Members honor Miguel Errea, amend bylaws at annual meeting

 

Farm Bureau members honored Miguel Errea, agreed to amend the county bylaws and took care of other items of business at the 91^st Annual Meeting  on September 5.

Almost a hundred members and guests were present at the luncheon meeting at Paraiso Vineyards near Soledad.

Using a series of famous quotes to characterize Farm Bureau’s strengths, President Jason Smith told members “to feel empowered to recruit your neighbor. You must be able to speak confidently and convincingly about what your Farm Bureau does.”

Smith highlighted the generational diversity in Monterey County Farm Bureau, the long list of Farm Bureau work, the need for Salinas River channel maintenance, continuing efforts to shape the county’s General Plan, and involvement in water quality, air quality and food safety.

Miguel Errea was recognized for his 15 years of service on the county Planning Commission and for his extensive community service.  President Jason Smith presented Errea with a “President’s Award.”  Supervisors Simon Salinas and Lou Calcagno presented a county resolution acknowledging Errea’s Planning Commission service.

Commenting on Errea’s community leadership, California Farm Bureau Federation First Vice President Paul Wenger said farmers have to be involved in their communities and in issues to protect agriculture’s interests.

Sketching state efforts to write a diesel truck and bus rule to improve air quality, Wenger thanked members who responded to a Farm Bureau survey about the age of farm trucks.  “We have to have facts.”  A decision on the rule has been put off until December.

Wenger also touched on several key farm issues, including the drought, prospects for a water bond, the state budget and immigration.

He said Presidential candidate John McCain is “with us” on immigration reform.  Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has pushed agricultural worker legislation, is asking for information about labor shortages.  Farm Bureau needs to report examples to her.

On a motion by Bob Martin, seconded by Ross Jensen, members voted unanimously to amend the bylaws.  Along with two routine corrections to the bylaws, the amendments included new wording to conform to changes in CFBF bylaws that were adopted at the state meeting last December.

April England-Mackie, the outgoing chair of Central Coast Young Farmers and Ranchers, was named the newest member of the Farm Bureau Board of Directors as members also reelected eight directors and left one board seat vacant.

Nominating Chairperson Colby Willoughby recommended reelection of George Fontes, Gary Tanimura, Kevin Piearcy, Jeff Pereira, Scott Anthony, Miguel Errea, Bob Martin and Matt Plymale.

Two directors stepped down from the board this year, John Romans and Chad Lindley.

State Fund Farm Bureau Group Manager Hans Belon presented safety awards for members who maintained a perfect safety record last year.  Recipients were Budsco Chemical Enterprises, Inc., Breschini & Sons, A. F. Silveira and Sons, Metzer Farms, Pedrazzi Farms, C & E Farms, Inc., GO Farming, Mills Family Farms, Inc., Pisoni Farms, Moresco Farms and Costa Farms, Inc.

Special guests at the meeting included Supervisor Lou Calcagno, Supervisor Simon Salinas, Former Supervisor Butch Lindley, Cooperative Extension Director Sonya Hammond, Agricultural Commissioner Eric Lauritzen, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Bob Roach, Former Planning Commissioner Miguel Errea, State Fund Group Manager Mike Klimenko, State Fund Farm Bureau Group Manager Hans Belon, California Farm Bureau Federation First Vice President Paul Wenger, California Farm Bureau Federation District Director Benny Jefferson, California Farm Bureau Federation Field Representative Elizabeth Giannini, and Abby Taylor-Silva, executive director of Ag Against Hunger.

Sponsors of the annual meeting included Paraiso Vineyards, State Fund, Rain for Rent and ComGro. 

Farm Bureau also acknowledged the support of new Farm Bureau Business Members, BBS Holding, Inc., Luis Marquez, Pringle Tractor Company, Rabobank NA, Salinas Toyota Scion, Salinas Valley Ford Lincoln and Sambrailo Packaging.