SLO County honors Agriculturalist, CattleWoman and Cattleman of the Year
By Camille DeVaul · Thu Jul 23 2026
John Lacey, Nicole Nicholson, and Dale Evenson recognized for work in local agriculture
PASO ROBLES — Three longtime leaders in San Luis Obispo County agriculture were recognized for their dedication to farming, ranching and community service during the annual Cattlemen and Farmers Day celebration at the California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) on Thursday, July 16.
The San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen and San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen's Association presented their annual awards honoring individuals whose careers have strengthened the county's agricultural industry and helped preserve its ranching traditions.
The 2026 honorees are John Lacey, named Agriculturalist of the Year; Nicole Nicholson, named CattleWoman of the Year; and Dale Evenson, named Cattleman of the Year.
According to Farm Bureau Executive Director Paul Clark, the awards recognize individuals who have made lasting contributions to agriculture through leadership, advocacy and service to their communities.
“Every year, San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association, and San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen select an individual who has served the agricultural industry and our community through farming, ranching, and advocating for agriculture," Clark said. “These recipients are all legacy contributors to our agricultural economy and culture.”
Clark noted that the tradition dates back more than six decades, with the Cattlemen's Association establishing its award in 1963, followed by the CattleWomen in 1965 and the Farm Bureau in 1988. He also highlighted the continued importance of agriculture to the county, noting that San Luis Obispo County's total crop and livestock value has exceeded $1 billion annually for four consecutive years.
The San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau selected longtime rancher John Lacey as its 2026 Agriculturalist of the Year, recognizing a lifetime of leadership in California's cattle industry.
Born in Lone Pine, Lacey comes from a family whose ranching roots in the Owens Valley date back to the 1800s. He graduated with honors from Cal Poly with a degree in animal science before serving in the United States Marine Corps.
Lacey often credits his parents, Mark Buckner Lacey and Elizabeth Lindsey Lacey, for instilling a strong work ethic from an early age, along with the many mentors who worked alongside him on the family ranch.
After moving to San Luis Obispo County in 1975, Lacey combined ranching with a career at Farm Credit, where he worked closely with local farmers and ranchers while helping agricultural businesses throughout the region.
His leadership extended far beyond the Central Coast. Throughout his career, Lacey served on numerous local, state and national organizations, including the California Beef Council, the California Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattlemen's Association. He later became president of the newly merged National Cattlemen's Beef Association during a pivotal time for the industry.
A Farm Bureau member whose family has belonged to the organization since the 1920s, Lacey has remained a dedicated advocate for agriculture throughout his career.
He and his wife, Dee, recently celebrated 63 years of marriage and have built a multigenerational ranching legacy with their children and grandchildren, many of whom have participated in 4-H, FFA, and agricultural leadership programs.
Lacey becomes the 38th recipient of the Agriculturalist of the Year award since its creation in 1988.
The San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen named Nicole Nicholson its 2026 CattleWoman of the Year, honoring her leadership in agriculture, education, and community outreach.
Nicholson represents six generations of California ranching. She grew up working alongside her parents, Bill and Tracy Nicholson, on the family's certified Red Angus commercial cow-calf and grass-fed cattle operation on the Central Coast.
Her interest in agriculture began through 4-H and FFA before earning a bachelor's degree in animal science from Cal Poly, where she studied beef production, reproductive physiology and animal genetics. She later earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, an education specialist credential and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California.
After returning to San Luis Obispo County, Nicholson combined her passion for education and service by teaching at the college level and establishing a private educational therapy and psychology practice that serves individuals with learning and language differences.
For more than 13 years, she has been an active member of the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen's Association and currently serves as its president. During her tenure, she has led programs promoting beef education while supporting local students, veterans, seniors and first responders.
Nicholson has also helped raise thousands of dollars in scholarships for San Luis Obispo County students.
She follows in the footsteps of her mother, Tracy Nicholson, who received the CattleWoman of the Year honor in 2021.
Together with her husband, Tom Stainner, and her extended family, Nicholson continues to help manage the family's ranching operation in Cayucos while advocating for the future of California agriculture.
She is the 61st recipient of the CattleWoman of the Year award, first presented in 1965.
The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen's Association selected Dale Evenson as its 2026 Cattleman of the Year in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to ranching and service to the local cattle industry.
A San Luis Obispo County native, Evenson grew up helping manage his family's cattle operation in Arroyo Grande. He participated in Edna 4-H, Arroyo Grande FFA and Santa Maria Young Farmers and Ranchers before earning a degree in agricultural mechanics from Cal Poly.
Following graduation, Evenson spent 43 years with Farm Supply Company, serving ranchers and farmers throughout San Luis Obispo and southern Monterey counties. He became well known for his extensive agricultural knowledge and his willingness to help fellow producers.
Beyond his professional career, Evenson has remained active in agricultural leadership. He served as president of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen's Association from 2013 to 2014 and contributed to numerous committees, including Membership, Cattlemen's BBQ, Cattlemen's Play Day and Cattle PAC.
His service also includes leadership roles with the California Cattlemen's Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Edna Farm Bureau, Farm Supply Cooperative, San Miguel Lions Club, the San Luis Obispo County Agricultural Task Force and the Coalition for Labor, Agriculture and Business.
Today, Evenson enjoys spending time with his wife, Suze, their two sons and four grandchildren while continuing to support agriculture in San Luis Obispo County.
He becomes the 63rd recipient of the Cattleman of the Year award, the county's longest-running agricultural honor.
Feature Image: (From left) Agriculturist of the Year John Lacey, CattleWoman of the Year Nichole Nicholson, and Cattleman of the Year Dale Evenson were introduced as the award winners during Cattlemen and Farmers Day at the California Mid-State Fair on Thursday, June 16. Photo by Brittany App