Special Welcome to Jim Jorgensen, New CVFT Board Member
January 30th 2017 – Jim Jorgensen, ’65, the Seattle University Alumni Award winner for Professional Achievement, (photo credit: Seattle University).
Jim Jorgensen, along with his sisters, Joanne and Janice, worked with Central Valley Farmland Trust nearly a decade ago to place a conservation easement on their 300-acre ranch in Gustine. The agreement permanently ensures their family land always remains a ranch in agriculture. Now, he is expanding his conservation work by joining the CVFT board.
“My goal is to be productive and help bring my perspective as a landowner with an easement to the board,” said Jim. “I am impressed with the board and staff of CVFT. They are a high caliber group of agriculturally minded folks who have a common purpose to protect California farms.”
Jim comes from a long line of farmers and teachers. His parents always encouraged their kids to not only love learning, but to appreciate the land too. “We pursued an easement because we wanted what my parents wanted, to keep this ranch a ranch,” said Jim. “The history of our family is in this Gustine land.”
Jim’s grandfather came to California in the 1880’s and acquired the then 600-acre Jorgensen property. “He began the legacy of my family’s appreciation for the land, crops, and the synergy of how one property interacts with the larger landscape around it,” shares Jim. This long history on the land and keeping watch over it gives him a distinct viewpoint as a board member.
“As the owner of a CVFT-protected family farm, Jim brings a unique perspective, wealth of knowledge, and immense ability to the Board,” said CVFT Executive Director, Charlotte Mitchell. “We appreciate his incredible commitment to farmland conservation and are thrilled to have him join the Board of Directors.”
