Innovator Donald M. Camp Sr., known for his values, humility, morals, as well as his passion for agriculture, passed away on November 12, 2019, at the age of 94.

According to his obituary, Camp was one of two children born to Wofford Benjamin Camp Sr. (W.B.) and Georgia Anna App Camp on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Shafter Cotton Research Experiment Station. Camp, a Kern County native, was a large presence in the agriculture industry and his contributions were innumerable. He enhanced the family farming operations, which was founded by his father, by leading the farm into the 21st century while embracing industry changes with innovative practices and pioneering crop management. Under Don’s leadership, D.M.Camp & Sons became a leader in state and national agricultural issues while advocating for local, state, and federal water projects and in supporting farmers in the Central Valley.

Camp is survived by his sister-in-law Floride Findley; children Georgia Bell, Don Jr. and his wife Debbie, Edwin and his wife Kaye, Clayton and his wife Karrie and Carolyn Pandol and her husband Jack; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a 14th on the way.