Board of Directors
The US-LT RCD Board of Director's are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors, and are not compensated for their work. As a state special district, the Board can make legal agreements with county, state and federal governments for work in the district. Associate directors may be appointed by the US-LT RCD to assist in special areas of interest.
Board Members
Chuck Pritchard, President
Rancher; former president of the California Association of Resource Conservation District's (CARCD); former member of the California Biodiversity Council; past national councilman of the National Association of Resource Conservation District (NACD); member of the Range Management Advisory Committee to the State Board of Forestry; Chairperson of the California Grazing Lands Initiative Committee; current chairman of the Central Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council (CCRC&D), San Luis Obispo County Agricultural Liaison Committee, California Agricultural Leadership Alumni Association, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Work Group, Farm Bill; California Cooperative Extension Work Group, International Society for Range Management, California Cattlemen's Association and California Farm Bureau Federation.
Jeffrey W. Pipes, Vice-President
US-LT RCD Board Vice President, raises sustainably farmed wine grapes, almonds and walnuts with his wife and two young daughters. They own Pipestone Vineyards, a small boutique winery located just west of Templeton. Jeff has a B.A in Geology, an M.S. in Hydrogeology, and a J.D. Prior to planting the vineyard, Jeff practiced in both the environmental law and environmental engineering fields.
Mike Bonnheim, Director
US-LT RCD 2nd Vice President, Fourth Generation Rancher specializing in Multiple Use Management, State Cattlemen's Association Wildlife Management Committee Chair, Sand Luis Obispo County Range Improvement Association Director, Cal Poly State University B.S. Farm Management 1976, Ranching For Profit School 1990, Holistic Management International Ranch and Rangeland Managers Training Program 2003, San Luis Obispo County Native Tree Committee member, San Luis Obispo County Native Tree Stewardship Award recipient 2006, United States Delegate representing Holistic Management International to Terra Madre Conference in Torino Italy sponsored by Slow Foods International.
Tom Mora, Director
Rancher; member of County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC).
John DeRosier, Director
A native of SLO county, attending school from elementary through Cal Poly. After Cal Poly, John moved to Paso Robles where he lives and farms a Certified Organic and Demeter Certified Biodynamic farm, “With The Grain” and manages a 100 acres of dry-land almonds for Hall Ranch Company. John sells his dry-land grains, legumes and seeds through a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program and will soon be selling from farmer's market and his certified commercial kitchen in Atascadero where he mills and prepares his grains and grain-products. In addition to his grains, John raises pastured turkeys, chickens, and sheep. John has a deep passion for agriculture and loves sharing the art and science of agriculture with people, young and old, through his talks, tours and classes on organics and biodynamics. John dreams that people will again see agriculture as a beautiful, enjoyable and effective life, directly contributing to themselves, their family, community, country and the world.