Mike Wade joined the California Farm Water Coalition, a statewide nonprofit organization headquartered in Sacramento, as executive director in 1998. He oversees the organization’s public education and media relations efforts and serves as contact for California’s irrigated agriculture industry.
Primary activities of the Farm Water Coalition include education and outreach to urban consumers, the media and government officials with fact-based information on farm water use. Efforts include paid and earned media, educational booklets, posters and school curriculum. From 2001 through 2013 Mike also served concurrently as the Executive Director of the Agricultural Water Management Council, an organization set up to assist agricultural irrigation and water districts with efficient water management planning. Prior to joining the Coalition and AWMC, Mike served 11 years as the executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau and for five years as the executive director of the California Christmas Tree Association. During that time he represented agricultural interests at the county, state and national levels on land use; air quality; labor and marketing. Mike’s background includes a former partnership in a family-owned almond farming business.
His interests include vintage cars, aviation, and travel with his wife and family.