[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 38 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CHESTER ANDREW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chester 
Andrew, and the entire Andrew family, upon being honored with the 
``Friend of the Farm Bureau'' award at the Third Annual Recognition 
Dinner to be held on March 6, 2008, at the Madera Municipal Golf 
Course.
  Pete Andrew came to Madera, California, in the early 1900's from 
Greece. Mr. Andrew worked on a boat that frequently traveled into the 
San Francisco Bay ports. He decided not to get back on the boat and 
made his way to the central California town of Madera to begin his 
farming career. He met Agnes Oyler, they married and began farming 
beans and custom harvesting. They had two children, George and 
Lorraine, who helped with the farm and took over running the farm when 
the elder Mr. Andrew passed away.
  George Andrew and his wife, Gladys, carried on the family's farming 
tradition. They had four children; Karen, Chester, Diane and Janice. 
Chester followed the path that was laid out for him, farming. Today, 
Chester and two of his three children still work on the family farm, 
with his oldest daughter farming in Washington. Andrew Farms currently 
focuses on almonds, grapes, pistachios and wheat.
  For four generations, the Andrew family has been an important part of 
the Madera community. Three generations have attended the same 
elementary and high schools. Chester has been an active member of the 
Madera Farm Bureau Board for over twenty years. He served as president 
from 1992 to 1994 and continues to be a key member on many committees, 
including the scholarship committee and the water committee. He 
understands the importance of higher education for our future, and has 
even contributed to the scholarship funds with money out of his own 
pocket. On the water committee, Chester ensures that he is aware of the 
many different water issues that growers face. The Andrew family has 
been, and will continue to be, an important part in the Madera farming 
community and can truly be called a ``Friend of the Farm Bureau''.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chester Andrew, and the Andrew 
family, for the positive impact they have had in Madera County and the 
surrounding areas. I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Andrew family and wish them continued success.




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