[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 41 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING 2004 CENTRAL VALLEY COMMON THREADS AWARD WINNERS

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                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 29, 2004

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lillian 
Draxler, Debbie Jacobsen, Margaret Jensen, Mary Wickstrom and Bernice 
Woolf, the recipients of the 2004 Central Valley Common Threads Award. 
This award is presented to women in agriculture who have made a 
remarkable contribution to their community through volunteer work and 
philanthropy.
  Lillian Draxler has been dedicated to the dairy industry her entire 
life. She helped establish the JCJ Dairy 30 years ago. For 38 years, 
Lillian has been engaged in the 4-H program both in Fresno and Kings 
counties serving in every capacity and coordinating every major event 
on the 4-H calendar. She provides leadership and funding to the Make-A-
Wish Foundation, helps the Kings County Dairywomen amass scholarship 
funds for needy agriculture students, and is involved with the Dairy 
Herd Improvement Association. Lillian also assists the Farm Bureau and 
its Education and Agriculture Together programs.
  Debbie Jacobsen has been active in the grape and teaching industry 
for more than 20 years. She is one of several principles in the family-
owned J&L Vineyards and is teaching at Washington Union High School. 
Debbie currently serves as president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau 
and is the first woman to hold the position. She is a leader in the 
Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program, speaking in classrooms and 
inviting school tours to her farm. She serves as co-chairman of the 
Fresno Fair Ag Education Fabulous Food Machine. Debbie is also on the 
Board of Directors for the California Foundation for Agriculture in the 
Classroom and received the group's prestigious Volunteer Educator Award 
in 1995.
  Margaret Jensen has been involved in agriculture throughout her life. 
She helped plant and develop the pistachio industry in Madera County 
and was involved in the first commercial citrus planting in Madera 
County in 1958. Margaret is involved with Fresno State's Ag One 
Foundation and has been a member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau since 
1935. She has contributed to numerous projects that have helped to 
benefit Fresno and the entire San Joaquin Valley. Some of these include 
the Break the Barriers building fund and helping to fully fund the 
chapel at Children's Hospital of Central California, a place that 
provides comfort and quiet for all faiths. -Mary Wickstrom has been a 
tireless advocate for agricultural advancement during her life. She 
established her own dairy in Chicago and, along with 11 other dairy 
families, formed the Hilmar Cheese Company. For several years, Mary 
shared the buying duties for items to be sold there. She is devoted to 
the preservation of productive farmland through good land use planning, 
and she puts those values to work. Mary participates as a member of the 
Merced County Planning Commission and as a charter member of the Merced 
County California Women for Agriculture. Mary has also been involved in 
the Hilmar FFA Booster Club and served as a leader in the 4-H program.
  Bernice Woolf has been involved in numerous agricultural activities 
during the course of her life. She served three terms as a board member 
of the California Agricultural Education Advisory Board and currently 
serves on the board of the family businesses, Woolf Farming and Woolf 
Enterprises. These entities have her involved in the production, 
processing, and marketing of numerous agricultural products. Bernice is 
also a member of the Central Valley Chapter California Women for 
Agriculture, American Agri-Women, and served as director of Children's 
Hospital of Central California, the Fresno Arts Museum, and the Fresno 
City/County Historical Society. She also contributed to West Hills 
Community College Farm of the Future.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the 2004 Central Valley Common 
Threads Award winners. These women have shown outstanding involvement, 
not only in agriculture but also in strengthening their respective 
communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing these honorees 
a bright future and continued success.

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