A Tradition of Advancing Agriculture
In 1912, C.L. Best designed a track-type tractor that revolutionized what was possible on the farm. His invention became the foundation for nearly every tracked machine in use today and was part of the early formation of the Caterpillar Tractor Co.
More than a century later, his grandson, the late Dan G. Best II, is helping UC Davis give today’s agricultural thinkers an opportunity to make their own mark in advancing innovation.
A gift of more than $25 million created three endowed chairs in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and established the C.L. Best Innovation in Agriculture Fund for student support, research and facilities.
Together these resources create more capacity for faculty, students and researchers to tackle challenges such as using water more efficiently, putting sensors and autonomous equipment to work in the field and using technology and data to make better decisions. That spirit of practical problem-solving is exactly what made C.L. Best’s work so remarkable and what makes his grandson’s gift such a fitting tribute.