Oakdale resident Bill Jackson, a fifth generation Californian on his mother’s side, was recently honored as the Livestock Man of the Year at the Grand National Rodeo and Stock Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco for his accomplished career in the beef industry.

Jackson said of his award, “I was very humbled to receive this award from the past recipients’ who I have always looked up to as pillars of the livestock industry…It was a very proud moment for me and my family especially seeing how my father was recipient of this award in 1990, my wife and two daughters still ride and work cattle along side of me.”

Hailing from local Rodden family stock — who came to California during the pre-gold rush era and later became active in the livestock industry, became influential in the livestock industry and feed lot operations in the Oakdale area — Jackson’s roots are deep within local soil even though he graduated from Robert Louis Stevenson High School in Pebble Beach. After graduating from the University of Oregon in Eugene, he started his own cattle operation.

With the passing of his grandfather, Vernon A. Rodden, the family merged their operation with the operations of Jackson and his father’s into one large cow/calf, feedlot and stocker/feeder program, V.A. Rodden, Inc.

Jackson was named chief executive officer of the family organization with headquarters in Oakdale. They have fed and pastured cattle in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Northern California.

“I am most appreciative of the fact I am a fifth generation Californian who has been blessed with good soil, water and a family which has supported our efforts to diversify and become sustainable,” Jackson said.

Jackson has built his herd from all western states and Canada and Mexico. Since the family merger in 1988, he has expanded the operation to include farming with considerable acreage in walnuts, almonds, rice, grapes and oat silage.

In spite of a busy schedule running the family business, Jackson has served as a volunteer in many capacities. He has been a longtime board member and president of the San Joaquin-Stanislaus Cattlemen’s Association; has served on the CCA board of the directors; was a member of the California Beef Council, serving as chair in 2005 and the executive committee from 2001 to 2007; has been on the NCBA board of directors from 2004 to the present; was regional vice president of the Federation of State Beef Councils from 2008 to 2010 and has been on the operating committee and budget committee as served as vice chair of the Food Services Committee. Jackson was honored with the San Joaquin-Stanislaus Cattlemen’s Association’s Cattleman of the Year Award in 2005.

A community man as well, Jackson has been an active volunteer in various community-driven posts. Jackson served for nearly two decades as a board member and was president of the Oakdale Rural Fire District; more than 10 years on the Central Catholic High School Foundation Board; and is a member of the President’s Club of Stanislaus County.