Nominees sought for next Farmworker of the Year in Stanislaus. Here are the past winners
Nominations have opened for the next round of Farmworker of the Year awards in Stanislaus County.
The fourth annual contest has a $3,000 top prize and lesser amounts for other finalists.
The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau sponsors the awards with AgSafe, a nonprofit involved in worker training, and the Modesto Rotary Club.
The awards go to hired hands who help make Stanislaus one of the nation’s most diverse and productive farm counties. They irrigate crops, spray pesticides, care for livestock and the like.
Workers can be nominated until Jan. 15 at www.stanfarmbureau.org. The winners will be announced March 19 as part of Rotary’s weekly luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel.
The sponsors created the awards during COVID-19, recognizing people who kept producing food amid the lockdowns. They have continued after life got back to normal.
The previous top winners:
2021: Razo Barron, an orchard manager at Beard’s Quality Nut, which grows and processes walnuts and almonds at various sites.
“Razo’s work ethic and values are hard to come by,” Beard wrote in nominating the 35-year employee. “He oversees all of our orchard operations and labor from beginning to end.”
2022: Gonzalo Torres, who reached supervisor during his 43 years at Braden Farms, a Hughson-based almond company.
“He is a strong example of the American dream,” daughter Vanessa Torres wrote. “... Farming is really hard work, but its reward is such a beautiful, humble life.”
2023: Jorge Anguiano, who rose to manager over his 34 years at Bays Ranch, which grows various tree and annual crops on the West Side.
“Jorge said he enjoys managing the irrigation and learning about new water systems,” said presenter Anna Genasci, communication and education director at the Farm Bureau. “... Daniel (Bays) describes Jorge as a kid at heart and part of the Bays family they feel lucky to have.”
