CATA Hall of Fame - Class of 2011

Richard Nimphius
Riverdale High School, 1968-1970 - Grace M. Davis High School, 1971-1980 - Modesto Junior College, 1980-2006

Teacher of Excellence
Honorary American Degree

Richard Nimphius had a tremendous impact on agricultural education in California, especially in the central valley. As a high school instructor for twelve years, he coached several successful teams including three state champion Poultry Judging Teams, one of which all three members would become successful ag teachers. Richards’s philosophy of strong classroom instruction being the foundation for all other successes allowed him to truly operate programs at both the high school and community college levels that excelled. He was a true believer in the integration of technology in the classroom and the field and used that technology to aid in the instruction of over twenty different courses taught in his tenure at Modesto Junior College. Richard worked diligently as Dean of Agriculture at MJC to promote the program being the first California Community College to display an Agriculture Booth at the National FFA Convention, thus drawing students from across the nation to Modesto Junior College.
Bud West
Tracy High School, 1969-1983 - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1983-1984 - Reedley College, 1984-2007

Star State FFA Advisor
Teacher of Excellence
CATA Outstanding Teacher

Bud West’s positive attitude, innovative ideas, and high standards have defined his teaching career. Bud began teaching at Tracy High School where he took leadership development to new levels. Under his tutelage Tracy FFA boasted a string of ten consecutive years with a first or second place winner in regional extemporaneous or prepared public speaking, two state champion parliamentary procedure teams, ten central region officers and five state FFA officers. He did this while teaching meat processing and welding. Bud transitioned into an agribusiness instructor and department head at Reedley College where he led the AGNR programs with emphasis on high technology, industry-related skill training. Again, his passion for student leadership drove the creation of the first community college agricultural ambassador program.