How We Grow

Eric Mussen 1944-2022: Celebrated Bee Expert and Revered Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen had a trick. When people asked him questions, he listened. Really listened. That seems straightforward enough. Let people talk. But in the hands of Mussen, an internationally celebrated authority on bees and a 38-year UC Davis Cooperative Extension apiculturist, it was a teaching technique blended with bits of psychology, ample compassion, volumes of knowledge and a dash of humor. And he listened to everyone who came to him – professional beekeepers, scientists, growers, bee hobbyists, fellow farm advisors, stray conference attendees and more. "He had time for everyone. If you had a question, he would sit and listen very carefully," said Bob Curtis, former Almond Board of California (ABC) director of agricultural affairs and a friend of Mussen's. "He would let you make the decisions, sometimes by asking thoughtful questions, sometimes by helping you work it out. But he also spoke his mind. He would point out gaps in your story by saying, 'Have you thought about this?'" "There were times he'd get a look of amusement on his face," said Gabriele Ludwig, ABC director of sustainability & environmental affairs. "It was always a gentle humor that brought people along with him and made them trust him." There was, for instance, the meeting with nationally respected researchers from the University of Minnesota, where Mussen earned his master's and doctorate in entomology. They presented their findings but gave no recommendations for actions. Mussen asked that they give guidance. "They said, 'We just want to give people the data. We don't want to tell them what to do,'" Ludwig said. "Eric got this wry smile on his face and said, 'What do you think our jobs in extension are? We give advice. That's why people come to us. That's how we help them.'" Dr. Eric Mussen spent a long career helping people and changing the landscape of beekeeping. He died in June at home in Davis from liver cancer at 78. He left a legacy of gentle guidance, integrity, partnerships, mentorships, productive communication, towering knowledge, and love and respect from the people he touched. He also left California and the world a better place for bees. Many people considered him the top extension person in the nation, if not around the globe, dealing with honey bees. Colleagues called Mussen the premier authority on bees and pollination, a walking encyclopedia, and a treasure to the beekeeping industry and to agriculture. Among his many achievements, he was instrumental in helping ABC develop the ALMOND COMMUNITY 13

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