Napa County Farm Bureau Honors University of California Cooperative Extension

Announcement from Napa County Farm Bureau:

Napa County Farm Bureau honored the staff of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) for 100 years of support for our county’s farmers and ranchers. The recognition coincided with UCCE’s centennial milestone, and commemorated the work of UCCE researchers and educators who work together with local community members to develop and provide science-based information to solve economic, agricultural, natural resource, youth development and nutrition issues.

The histories of Farm Bureau & UCCE are intertwined and date back to a meeting in 1913 of the Napa Grange, where H. J. Baade, who was then the lecturer of that Grange, gave a talk on the subject of a Farm Advisor. He reported that the University of California would hire a scientifically-trained man who had at least four years of practical farming experience and place him in any county that would agree to organize a Farm Bureau to cooperate with a Farm Advisor and make the necessary appropriation to pay for his office and field expenses. The Grangers supported the idea, went to the Napa Board of Supervisors who also liked the idea and in short order Napa farmers created the Napa County Farm Bureau and H.J. Baade became our first Farm Advisor in 1914.

Napa Farm Bureau President Norma Tofanelli said, “The Napa UCCE office has a great team and we truly value their help in providing education and guidance on many issues facing Napa’s farming and ranching community! Additionally, the 4-H Youth Development, Master Gardeners and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program are important components of our community.”

The prestigious Friend of Farm Bureau awards were presented at NCFB’s Annual Dinner Meeting at HALL Winery. Receiving awards were: David Lewis, UCCE Director; Dr. Monica Cooper, Viticultural Advisor; Morgan Doran, Livestock Advisor; John Roncoroni, Weed Advisor; Mike Anderson, Viticultural Researcher; Julia Van Soelen Kim, Local Food Advisor; Jim O’Neil, 4-H Representative; Yvonne Rasmussen, Master Gardener Coordinator; Priscilla Rodriquez, Office Manager; and Susan Meader, Office Assistant.

About the Napa County Farm Bureau

NCFB is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose basic goal is to ensure the proper political, economic, environmental and social climate for the continuation of agriculture. Napa County’s strong agricultural heritage has contributed significantly to this state’s economy. Today, NCFB strives to preserve land for agriculture, and creates policies and programs that allow us to maintain a high quality of life in Napa County.