WRCCA Announces the 2025 CCA of the Year and Allan Romander Scholarship & Mentor Awards Program Winners

The Western Region Certified Crop Adviser program is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 CCA of the Year and the Allan Romander Scholarship and Mentor Awards.

The award for Certified Crop Adviser of the Year in the Western Region acknowledges a member's exemplary dedication and contributions to agriculture as a Certified Crop Adviser. This individual also actively encourages and leads others to advocate for agricultural practices that are advantageous for both farmers and the environment.

WRCCA is excited to announce the 2025 CCA of the Year recipient is Eric Pooler. Eric’s career has focused specifically on wine grape production, spanning time with many of the most distinguished wineries and farming operations within the U.S. wine industry. Eric is the Vice President of Viticulture, Winery Relations, and Bulk Wine Sales/Environmental, Social, and Governance for Nuveen Natural Capital. For 13 years, Eric has developed and orchestrated four annual continuing education events offering CCA and CPAg credits through the Napa Farm Bureau and the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

WRCCA is proud to honor Eric for his efforts within the CCA program and dedication to the industry. We congratulate him on his achievement of CCA of the Year!

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The Allan Romander Scholarship and Mentor Awards Program honors the life work of dedicated agriculturalist and leader, Allan Romander (1941-2019). Allan Romander was one of the first CCAs in California, and his passion for agriculture created a lasting impact on those around him. Romander’s decades of leadership included serving as the North American CCA board chair in 2014 and serving as the California (now Western Region) Chair from 2008-2009. Romander’s efforts continued into his retirement as he could often be found at the WRCCA booth during trade shows. WRCCA is proud to honor Allan’s dedication to his field and carry on the legacy he built for the CCA program.

Scholarship applicants were selected using the criteria of academics, leadership, awards, professional development and their pathway to becoming a CCA. We would like to congratulate the following individuals for receiving a scholarship.

In the South Valley, we recognize Carlos Vega Lara, hailing from Parlier, CA, attending Reedley Community College, majoring in Plant Science. His commitment to agriculture has always centered around becoming an advisor and working closely with small farmers throughout the Central Valley. He completed a year-long internship as a research assistant with NutriAg. Between classes he works with the Small Farms Cooperative Extension in Fresno and Madera counties, assisting small farmers with pest management, water irrigation, soil health, and crop nutrition. He also serves as a teaching assistant at Reedley College, supporting AgTech courses. Next year he plans to transfer to Fresno State to earn a bachelor’s in Plant Science with a minor in Agronomy while gaining experience to take the Certified Crop Adviser exams.

In the North Valley, we recognize Reed Scott, from Yuba City, CA, currently pursuing a major in Integrated Plant Sciences at Washington State University. This year Reed worked on a project developing a plan for sustainable rotational grazing by sheep integrated into a production almond orchard for weed control. Reed prioritizes leadership and community service as President of his fraternity, a member of Student Government, and a mentor to youth in the Yuba-Sutter area. Reed is interning for Corteva Agriscience in the Turf & Ornamental division, working on a new fungicide for turf. He previously worked alongside a PCA checking insect traps and working with a farmer to manage irrigation. His goals include obtaining a CCA, PCA, and QAL to further his value and education in the industry.

In the Desert Region, we recognize Josett Clark, from Yuma, Arizona, presently enrolled at University of Arizona with a major in Agricultural Systems Management. Josett is a dedicated volunteer within school and the community, including with the Southwest Ag Summit and the Humane Society of Yuma. Josett has interned as an Extension Specialist at the Yuma Ag. Center where her love began for the effort and energy that goes into research. She is passionate about promoting sustainable crop production by helping farmers make better and more efficient irrigation decisions, a crucial aspect in arid regions like Yuma, AZ. She currently interns at the UA Yuma County Cooperative Extension assisting with research and organizing a Tractor and Forklift Safety Workshop. She plans to become a CCA as she graduates in 2026.

In the Coastal Region, we recognize Roberto Lopez, from Oakdale, CA, currently pursuing a degree in Agricultural Science with a minor in Plant Protection at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Roberto was selected for the four-year summer Gallo Cultivate Internship Scholarship Program where he received the “Farm to Formal” award for demonstrating excellence both in the field and in the office. Roberto serves on the Cal Poly Ag Business club board and prioritizes strengthening his network. He values his work with Green Leaf Farms as an almond harvest equipment operator, gaining experience with farming practices required to ensure high yields. Additionally, he co-owns and operates Double Oak Farming LLC, a rapidly growing hay farming business. Looking ahead he plans to continue combining hands-on farming experience with agribusiness insight to support innovation, sustainability, and workforce development across California agriculture.

Mentor awards are granted to exceptional professors who teach agronomy related coursework.

Our mentor award recipient is Daila Melendez, Adjunct Professor of Plant Science at Los Angeles Pierce College. Daila is a student of Pierce College herself and has associates degrees in both Horticulture and Landscape Design, and a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University. With the honorarium grant funding, the students will benefit by applying it to two student projects at Pierce College. The first project is a small-scale vineyard that was planted by her students in the Fall of 2024. The funds will be used to create a regenerative system for nurturing these grape vines through use of annual and perennial cover crops and companion planting, soil building, IPM based pest management, and water conserving practices. The second project is the establishment of a small area of Pierce acreage for flower farming. The flower farm will be planted with perennial and annual flowers for cutting and will also continuously preserve a percentage of flowers for pollinator habitat. This project will give the students another area for research on cover crops, beneficial insects, pollinators, flower crop choice, weed suppression, water use, and organic practices. Both projects provide the students with opportunities to experience hands-on learning and to gain knowledge about various aspects of agronomy as applied to a practical situation.

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The WRCCA program is committed to refining the knowledge and skill of those making decisions in the field. CCAs work with producers to help make economically and environmentally sound decisions. This counsel is the result of knowledge and perspective gained through requirements to become a CCA. CCA’s play a vital role working with producers to ensure sustainability and long-term success.

For more information, visit wrcca.org.

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