Napa County Farm Bureau Receives County Of The Year Award

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The California Farm Bureau recognized the Napa County Farm Bureau this week with the County of the Year Award in its membership class of 500 to 799 members.

"The county Farm Bureau has been active during the pandemic, arranging for COVID-19 tests for farm employees and creating local, Spanish-language outreach videos about pandemic safety," the California Farm Bureau said in a news release. "The county Farm Bureau provided free N95 respirators to farm employees during wildfires, and undertook fee administration for a regional vineyard water-quality program."

The awards were presented Tuesday during a virtual ceremony as part of the 102nd California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

"This is an honor and evidence that we are on the right track in professionally representing agriculture in Napa County," Napa County Farm Bureau President Johnnie White said in a news release. "This is a great win for our team and our membership!"

Napa County Farm Bureau also received five awards for excellence as part of the annual meeting, the organization stated.

"We're very excited and honored to be named California Farm Bureau County of the Year and to also receive 5 separate awards for achieving excellence," Napa County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Klobas said in the news release. "As the CEO of the oldest agricultural organization in Napa Valley, it is an absolute honor to represent so many Ag families and businesses and to know that we are successful on their behalf. I am so proud of this organization and the work that we do."

California Farm Bureau recognizes select county Farm Bureaus for exceptional achievements on the local level. This process provides maximum recognition of the significant program of work undertaken by the selected county Farm Bureaus in California.

"Under Johnnie and Ryan’s tenure, membership in Napa County has doubled, financial strength has increased, the program of community work has dramatically expanded and they have built an extremely sophisticated political operation at the Farm Bureau to professionally represent Napa Ag," California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said in the news release. "Ryan has transformed what the Napa County Farm Bureau is and turned it into one of the most formidable trade associations in Napa County and the state. It is now considered an influential authority for Napa Ag at the local, state and national level."

Neighboring Sonoma County Farm Bureau received the County of the Year Award in its membership class of 800 or more members.

"Through daily emails, the county Farm Bureau kept its members up to date about the pandemic and the status of local wildfires," the California Farm Bureau said about Sonoma County Farm Bureau. "In addition, the county Farm Bureau hosts a weekly radio program to inform listeners about local agriculture. It has been active on water quality issues and has taken a lead role in promoting animal agriculture."

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 34,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members, according to its website.