Ralph Ernst Retires with Almost 40 Years' Service

Ralph Ernst retired from the department in June as Specialist in Cooperative Extension after 38 years of service.

Dr. Ernst grew up on a farm in Michigan where, from an early age, he was involved in the family poultry operation. He was an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and received both the Michigan Future Farmers’ Award and FFA’s American Farmer Degree. Undoubtedly these activities helped guide him toward his first postgraduate job as an ag teacher. Through the years, he has been a proponent of poultry youth programs. California’s 4-H members and leaders, FFA students and advisors have all looked to Ralph for guidance when it comes to poultry judging.

The retiring CE Poultry Specialist was honored by the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association and many colleagues at a party on September 17. At the end of a hilarious skit, (left to right) Travis Kroger, Bob James and Marta Kroger (former members of California State Poultry Judging Team) presented Dr. Ernst with a plaque recognizing his service to California’s poultry youth

Ralph received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University Honors College in December 1959. After working a short time as a vocational agriculture instructor, he returned to Michigan State University, obtaining a master’s degree (1963) in Poultry Management and a doctoral degree (1966) in Poultry Physiology. He began his career in Cooperative Extension at the University of California, Davis, in August 1966 and quickly advanced to the highest title and rank.

His farm background helped Ralph relate well to farmers and ranchers: he knows the hardships they face and the sacrifices they make. When his clients had problems, he was always there to help them, even on weekends, evenings or holidays. Quite characteristically, he spent the first week of his retirement helping game bird producers in Arizona. He could easily have said no, he had just retired, or have told them he would come in the fall (when the temperature would be below 110o F).

Ralph always seemed to be first in line to do the most difficult, time consuming or routine jobs. It was he who developed the bulk of the curriculum for the California Egg Quality Assurance Program (CEGAP) and kept track of all the training records and member deficiencies. He has been a member of the Poultry Science Association since 1961 and edited their newsletter as well as the California Poultry Letter, in addition to publishing more than 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He remains an active member of World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA) and has served on the WPSA-USA Branch Board. When other CE personnel became exasperated and refused to talk to bureaucrats from D.C. and Sacramento, Ralph still patiently sat in on three-hour conference calls.

When it came time for the accolades, Ralph always moved himself to the back of the line. Nonetheless, his efforts have been recognized many times. Most recently, he received a Hammer Award from then-Vice President Al Gore, given for “establishing innovative and unique programs to make government work better and achieve results Americans care about.” He received the Poultry Science Extension Award (1978), California Poultry Federation Service Award (1998), Pacific Egg and Poultry Association’s “Scientist of the Year” (1995), PePa Special Award for Contributions to the CEQAP (1996) and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Manuscript Award (1991).

As a Poultry Specialist, Ralph had no obligation to do on-campus teaching, but he taught poultry production classes for years and guest lectured in many other courses. His dedication to students was obvious at his retirement party. One of his former students, now the CEO of a large layer company, flew all the way from Hawaii to honor him. Another former student, Dave Emery, sent this message from Canada:

Dr. Ernst: You were always the supreme example of a gifted extension professional and knowledgeable instructor. I always appreciated your patience and guidance. I can only imagine how many students have benefited from your logic and kind demeanor since I left Davis. Thank you so much for all you did for me.

Ralph and his wife Pat have been generous hosts in the Avian Sciences/Animal Science group, often opening their home to students, faculty and departmental friends.

Fellow Poultry Specialist Francine Bradley  aptly identified Ralph’s importance to many people and organizations when she said , “Ralph Ernst has been the glue that has held the Poultry Workgroup and Poultry CE together.”