FRIEND OF THE LAND AUGUST 2023

We would like to congratulate J.J. Goicoechea, DVM, on being our Friend of the Land for August 2023. Dr. Goicoechea is not only a rancher and veterinarian, but is also the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA).

Director Goicoechea received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University and did his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. Before being Director, Dr. Goicoechea was the Deputy Administrator of the Animal Industry Division and the State Veterinarian at the NDA. He was elected the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners during his first year of office and held that seat for ten years while serving three terms as the Eureka County Commissioner. He has also served as the Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Council Chair for ten years, is the Public Lands Council (PLC) Multiple Use Committee Chair, is a member of the PLC Board, and is a member of the National Cattlemen’s Association Board, serving as Region 6 Vice President.

In addition to his experience in state and local government, Director Goicoechea has an extensive agricultural background having practiced veterinary medicine in central Nevada and rural America for over 20 years. He is a passionate advocate for agricultural issues and has offered testimony at the Nevada Legislature and before various committees in both houses of Congress in Washington, D.C. on issues ranging from travel, fire, grazing, sage grouse, and wild horses.

When he is not doing business on behalf of the NDA, he can be found on his family’s fourth-generation cattle ranch where they operate on private, BLM, and USFS lands across two BLM districts and one FS Ranger District in Elko and White Pine counties in Nevada. Director Goicoechea and his wife have two daughters and are happily bringing up the fifth generation of ranchers on their lands.

Read about all of our Friend of the Land recipients HERE.