MAY | JUNE 2017
Almond Facts
15
California
Cultivator Award
Presented to
Blue
Diamond Grower
Blue Diamond growers
are stewards of the land and show
dedication through the care of their farms, families and
community. Time is valuable to growers and often they are
hardly acknowledged for personal commitments beyond
the normal expectations of a person serving the farmer-
owned business sector. However, the Agricultural Council of
California sees these commitments as a reason to honor and
celebrate California farmers.
At the Ag Council’s 98
th
Annual Meeting in Carlsbad, the
prestigious 2017 California Cultivator Award was presented
to Clinton Shick, past chairman of the
Blue Diamond Growers
board of directors. His contributions to agriculture and
leadership of the cooperative exemplifies the background and
experience of a true California cultivator.
“I know many of the prior recipients of this award and to
become part of this group is a high honor that I appreciate
greatly,” said Clinton. “Serving on the
Blue Diamond
board
of directors was significant and a challenging and rewarding
experience all by itself. I always considered it a privilege and
honor to serve.”
He is a third-generation farmer from McFarland and served
on the board of
Blue Diamond Growers
for more than 30 years
during which time he helped lead the cooperative through
unprecedented growth. Clinton was first elected to the board
in 1983, served as vice chair for 16 years and as chairman of
the board from 2006 to 2014.
“His impeccable character represented
Blue Diamond
well
to our industry, employees, customers and grower-owners,”
said Dan Cummings, current
Blue Diamond
chairman of the
board. “Clinton had a thoughtful way of drawing out others’
input on the board while also sharing his sage insights. He
was instrumental in the recruitment of our current CEO
and this may very well be his most lasting legacy to
Blue
Diamond Growers
.”
Clinton grows several hundred acres of almonds and also
operates a farm management business devoted to almonds,
walnuts and cherries. A past president of the Kern County
Farm Bureau and current member of the Central Valley
Almond Association, a cooperative huller/sheller, Clinton
began his professional career after graduating from
California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo
with a degree in Farm Management, and a master’s degree
in Agricultural Economics at University of California, Davis.
Ag Council President Emily Rooney said that Clinton was
chosen also because he helped “lead the cooperative into
an era where they handled more almonds than ever before.
That growth was fueled by the development of several
innovative marketing initiatives, including the development
of a new plant in Turlock, and the expansion of the Almond
Innovation Center in Sacramento.”
Clinton Shick receiving the California
Cultivator Award from Ag Council President
Emily Rooney and Ag Council Board
Chairman, Brendon Flynn of Sunsweet.
Life-long farmer
Clinton Shick with
his wife Debbie.
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