Neil Ledford

After serving on the Agriculture faculty at Hartnell for ten years, Neil Ledford entered the agriculture industry working in Product Management and Marketing roles in the vegetable seed industry. He finished his career by returning to Hartnell as the founder and leader of the Ag Institute and eventually as the Dean of Advanced Technology. Neil made a tremendous investment in Hartnell and its students as he helped establish the Ag Business & Technology Institute and supported the creation of the Center for Green Construction. He was absolutely instrumental in the revitalization of the Ag Program including creation of the renowned Food Safety Program. In Neil’s own words, “I have been immersed in the revitalization of the agriculture program as well as other programs that are now under the banner of Advanced Technology. What I expected to be a quiet conclusion to a forty year career, turned into an adventure that has been far beyond my wildest expectations.”