural innovation.

Outstanding Extension - Roger Duncan

Roger Duncan, UCCE pomology farm advisor in Stanislaus County, has been an advisor for nearly 30 years. In that time, Duncan has conducted a thorough program that exemplifies the research-extension continuum with applied research programs feeding a multifaceted extension program using face-to-face meetings, popular press/newsletters and peer-reviewed, grower-accessible documents. Highlights of Duncan's extension work include his Tree & Vine Breakfast Meetings, a rootstock comparison publication (with UC ANR co-authors), a video showing a rootstock trial and describing the results (with the Almond Board of California, on YouTube), and an interactive rootstock comparison webpage. Taken together, these projects have contributed to the adoption of orchard practices leading to increased productivity and economic value in California's almond orchard systems. Duncan's achievements serve as a major example of an outstanding extension program.

Outstanding New Academic - Zheng Wang and Leslie Roche

While the award is usually presented to an individual, the program committee determined two people were equally deserving of the Outstanding New Academic Award.

Zheng Wang, who became a UCCE vegetable crop advisor for Stanislaus County in 2018, has made remarkable contributions to vegetable agriculture. His work in vegetable grafting, precision irrigation tools and integrated pest management has measurable impacts on the industry. In one of Wang's projects, growers reported that their successfully grafted watermelon plants produced 15% to 25% more watermelons than nongrafted fields per acre, while using 30% fewer plants and the same amount of water and fertilizers.

Within a relatively short span, he has authored seven peer-reviewed publications, numerous non-peer-reviewed articles and successfully secured over $600,000 in program funding.

Beyond his academic achievements, Wang has been recognized by clientele, colleagues and industry for his innovative extension and outreach program. In 2022, he was recognized by Vegetable Grower News as one of Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40, outstanding individuals under age 40, for demonstrating leadership and propelling the industry forward. Additionally, Wang's program has been serving underrepresented and new growers efficiently, demonstrating his commitment to inclusive agricultural practices.

Leslie Roche, who became a UCCE range management specialist based at UC Davis in 2015, represents UC ANR very well through a program characterized by exemplary academic innovation and leadership. Her statewide impact resonates with the core objectives of UC ANR, representing the organization's commitment at its finest. She is a vital bridge between UC ANR academics, stakeholders and policymakers at local, state and national levels. Roche provides invaluable insights to policymakers, contributes to USDA climate vulnerability assessments, and contributes to UCCE drought-planning tools through extensive engagement with California ranchers (e.g. over 600 surveys and interviews).

Roche 's dedication extends beyond traditional outreach methods. She employs creative extension activities to interact with stakeholders and clientele, leveraging platforms such as webinars and YouTube videos, and leading the innovative development of the Rangeland Research and Information Center (RIC) to reach broader audiences. She has shown excellence in all aspects of Cooperative Extension.

Outstanding Team - “Growing the Valley” team

Since 2018, Phoebe Gordon, UCCE orchard crops farm advisor for Madera and Merced counties, and Luke Milliron, UCCE orchard systems advisor for Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, have used modern communication tools and pioneered new ways to extend UC ANR outreach and education. Together they have produced over 220 “Growing the Valley”podcasts, reaching thousands of listeners throughout the world with a documented impact on knowledge and practices. The team has effectively used podcasts to break boundaries – both geographical and topical – interviewing a broad range of experts on agricultural topics including pests and diseases, irrigation, fertilization and horticulture, among many other subjects.

The work and impact accomplished by this ANR team has gone far beyond one individual or clientele. As one of the support letter writers described it, “The novel approach to outreach through the podcast medium allows for convenient learning opportunities for a large and diverse audience. Over the years, the collection of episodes has grown into an exhaustive resource of information, highlighting topics that are important to the agricultural community. The indexed and easily discoverable format ensures that their efforts have a broad and lasting impact, reaching stakeholders far beyond traditional extension channels.”

These interviews have forged relationships that otherwise would not have been possible. The committee also acknowledged the team's dedication and commitment in sustaining this effort for the agriculture community and academics. A second letter of support said, “[Growing the Valley Podcast] is a testament to Luke Milliron and Phoebe Gordon's dedication and creativity in providing a significant educational resource within the agricultural community.”

Outstanding Leader - David Lile

David Lile, UCCE director for Lassen County and natural resources and livestock advisor, is a distinguished leader and visionary in UC ANR.

Lile has demonstrated critical leadership in tapping the full power of the UC to unite campus faculty, specialists, county advisors, students and stakeholders to conduct novel, participatory research that has advanced applied science and informed policy development and management. He goes the extra mile to support and coach students, creating innovative learning and growth opportunities for these new scientists and educators. He has been instrumental in the success of over a dozen graduate students, who have conducted all or portions of their graduate research in Lassen County. He has also mentored early-career research assistants and academics giving them a solid foundation in UCCE.

Lile has had a dedicated track record of leadership at all UC ANR levels during his career. He has served on the Peer Review Committee, Academic Assembly Council, County Director Council, Vice-President's Council, and as a Strategic Initiative Leader. During his tenure on these committees, he shaped policies and helped lead UC ANR through institutional changes and difficult financial and political times.

He took unique approaches to bringing people together to address the most pressing issues in California. For example, while serving as SI leader for Sustainable Natural Ecosystems (SNE), he spearheaded a conference in 2019 focusing on wildfire after the devastating 2018 California fire season, bringing together the best science and challenging SNE members to work together to find innovative solutions to the wildfire issue. This conference cemented ANR's commitment to addressing wildfire challenges across program areas, sparking ingenuity and shared vision.

Lile has not only built a reputation for himself, he has built a strong reputation for UCCE across Northeast California. He has cultivated and strengthened the region by facilitating the Intermountain Workgroup, serving on over 25 hiring committees (and chairing 18) including all of the academics currently working in Modoc, Lassen, Sierra, Plumas and Siskiyou counties. His leadership as county director has led to thriving county programs with long-term employees who work together towards a shared vision. David Lile is an Outstanding Leader in every sense of the term. He has provided tireless leadership to build consensus around contentious topics and create collaborative, science-based solutions to enhance natural resources and sustain productive agricultural enterprises.

Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Small Acreage Landowner Website team

The Small Acreage Landowner Website team of UCCE livestock and natural resources advisors Julie Finzel, Flavie Audoin, Theresa Becchetti, Brooke Latack, Dan Macon, Rebecca Ozeran, and Devii Rao worked to address the concerns of owners of small acreages.

To reach a diverse clientele, both in ethnicity and gender, the team developed a website as a clearinghouse of information and translated the entire website into Spanish to better reach this historically underserved population.

The website provides science-based information on livestock care and management including nutrition, housing, fencing, reproduction, health care and parasite control. It also has resources on emergency preparedness, wildland fire, rangeland and pasture management, water quality, and pests, predators and weeds. Short videos accompany written materials to help broaden the audience.

Congratulations again to all of the honorees.

Brent Hales
Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension