Karen Ross
Encyclopedia
Karen Ross, is the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
. She was appointed to this position on January 12, 2011. She had previously served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
, a position she accepted in 2009. From 1996 to 2009, she was president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers
(CAWG). A major leader in California's agricultural community, was born and reared on a family farm in western Nebraska where her family still raises grain crops, sunflowers and cattle. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Program, and the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership at the University of Missouri.
Her prior experience includes ten years as an advocate for agricultural and rural electric cooperatives at the state and national level, serving as a United States Senate staff member and staffing senate and presidential campaigns.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
The California Department of Food and Agriculture , is a cabinet-level agency in the government of California. Established in 1919 by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor William Stephens, the Department of Food and Agriculture is responsible for ensuring the state's...
. She was appointed to this position on January 12, 2011. She had previously served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and presently the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served as the 40th Governor of the state of Iowa. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002...
, a position she accepted in 2009. From 1996 to 2009, she was president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Association of Winegrape Growers
The California Association of Winegrape Growers was established in 1974 as an advocate for California's wine grape growers, providing leadership on research and education programs, public policies, sustainable farming practices and trade policy to enhance the California wine grape growing business...
(CAWG). A major leader in California's agricultural community, was born and reared on a family farm in western Nebraska where her family still raises grain crops, sunflowers and cattle. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Program, and the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership at the University of Missouri.
Her prior experience includes ten years as an advocate for agricultural and rural electric cooperatives at the state and national level, serving as a United States Senate staff member and staffing senate and presidential campaigns.