James R. Erdman, who grows rice in Yolo and Colusa counties as part of Erdman Warehouse Inc., was presented with the 2010 California Rice Industry Award at the California Field Day. Award recipients are nominated and selected by the board of the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation (CCRRF).
Erdman has served on the CCRRF board for more than 30 years and is the second member of his family to receive the award. (His father, Fritz, was honored in 1976.) Erdman also served for 14 years on the Farmers' Rice Cooperative board of directors.
Erdman and his wife, Marilyn, live in Knights Landing, Calif., and have three daughters.