Occupation:  Farm Manager

 Professional Affiliations:

California Department of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture Industry Member

Vice President Rancho California Water District Board of Directors & Past President

Past Chairman California Association of Winegrape Growers & Board Member

Past President Riverside County Farm Bureau & Board Member

Past President Temecula Valley Winegrape Growers Association & Board Member

UCR Chancellors Agricultural Advisory Council Member

President California Winegrape Growers Foundation

Board Member California Sustainable Winegrape Alliance

Riverside County Solid Waste Management Adv. Panel

Member Murrieta/Temecula Group

Member Agricultural Leadership Association

President Upper Santa Margarita Irrigated Lands Group

State Appointments

Past Chairman of California Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board

California Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Task Force

Federal Appointments

USDA Hass Avocado Board Past Vice President

Licenses and / or Education

BS Degree, California State University of Fresno

Graduate California Agricultural Leadership Program

Department of Pesticide Regulations, Qualified Applicators License, QL38667

Honors and Awards

The Valley Group Award for Excellence in Agriculture 2004

USDA Honor Award Recipient 2003

Riverside County 4H All Star

 Background

A resident of the Temecula area since 1973, Ben Drake is the President of Drake Enterprises, Inc., located in Temecula, California, which he has owned and operated for 29 years.  He manages 825 acres of avocados and 400 acres of winegrapes in the Temecula Valley.  He and his wife, Sharon, have four children ranging from 21 to 30 years of age and two grandchildren.

Ben is a 5^th generation farmer in Riverside County.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Fresno State, and was a member of Class XII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. He is the Past Chairman of the California PD/GWSS Board and member of the PD/GWSS Task Force, a member of the Agricultural Leadership Associates, a member of UCR Chancellor’s Agricultural Advisory Council, on the Board of Directors of the Rancho California Water District, Past President of the Riverside County Farm Bureau, Member of The Riverside County Solid Waste Management Adv. Past Vice President of the USDA Hass Avocado Board, Past President of the Temecula Valley Winegrape Growers Association, Member of the Murrieta/Temecula Group, past Chairman for the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Member of the California Winegrape Grower Foundation Board, and 4H All-Star in Riverside County.

Ben is currently the key grower in Temecula Valley battling Pierce’s Disease and water issues.