[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JERRY PRIETO, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jerry Prieto, 
Jr. upon being honored with the 2008 Greater Fresno Area Chamber 
Agriculturist of the Year. Mr. Prieto was honored at a luncheon 
November 5, 2008, held at the Radisson Conference Center in Fresno, CA.
  Jerry Prieto, Jr. is a native of Corcoran, CA. He is the son of a 
former migrant farm worker and was raised in a small town with a small 
family. Mr. Prieto attended California State University, Fresno and 
obtained his bachelor's of science degree in Plant Science. In 1973, he 
began working for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture as a 
Seasonal Agricultural Aide assigned to track the removal and planting 
of permanent crops. He quickly became a Seasonal Agricultural Inspector 
assigned to the inspection of cantaloupes and grapes. In 1974, he 
worked on the Citrus White Fly eradication project and on June 28th was 
hired as a full-time Agricultural Inspector assigned to the Fresno 
District performing plant quarantine and pest detection inspections. He 
also performed inspections on pesticide use, farm worker safety, seeds, 
and nurseries. In 1977, he was transferred to the egg inspection 
division where he performed egg quality inspections.
  Mr. Prieto was appointed as the Supervising Agricultural Biologist in 
charge of the egg inspection program in 1979. Within a year he was 
promoted to the position of Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in charge 
of the Grower and Consumer Protection Division responsible for the 
enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to fruit, vegetable, and 
egg quality. In this position he was also responsible for gathering 
crop statistics and producing the Annual Crop and Livestock Report. By 
1984, Mr. Prieto had transferred to Deputy Agricultural Commissioner of 
the Environmental Protection Division, where he enforced the laws and 
regulations pertaining to pesticide use, farm worker safety, and the 
coordination of the installation and implementation of the Fresno 
County Department of Agriculture's first computerized restricted use 
pesticide permit.
  In 1989, Mr. Prieto left the Fresno County Department of Agriculture 
and took a position as a Senior Personnel Analyst with the Human 
Resources Division of the Fresno County Personnel Department. He 
supervised the county's labor relations, recruitment and exam programs. 
In 1993, he was appointed Fresno County Resource Manager. He was 
responsible for solid waste issues throughout the county and operated 
the American Avenue Regional Landfill, the Southeast Regional Landfill 
and the Coalinga Landfill. He was also responsible for providing road 
maintenance, street lighting, garbage collection, parks, and sewer and 
water services to 90 special districts.
  Mr. Prieto was appointed to the position of Fresno County 
Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weight and Measures exactly 25 
years after he began working for the department. He was responsible for 
promoting and regulating the Nation's highest agriculture producing 
area. Mr. Prieto was appointed Chairman of Secretary Kawamura's AB 771 
Honeybee/Seedless Mandarin Co-Existence Working Group. Mr. Prieto also 
served as a member of Governor Gray Davis' State Committee on Terrorism 
and the Western Weights and Measures Association Board of Directors. He 
served as the first Chairman of the California Agriculture 
Commissioners and Sealers Association's Food Safety and Agriculture 
Security Committee. He served as Chairman of the Fresno County 
Department Heads Council for 4 years. He is a member of the California 
State University, Fresno Agricultural Plant Science Advisory Committee 
and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. He is the Chairman of the Fresno 
County Council of Governments Model Farmland Preservation Committee and 
the Fresno County Land Conservation Committee. He is a past president 
of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association. 
Mr. Prieto served as a judge for the Future Farmers of America 
California State Final competition for 23 years. For all of his service 
he has been honored with the ``Distinguished Service Award'' from the 
Fresno County Farm Bureau, and the ``Service Award'' from the Fresno-
Kings Counties Cattleman's Association.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Jerry Prieto 
upon being awarded as the 2008 Greater Fresno Area Chamber 
Agriculturist of the Year. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing 
Mr. Prieto many years of continued success.

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