“The People’s Department” has been fortunate to have so many good people in top positions over the years. As we continue to celebrate our 150th anniversary, we remember and honor some of the key people who have contributed to the tremendous work that USDA has accomplished. On May 16, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Davis, Calif. to help USDA honor Yolo County farmer Richard Rominger, a former deputy secretary of USDA during the Clinton administration and the first Californian to attain that position.
USDA employees and leadership from at least eight different agencies gathered at the Lyng Building in Davis for the 150th anniversary celebration and joined the deputy secretary at the dedication of the first-floor conference room, now named the “Richard Rominger Conference Room.” An exhibit of historic photos of early California agriculture and a display of period farm equipment provided a historical setting. The University of California – Davis Agricultural Engineering Department also set up a working replica of the 1830s era McCormick reaper, the first mechanical grain harvester manufactured in the U.S.
“It’s really special that Abraham Lincoln established this organization 150 years ago in the middle of war to provide seeds to the people and to advance the promotion of agriculture,” Rominger said. “The USDA has come a long way since then.”
Deputy Secretary Merrigan credited Rominger for recruiting her to work for the USDA early in her career and praised his dedication as a mentor and his wisdom in dealing with the many agricultural issues USDA faced during his term in the position.
Farm Service Agency California State Executive Director Val Dolcini added his own praise noting that “the plaque that now hangs in the Rominger Conference Room is from Rich’s USDA family, acknowledging his many contributions to the success and well being of farmers in California and across the nation.”
California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross (former Chief of Staff to Secretary Vilsack) was also present to honor Rominger and shared the personal observation that “Rich is my own version of Abe Lincoln. He stands tall and moves into rooms quietly and effectively.”
After the brief celebration at the end of the work day, volunteer employees moved parts of the historic exhibit and agencies’ information to the weekly Wednesday evening Davis Farmer’s Market where Smokey Bear also joined staff in sharing information with the public.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan also spoke with the media regarding the additional $4 million in assistance that USDA is providing to Farmers Markets to make healthy food more available to SNAP recipients through the use of electronic card reading EBT units at the markets.
USDA agencies participating in California’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and Rominger Conference Room dedication included Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, Risk Management Agency, Food and Nutrition Services, Food Safety and Inspection Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service and Forest Service.
