The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau was honored with five Activities of Excellence Awards — Membership, Policy Implementation, Leadership, Ag Education and Public Relations — at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s 104th annual meeting in Monterey in December.
Dennis Webb
The county was one of three state finalists in the “Innovator Award Contest” for its annual National Agriculture Day Poster & Poetry Contests for local students.
Representing the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau were Dennis Webb, president, and Peter Navarro, 1st vice-president; alternate delegate was 2nd vice-president John Pisturino. Also attending: Executive Director Jess Brown and CJ Miller, chair, Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.
Ray
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for Farm Bureau members throughout the state to discuss mutual issues, make new friends and prepare for the legislative issues in 2023.
Local ranch owner Robert Stephens’ dog, Ray, received second runner-up, and a cash prize, in the California Farm Bureau “Farm Dog” contest. Ray is an Australian shepherd who serves as a watch dog and cow herder on Elkhorn Ranch, a cow-calf operation in north Monterey County.
Ray, a cherished companion to Stephens, decided to donate part of his cash prize to Focus Agriculture, the national award-winning local educational program, to which Webb said, “We always appreciate philanthropic dogs!”