Agriculture Today - May 2009
Spring Event Highlights: FCFB’s Allison and Clements receive top award
Event provides a chance to reminisce
Many familiar faces were on-hand on April 16 at the Fresno County Farm Bureau’s annual spring event to honor two long-time friends of Farm Bureau, C.W. “Bill” Allison and Irene Clements. Selected as co-recipients of the organization’s Distinguished Service Award, Allison and Clements were greeted by Farm Bureau members and guests alike who acknowledged their combined 54 years of service to FCFB that spanned from the late-1960s to the early 2000s.
In recognition of their service to FCFB and agriculture, Allison and Clements were presented with a digital picture frame of photos taken during their tenure at Farm Bureau, many of them taken by Allison himself. The photo frames were on display throughout the evening and many participants paused to reflect on the images of the past.
“I am sure these many photos will bring back memories of the individuals and events that made your time here so special,” said FCFB Past President Debbie Jacobsen, who presented the award to Allison. “On behalf of the farmers and ranchers of Fresno County, thank you, Bill, for sharing your passion for agriculture, sharing your leadership, and for being one of our biggest champions of the family farm. Thank you for all you’ve done for our industry,” added Jacobsen.
FCFB also made a donation to the Valley Center for the Blind, an organization that Allison volunteers his services, in recognition of Allison.
FCFB Past President Pat Ricchiuti introduced Clements and recapped her many contributions to FCFB, including her organizational talents to plan the Annual Banquet for more than 30 years, involvement with the Young Farmers and Ranchers Program, coordination of the Farm Bureau Women Program, often working on and appearing in the annual Fashion Show, and representing the county organization and providing input and direction at Center meetings.
She also was one of the original committee members of the Big Fresno Fair’s Fair Education Program, where she still volunteers to help each year. A donation was made to the Friends of the Fair in recognition of Clements’ long-standing work on the Fair Education Program. Both recipients also received many resolutions and letters of recognition from elected officials.
Allison served as FCFB manager for 18 years, retiring in 1997, and Clements worked for FCFB in several positions for 36 years, retiring as assistant manager in 2002. During their tenure with FCFB, both Allison and Clements worked tirelessly to grow the organization in many areas, including public relations, member communications, agricultural education and issue management.
“Any organization is only as good as the individuals who come together to work towards a common interest. Tonight we honor two of these individuals who contributed greatly to Farm Bureau,” said FCFB President Dan Errotabere.
Both Allison and Clements expressed deep appreciation for the honor, and acknowledged how much they enjoyed working with local farmers and ranchers throughout the years.
The annual event was held at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, featuring a barbecue dinner by Cal’s Catering of Hanford and music by Chris Curtice & Wildhorses. In addition, a silent auction and dessert auction featuring homemade desserts were held to help raise funds for the California Farm Bureau’s Protect the Family Farmer PAC.
Renewing old friendships at the Spring Event were, from left, FCFB Past President Vernon Conrad, Jim Clements, Bill Allison and Bill Chandler.
The Spring Event provided a chance for Farm Bureau members to reminisce, including from left, Joyce Larson, Patsy Milton, Sherri Parkinson, former FCFB Manager Julianne Dittman, Maxine Machado and Clara Laub.
Members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Ag Crimes Unit and detectives who attended the FCFB Spring Event included, from left back row, Kent Jones, Nate Calk, Undersheriff Scott Jones, Sgt. Mike Chapman, Lt. Robert Kandarian, Gary Haslam, Kirby Alstrom, and Drew Veneman; front row, Jennifer Evans and Mike Hernandez.