One of the charter members of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) and one of the association’s leaders were honored at the group’s 36th annual conference in Anaheim, Calif.

Neale P. McNutt of Camarillo, Calif., is the 2010 recipient of the CAPCA Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award.

Renee Rianda of Woodland, Calif., is the 2010 CAPCA Member of the Year.

McNutt received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural services and inspection at Cal Poly Pomona in 1958.

He has been in the industry for 52 years and received his PCA license in 1975.

McNutt has spent his career working in coastal vegetable crops and currently works for Tri-Tech Ag Products in Camarillo where he’s involved in product purchases, inventory control, and backup support for Tri-Tech PCAs. McNutt was was one of the pioneers in the formation of CAPCA.

In 1972, Senate Bill 1020 was passed for the licensing of agricultural pest control advisers in California.

The “Council of California Pest Control Advisers” a non-profit corporation was formed in 1975. The first CAPCA conference was held in Fresno in December 1975.

McNutt was a CAPCA charter member in January 1975.

He is past president of the California Pest Control Operators; board member of the Stanley Strew Educational Fund (SWS) and founding board member of the Plant Doctor Program.

Rianda is a native of California’s Salinas Valley.

She attended Hartnell College prior to transferring to Fresno State where she obtained a bachelor of science degree in ag business in 1989.

She received her PCA license in 1990 and started working for Contadina Foods in Woodland that spring.

When Contadina was purchased by Del Monte, Rianda continued in the pesticide food safety capacity and picked up a few new tasks, notably the grower payments.

When Del Monte closed its operation in Woodland Rianda moved to Morning Star Packing Co. where she is responsible for the food safety and product traceability programs.

At Morning Star she inherited the sustainable agriculture project, where she continues to work with customers and growers to meet the increasing requests for sustainable ag conformance.

In 2004 she completed her master’s degree at the University of Phoenix.

Rianda currently serves as the PCA member on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pest Management Advisory Committee.

She has been the chair of the California League of Food Processors Agricultural Production Committee from 2005 to 2010.

Renee has been active in her local Woodland CAPCA chapter since 1990, and is current chapter president.