[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleagues, Congressman Dan Lungren and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, to 
recognize the Sacramento County Farm Bureau on the occasion of its 
selection as the first recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Achievement in 
Farm Health & Safety Recognition Award by the Western Center for 
Agricultural Health and Safety at the University of California, Davis. 
The award is given in recognition of an individual, group, 
organization, association or business that consistently strives to 
reduce agricultural workplace injuries and improve overall health on 
the farm.
  The Sacramento County Farm Bureau (SCFB) was established in 1917 to 
support the Sacramento County farming community. SCFB is also a member 
of the California Farm Bureau Federation, a non-profit organization of 
farmers and ranchers with over 90,000 members throughout California. 
The Sacramento County farmers and ranchers supported by the SCFB 
produce approximately 75 different crops with a total annual crop value 
of over $325 million.
  On September 19, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and 
Safety at UC Davis honored the SCFB and its leaders, President Ken 
Oneto and Executive Director Charlotte Mitchell, for its advancement of 
new agricultural health and safety practices and their development of 
model farm safety programs. The SCFB exemplifies exceptional 
involvement in promoting practices not only on the farm, but within 
communities through health fairs reaching farm workers, their families, 
and children.
  Annually, the SCFB hosts a major safety seminar attended by 
approximately 200 farm workers and 20 employers and supervisors. To 
ensure a broad audience, all of the classes are offered in Spanish and 
English. The presenters are experts in their fields and come from a 
variety of private and public organizations. While the specific topics 
change each year, presenters always include representatives from the 
California Highway Patrol, local Fire Departments, County Health 
Department, CalOSHA, Blood Source, AmeriCorps, UC Davis and State Fund. 
The Sacramento County Farm Bureau's leadership in bringing agricultural 
employees together with safety officers and other agricultural safety 
representatives not only reduces workplace injuries, but improves 
family health and their communities overall.
  In the last several years, the SCFB has also expanded its activities 
to include a well attended Health Fair for families. This major 
undertaking has enabled many families to receive free medical testing 
and basic health training that they might otherwise not receive.
  Additionally, the SCFB sponsors two important programs for the 
agricultural community: the Young Farmers and Ranchers Program and the 
Foundation for Agricultural Education. The Young Farmers and Ranchers 
Program consists of a committee of the Farm Bureau members that 
organize young people between the ages of 18 and 35 who support the 
agricultural community. Established in July 2000, the Foundation for 
Agricultural Education's primary purpose is to provide scholastic 
financial awards to high school and college students continuing their 
education at the university level.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in acknowledging and 
congratulating the Sacramento County Farm Bureau and its leadership for 
its ongoing service to its members, California's farm workers, their 
families, and Sacramento's agricultural communities.

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