[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      HONORING PAUL H. BETANCOURT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 31, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul H. 
Betancourt on the occasion of the Annual Banquet of the Fresno County 
Farm Bureau on April 4, 2003. A diversified row crop farmer, Paul 
completed his two-year term as Fresno County Farm Bureau president in 
2002.
  Born on the East Coast, Paul was raised in San Diego, California, and 
became a farmer after marrying into a farming family. Mr. Betancourt 
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Westmont 
College, and a second degree in agriculture business from California 
State University, Fresno. He is a graduate of Class XXV of the 
California Agriculture Leadership Program.
  The Fresno County Farm Bureau represents over 6,000 members, which 
includes over 4,500 farmers and ranchers, on trade, land use, water, 
labor, and all agricultural related issues. Mr. Betancourt has held 
several positions within Farm Bureau, including director-at-large, 
secretary-treasurer, and second and first vice presidents. Through his 
Farm Bureau activities, Paul served on the board of directors of the 
Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and represented the Farm Bureau at many 
industry and community forums and events.
  Paul currently serves on the Kerman Unified School Board of Trustees 
and is involved in the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative. 
In addition, he farms 765 acres of cotton and almonds in the Kerman and 
Cantua Creek areas of Fresno County. Besides farming, Mr. Betancourt is 
a noted columnist for a local business publication and also enjoys 
teaching Sunday School class at Kerman Covenant. Paul and his wife, 
Sheryl, have two children, Heidi and Jonathan, and live near Kerman, 
California.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul H. Betancourt for his 
dedication and commitment to the Fresno County Farm Bureau and to the 
broader California agriculture community. I invite my colleagues to 
join me in commending Paul for his service and hard work and in wishing 
him many years of continued success.




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