Leonel Jimenez
My name is Leonel Jimenez, and I am the Area Director for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Kings, Kern, and Tulare Counties.
I am a first-generation American of Mexican descent and a direct product of my community, having been born and raised in Reedley, CA, a small town southeast of Fresno. This is where my exposure to agriculture began, as my parents worked tirelessly at various jobs to provide for my three siblings and me, ensuring we had a roof over our heads, food, and clothes. Their main source of income came from working at local packing houses and out in the fields. Watching them work hard every day motivated me to excel in school to thank them for giving me an opportunity to thrive. With the support of God and my parents, I knew I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
After graduating from Reedley High School, I immediately began taking courses at Reedley College that summer. It was there that I became inspired to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, thanks to Professor Jan Dekker, who sparked my love for physical sciences. Soon after, I transferred to UC Santa Barbara to pursue a B.A. in Chemistry. The path I chose was not easy, but challenges have always inspired me. I wanted to fulfill the dream my parents had when they came to this country…to give us a better life. Being the first in my family to earn a degree was a monumental achievement, and my parents were extremely happy.
My journey didn’t stop there. I moved to Los Angeles and began working for Siemens as a bench-top chemist. That job quickly taught me that I needed to attend graduate school. Working the swing shift allowed me to enroll at California State University, Northridge, where I obtained my M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry. I worked alongside Dr. Yann Schrodi, and over the next two years, I developed a new catalyst molecule, which led to published research and conference presentations.
Opportunities continued to grow, eventually bringing me back to the Central Valley, where I have lived for the past 16 years. I began teaching Chemistry at College of the Sequoias, Reedley College, and through the Upward Bound Math & Science program, while also working for the USDA-ARS in Parlier, CA, under Dr. Spencer Walse. Teaching at local colleges lasted over five years, while my post-harvest fumigation research at USDA-ARS spanned a similar timeframe. This experience even took me to Santiago, Chile, where I lived for nine months, expanding my research and global exposure.
I then transitioned to the private sector, joining Horn Technologies and Services, a post-harvest fumigation service provider. Initially, I served as Operations Manager, but within two years, I was promoted to General Manager, tasked with expanding operations. By the time I moved to UCCE, the company had expanded into California, Kansas, and Texas.
With faith, persistence, and a strong work ethic I am honored to lead the UCCE in Kings, Kern, and Tulare Counties.
Kern County is located in the southern Central Valley of the state of California. Established in 1866, it extends east beyond the southern slope of the eastern Sierra Nevada range into the Mojave Desert, and includes parts of the Indian Wells Valley, and the Antelope Valley. From the Sierras the county extends across the floor of the San Joaquin Valley to the eastern edge of the Temblor Range, part of the Coastal Ranges. To the south the county extends over the ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains. According to the 2009 census, its population was 807,407. The county seat is Bakersfield (since 1874) with the original county seat being the former mining town of Havilah in the mountains between Bakersfield and Tehachapi.
The county has a large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, wind turbine power, and geothermal power. As of 2009[update], Kern remains California's top oil-producing county, with 81% of the state's 52,144 active oil wells.[2] The county accounts for one-tenth of overall U.S. oil production, and three of the five largest U.S. oil fields are in Kern County. Kern is also noted for its mineral wealth, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron in Kern County.[3]
Cooperative Extension is the informal off-campus educational arm of the University of California. It is a part of the Land-Grant College System, that since 1914, has provided the citizens of California and Kern County with the following programs to improve their quality of living.
4-H Youth Development
Citrus, Subtropical Horticulture, Pistachios
Cotton, Small Grains, Corn & Silage
Dairy
Deciduous Tree Fruits and Nuts
Entomology and Pest Management
Environmental Horticulture / Environmental Science
Irrigation Management & Agronomy
Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences
Livestock and Natural Resources
Vegetable Crops Pest Management
All donations will be used exclusively for the delivery of Cooperative Extension programs in Kern County, including 4-H Youth Development, Food and Nutrition Education, and agricultural research.
The University of California has been extensively involved in research and implementation of water conservation/management strategies throughout the state. A lot is known about when and how to most effectively use limited water supplies. The links below contain a brief introduction. Additional information is available at the UC ANR drought website, which is located at: http://ciwr.ucanr.edu/California_Drought_Expertise/
Tips for Saving Water in Landscape Irrigation
Saving Water in Landscape Irrigation
Livestock and Range Management
Kern County
Cooperative Extension Kern County
1031 South Mount Vernon Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Phone: (661) 868-6200
Fax: (661) 868-6208
Director:
Leonel Jimenez
