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Larry Yee is retiring as the director of the University of California Davis Farm Cooperative Extension Office and the Hansen Trust, but he assured Rotarians at a recent meeting that the club’s Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch will continue.

By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula Times

Larry Yee is retiring as the director of the University of California Davis Farm Cooperative Extension Office and the Hansen Trust, but he assured Rotarians at a recent meeting that the club’s Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch will continue.

“We were really, really pleased that you joined with us for the Pumpkin Patch,” said Yee. “You must be popping buttons” over the success of the event that drew thousands to Faulkner Farm.

Yee said that people often wonder how big the Hansen Trust has become: “It’s a restricted trust,” now at about $25 million, of which a portion is used by the university to fund the trust’s annual operating expenses including administration, research, agricultural education and literacy and grants. The trust also maintains the Agricultural Center and funds capital improvements.

“At the end of June I’m going to hang up my spurs” and retire after more than 30 years with the university, duty that Yee said has been a “pleasure and an honor to serve the people of Ventura County.” Yee said his duties would be split and handled by two new directors, who will separately oversee the Cooperative Extension Office and the Hansen Trust.

The sale of the 36-acre Hansen Ranch located in East Ventura - part of the bequest to the university by the late Thelma Hansen - has seen its ups and downs, with an initial sale falling through and the last three or four years spent to secure entitlements from the City of Ventura for development. When the property sells, Yee said the building planned for the Ag Center at Faulkner Farm will be built.

“In the last year the Ag Center has become quite well known,” and is a popular venue for meetings and conferences. “I want to make sure that Faulkner Farm, as well as the future Ag Center, will be a big part of the community... originally the trust was going to build a research office center of about 13,000 square feet, but I think they’re going to go back to the drawing board.” Yee said “If and when construction does happen,” it might impact the annual Pumpkin Patch, but such impacts will be considered.

Rotary President Mitch Stone noted that the club had donated $1,000 to Faulkner Farm in appreciation for the use of the venue for the Pumpkin Patch. “Larry has always been a great friend to this club and the community” who, Stone noted, will be missed.