[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BILL STONE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bill Stone as the 
recipient of the 2006 Kings County Agriculturalist of the Year Award. 
With over 35 years of dedicated service to the Central Valley's 
agriculture industry and with demonstrated quality leadership, Mr. 
Stone is truly deserving of this recognition.
  A native of Stratford, Mr. Stone moved to Lemoore when he was 9 years 
old. He graduated from Lemoore High School in 1964 and Cal Poly, San 
Luis Obispo in 1968. His earliest memories of farm life center on days 
spent playing out on the ranch with the kids who lived in the farm 
labor camp as well as working around the shop with his father and 
brother.
  Today, Mr. Stone owns and operates Stone Land Company, nestled in the 
heart of the Central Valley. He credits his employees, some of who have 
worked for the company for over 40 years, in helping harvest cotton, 
garlic, onions, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, cantaloupe, wheat, barley, 
alfalfa and lettuce grown for seed across the 9,000 acre farm. Because 
Mr. Stone is committed to enhancing the quality of agriculture in the 
valley, he makes the extra effort to incorporate new technology on his 
farm. He has been actively involved in operating laser leveling, GPS 
guidance systems and yield monitoring equipment. He has also taken 
advantage of computers for bookkeeping and in tracking production. 
Further, Mr. Stone has worked closely with University Ag Extension 
programs in testing new products and equipment.
  Aside from his commitments out on the farm, Mr. Stone is an 
outstanding member of the agricultural community. He currently serves 
as the Secretary of the San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers 
Association, Chairman of the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board, Director 
of the Ranchers Cotton Oil Company, Director of the California Cotton 
Growers Association and a Member of the CIAA Cotton Committee. In 
addition, Mr. Stone is a board member of Mary Immaculate Queen School, 
Director of the Beltwide Cotton Co-Op and Chairman of the California 
Garlic and Onion Research Advisory Board. In the past, Mr. Stone served 
as the Director of Calcot, Ltd. and the Chairman of Kingsburg Cotton 
Oil Company.
  The Stone family has been an important part of California agriculture 
for over a century. It is for those reasons, that I extend my sincerest 
appreciation for Mr. Stone's dedication and service and offer my 
heartfelt congratulation for receiving the 2006 Kings County 
Agriculturalist of the Year Award.

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