Rick Landon
Agricultural Commissioner
Yolo County Department of Agriculture
Rick Landon began his employment as the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner on May 8, 2001. Since that time he has taken a leadership role in mediating discussions on issues relating to both agricultural and environmental interests in Yolo County. He is a strong steward for the agricultural resources of Yolo County. In conjunction with the Yolo County Farm Bureau, Landon formed the Yolo County Watershed Group to address water quality issues. He coordinated the develop-ment of an organic farmers certification program, the third county in the state to do so, and provided leadership in the for-mation of a County Ag Futures Alliance, under the auspices of the Roots of Change Fund, which seeks a sustainable food system in California by the year 2030.
For his leadership on these and numerous other projects, Landon received the Yolo County Manager of the Year award in 2005. Landon initiated the Agricultural Marketing Program to promote Yolo County agriculture, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in the 2006-2007 budget, for a three-year period. The subsequent contract with the consulting firm of Evans & Brennan, LLC led to the development of the Web site, www.tasteofyolo.net.
Landon is a graduate of UCLA with a bachelor's degree in Zoology and a Secondary Teaching Credential. He began his career as an Agricultural Biologist in Santa Barbara County where he worked for seven years. Before coming to Yolo County as Agricultural Commissioner, he was also the owner/operator of a wholesale nursery in San Luis Obispo County for six years, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in San Luis Obispo County for 11 years; and Assistant Agricultural Com-missioner in Sutter County for three years.
