The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) at UC Davis is known throughout the world for its expertise, educational opportunities and contributions to society. Much of that is due to the great dedication and efforts of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the college.
Each year CA&ES recognizes individuals for their achievements, support, leadership and service to the college with an Award of Distinction honoring those contributions.
The 2023 winners are an entomologist who worked with NASA to reduce aircraft “bug splats,” a farming industry leader who pioneered minimum tillage technology, a promising food scientist, the face of undergraduate teaching in animal science and a third-generation grower active in agriculture leadership efforts.
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Alumnus of the Year
Jim Finch
Jim Finch is a third-generation citrus farmer and real estate investor who has been active in agricultural organizations and is a former trustee of the UC Davis Foundation board.
Finch, who graduated in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and managerial economics, is being honored among alum with a CA&ES Award of Distinction.
After graduating, Finch was an operations analyst for citrus at Dole Food and ran lemon packing operations at Paramount Citrus before returning to the family farming business.
He is the owner of Finch Investment Partnerships and Finch Farms, which grows avocados and citrus. Finch is also a director of the agriculture co-operatives Sunkist Growers and Fruit Growers Supply.
He is an active alum of the California Agricultural Leadership program, a former trustee of the Monica Ross School and a former director of the trade association California Citrus Mutual.
He and wife, Kristen, met while attending UC Davis and feel indebted to the university for their experiences they had as college students. Daughter Sarah graduated from UC Davis in 2023 and son Michael went to University of Colorado, Boulder.
Jim is a successful farmer caring for his family land near Ojai and an outstanding Aggie alum. He has demonstrated leadership and devoted his time to benefit everyone in the agricultural commodity groups that he is a part of.” - Craig McNamara, Sierra Orchards owner and president
Early Career Alumnus
Jeffrey Sparks
Understanding physics, chemistry and culinary arts is vital for a food scientist, according to UC Davis alum Jeffrey Sparks, who believes it enables him to bridge scientific principles with practical culinary applications.
Sparks earned a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology in 2014. He’s being honored with an Award of Distinction in the Early Career Alumni category.
Since 2021, Sparks has worked for the Blentech Corporation, where he leads its Testing and Trials Work Center. He works with food industry professionals to run highly technical tests on Blentech food processing equipment for proof-of-concept testing, research and development, scale ups in food production and recipe development.
While at UC Davis, he was an intern at the Milk Processing Lab, where he performed pilot-scale dairy operations. He has also previously worked at Miyoko’s Kitchen, a plant-based cheese and butter manufacturer in Petaluma.
During his free time, Sparks volunteers with local nonprofit bicycle coalitions to teach safety and bicycle mechanics to people of all ages. From the work site to the bike path, Sparks enjoys helping others learn how to use their various equipment more safely and efficiently.
Jeffrey has many strengths demonstrated through his work at Blentech and in the food industry, such as his strong leadership skills, willingness to take on complex concepts and find paths forward, passion for his work, and attention to detail.” ~Daniel Voit, CEO of Blentech Corporation
Distinguished Friend of the College
Tony Turkovich
For decades, Tony Turkovich has been a leading innovator in the farming industry and a thoughtful supporter of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
He’s being honored with an Award of Distinction in the Distinguished Friends of the College category.
Turkovich operates Button & Turkovich Ranch in Yolo County, which produces tomatoes, wheat, sunflower, squash, alfalfa, prunes, walnuts and wine grapes. He’s been partner and manager of the farming operation since 1976 and has developed minimum tillage production systems that help improve efficiency.
He has collaborated with UC Davis researchers on numerous agriculture-related projects on topics including irrigation, soil health and greenhouse gas emissions. He has generously provided farm equipment needed for students and faculty be successful in their research, teaching and outreach missions.
Turkovich is a member of the Advisory Board for the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety and a commissioner with the Winters Fire District. He has previously served with the Pacific Coast Producers Board of Directors and the California Tomato Research Institute Board of Directors.
Turkovich and his wife, Joanie, have been married for 47 years and together have three sons and five grandchildren.
Tony is, without a doubt, among the most progressive and innovative farmers anywhere in California. He is always innovating and adapting to maximize productivity and stay at the forefront of the farming community. Neighbors and peers are always looking to Tony for the next big idea. As a person, Tony is as honest and thoughtful as the day is long.” -- Dan Dooley, New Current Water and Land, LLC
Exceptional Faculty
Lynn Kimsey
At five years old, Lynn Kimsey got her first butterfly net, igniting a lifelong curiosity for insects.
After earning a bachelor's degree and doctorate in entomology from UC Davis, Kimsey joined the faculty in 1989 and is now a distinguished professor with the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
She is being honored with an Award of Distinction in the Exceptional Faculty category.
Kimsey has been director of the UC Davis Bohart Museum of Entomology since 1990. During her tenure, the museum has grown to include eight million insect specimens, making it the seventh largest insect collection in North America. The museum draws an average of 15,000 visitors a year through open houses, workshops and lectures. It also features a live "petting zoo" with hissing cockroaches, stick insects and tarantulas.
With expertise in insect biodiversity, urban entomology and forensic entomology, Kimsey is highly sought after by journalists, seeking information about bed bugs, spiders, butterflies and Asian giant hornets.
Kimsey contributed to the work by NASA and Boeing to research ways to reduce “bug splats” on aircraft. Partly because of her research, NASA engineers developed surfaces to repel bugs.
Dr. Kimsey is a visionary with a ‘let’s-do-this’ viewpoint that defines her. Her work is nothing short of exemplary; she has made the museum the place to be—not only for scientific collaborators but for the public.” – Steve Nadler, Department of Entomology and Nematology
Exceptional Staff
Lisa Nash Holmes
Lisa Nash Holmes has called the UC Davis campus home since the mid-1980s, starting first as an undergrad, then a master’s student and now as the teaching coordinator, facility manager and advising center supervisor for Department of Animal Science.
Holmes, who is considered the face of the undergraduate teaching program in her department, is being honored among staff with a CA&ES Award of Distinction.
In her more than 30 years on campus, Holmes has also been a peer advisor, teaching assistant and staff research associate. It’s not uncommon to find her on campus setting up and taking down labs, checking on animals, cheering on students, helping with class instruction or volunteering to support events like Picnic Day.
Colleagues say Holmes is the ultimate team player, selfless, supportive, caring, compassionate and generous with both time and money. She established the Lisa Nash Holmes Award in Animal Science to support student scholarship.
She was awarded the Department of Animal Science Star Award in 2022 for “going above and beyond the goals and expectations of her position” and honored with Staff Assembly citations of excellence in the 2016-17 and 2019-2020 academic years.
I cannot think of any staff member in our college who is more deserving and who epitomizes the world-class spirit and mission of our college.” – Russ Hovey, professor and lead faculty advisor, Department of Animal Science