HOME

Ben Higgins, State Director USDA Rural Development in California Special Guest at TKHCC Ruiz Foods Mixer 

Mr. Ben Higgins, State Director USDA Rural Development in California Special Guest at the recent TKHCC Ruiz Foods Mixer.  Mr. Higgins was an invitee of Michael Lane and Self Help Enterprises.

Higgins was appointed State Director of USDA Rural Development in California by USDA Secretary Mike Johanns on March 2, 2006.  Higgins oversees 140 employees and the operation of the state office in Davis, CA, and 25 local offices, from Eureka to El Centro. 

Higgins, formerly served as Executive Vice President of the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), based in Sacramento, where he was responsible for overseeing all the activities of the association. Higgins worked with staff and officers to review legislation, develop positions, and lobby elected representatives and regulatory bodies on behalf of the association. He also served as lead staff spokesperson for the CCA to the media, and he was fully responsible for association financial planning and personnel management.

Before assuming his position as Executive Vice President at CCA in December, 2002, he served as Director of Public Affairs for the association. His duties included producer communications and working with federal agencies and legislators on issues of concern and interest to the beef cattle industry.

Higgins was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, CA, where his family currently operates a fourth-generation commercial cow-calf operation in and around the coastal community of Cayucos.

He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in December 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business, concentrating in policy. He completed an internship in Tokyo, Japan before joining CCA. 

Higgins resides in Sacramento with his wife, Rochelle, and their daughter, Audrey.

For a photo gallery of this and other Chamber events, please refer to the Photo Gallery page.