[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 191 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING RICHARD L. COTTA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DEVIN NUNES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard L. Cotta, a 
pillar of the California dairy industry, on the occasion of his 
retirement.
  Mr. Cotta has spent virtually his entire career in all aspects of the 
dairy business; from dairy farming to dairy genetics and from dairy 
processing to dairy politics.
  Mr. Cotta is a graduate, with honors, from California State 
Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in dairy 
husbandry.
  From 1980 to 1984 he was the CEO of United Dairymen of California, a 
producer trade organization, until it merged to form Western United 
Dairymen.
  From 1984 to 1993, Mr. Cotta served as the CEO of Western United 
Dairymen, the largest producer trade association in California.
  Since 2007, Mr. Cotta has held the title of President and CEO of 
California Dairies, Inc. (CDI). His career at CDI began in 1993 when he 
started as General Manager at San Joaquin Valley Dairymen, a dairy 
processing and marketing cooperative. In 1999, San Joaquin Valley 
Dairymen merged with Danish Creamery and California Milk Producers to 
form CDI. At this time, Mr. Cotta was named Senior Vice President of 
Producer Affairs and Government Relations, and held this position until 
he was named CEO in 2007. Under his leadership, CDI profits have 
reached record levels. Today, CDI is California's largest dairy 
provider and the 2nd largest in the United States.
  Previously, Mr. Cotta worked as a sire analyst for American Breeders 
Service, a classifier for the Holstein Association of America and a 
principal in Genetics, Inc. For several years he was a dairy consultant 
with many successful dairies on feeding, breeding and management 
systems.
  Mr. Cotta has testified before the U.S. Congress and the California 
Legislature on behalf of the dairy industry. At the request of the 
Secretary of Agriculture, he has participated in world trade missions 
to open foreign markets to U.S. dairy products.
  Mr. Cotta currently owns and operates Cotta Farms and is a partner in 
Terra Bella Farms, both almond farming operations. He sits on the 
following boards: U.C. Davis Deans Advisory Council; California State 
University Chancellors Ag Advisory Council; Sacred Heart School 
Foundation; and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. He is also on the 
Globalization Operating Committee for the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
  Please join me in congratulating Mr. Richard L. Cotta on his 
retirement from California Dairies, Inc.

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