Meet the Ag Advisory Council
The Arizona Agriculture Advisory Council is a legislatively established, governor-appointed body that reviews agricultural policy and assists the department director in formulating administrative rules and the department's budget.
By statute, two council members must be involved in the livestock industry, two members must be involved in the plant production industry, and one member must be involved in agribusiness.
Richard G. Lunt : Chairman. As a supporter of the beef and dairy industries, Richard Lunt is currently serving on the National Cattleman's Beef Association and is Chairman of the Arizona Beef Council. He has also served on the National Livestock and Meat Board, National Youth Task force for the National Cattleman's Beef Association, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative Board, Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative Board, Greenlee County Extension Board, Greenlee County Junior Livestock Board and has been a scout master in the Boy Scouts of America for 18 years. His education includes two Bachelor of Science degrees one in Animal Science and one in Agriculture Education. His master's degree is in Educational Administration. His work experience includes 25 years as partner in Lunt's Dairy - a dairy, farm and ranching business. He is currently serving as Greenlee County Supervisor.
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Tim Dunn : Vice Chairman. (Biography Coming Soon!)
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Clint Hickman : Clint Hickman, Vice-president of Sales with Hickman Egg Ranch, will now serve for Governor Janet Napolitano on the Arizona
Department of Agriculture Advisory Council. The Governor has appointed the Phoenix native to a five-year term on the Council.
Hickman began his career at the company, which houses three million chickens, and is the youngest member serving on the Council
at 39-years-old.
Hickman fills the vacancy in animal production previously held by Earl Petznick of Pinal Feeding Company. The Hickman family has
owned and operated Hickman Egg Ranch in Arizona since 1944. Clint Hickman has also been involved in Arizona Agriculture as a
member of Arizona Agri-Business Council and the Farm Bureau.
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Will Rousseau: :The Rousseau family has farmed in Arizona for four generations, dating back to the late 1800’s. Bill Rousseau was primarily involved in the cattle business with a feed lot in West Phoenix that he operated until 1980. His oldest son Will, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from the University of Arizona in 1979, worked with Bill for two years before starting his own operation. By 1986, Will was farming 1700 acres of row crops before experimenting with 40 acres of carrots. That same year the youngest son, David, another University of Arizona grad (’83) returned after three years with the Farm Credit System to help form the Rousseau Farming Company partnership. Today the operation consists of 10,000 acres, of which over 70% are vegetable production with the core crops being carrots, broccoli, and melons. The operation is vertically integrated with its own harvesting equipment, trucking, cooling, icing and shipping facilities. Several years ago they began processing baby peeled carrots and have recently added a shred and floret line for food service customers.
Will Rousseau is the Past Chairman of the Board of Directors for Western Growers Association, the Past Chairman of the WGA Political Action Committee and the Past Chairman of the Citrus Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Council. He has been appointed to the Governor’s Committee for Agricultural Best Management Practices Air Quality Maricopa County, Arizona and the Arizona Department of Agriculture Advisory Council. He has held all offices, including President, of the Board of Directors for the Vegetable Growers Association. He was a Director of United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He was a Board Member for the South Mountain Gin, and the Arizona Farm Bureau.
Will is a life member of the Xavier Dad Club and enjoyed coaching all his daughter’s Little League softball teams. He also enjoys golf, fishing and hunting when he is not busy farming. He and his wife, Leslie, reside in Phoenix and have three grown daughters Kristin, Lindsey and Jenna.
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Bruce Gwynn: Since 1970, Yuma agribusiness has been a significant part of Bruce Gwynn’s life. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, he managed a cattle feedyard; worked at the Barkley Company in the farming operation and in seed sales; and he has worked for about 30 years managing sales in agricultural chemical companies. Bruce is currently employed as an Area Business Manager for MANA – Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. He holds a unique position in Arizona agriculture since he has worked in animal, plant and chemical operations.
Bruce’s involvement in agriculture extends beyond his employment responsibilities. He serves, or has served, on the Yuma County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board, the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association Board of Directors, the Yuma County Ag Producers Scholarship Board of Advisors, and the Arizona Crop Protection Association Board of Directors and as its Past President.
Bruce Gwynn’s family has played a role in the history of Yuma and Arizona agriculture. His great, great grandfather, Jose Maria Redondo, began farming in the Gila Valley in the mid 1800s and he was the first person to bring irrigation to the valley. Jose Maria Redondo also served in the First Territorial Legislature and he was instrumental in bringing the Territorial Prison to Yuma. Bruce and his wife Debbie grew up in Yuma and for approximately 25 years, they have owned and operated the Garden Café. They are proud parents of three sons, Bryan, Toby and Ross and equally proud grandparents of two granddaughters, Mia and Kylie. |
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For more Information call (602) 542-0990
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