ANR Kearney Research and Extension Center

1st day on the job

Fred Swanson, Retires after 26 Years as Director of Kearney Research and Extension Center

Fred Swanson, director of the University of California Kearney Research and Extension Center near Parlier for the past 26 years, guided the transformation of a quiet UC field station in rural Fresno County into a world-class agricultural research facility. He retired June 29. 

Raised on a family farm just five miles from Kearney, Swanson left home for college at UC Davis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in viticulture in 1965. Looking for adventure, Swanson took a position growing food for thousands of expatriate and local workers constructing dams in West Pakistan. Three years later, with the job done and West Pakistan’s electric capacity doubled, the 35-acre farm was turned over to the Pakistani army and Swanson returned to California.

A chance meeting with legendary viticulture specialist Fred Jenson led Swanson to apply for the opening at Kearney in 1983, a position he held until retirement.

“I have met and worked with many really wonderful people,” Swanson said. “I have been the lucky one.” “Life is really good!” Swanson said. Read the full story at http://news.ucanr.org/newsstorymain.cfm?story=1208

About Kearney REC

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