[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING FERNANDO C. MACHADO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2009

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a 
man whose life and pursuits exemplify the spirit of fortitude, 
entrepreneurship, virtues of family and citizenship demonstrated by so 
many of those who strive to provide food and fiber to the citizens of 
this great nation. Many things have contributed to California's 
bountiful agriculture industry and economic well-being, but one 
significant underlying factor in California's agricultural success has 
been the presence of agricultural leaders such as Fernando C. Machado. 
A veteran farmer and former dairyman, Mr. Fred Machado is being honored 
on November 18, 2009 in Fresno, California as the 2009 Agriculturist of 
the Year by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.
  Fred Machado, born an American citizen on the Azores Island of 
Portugal in 1932, moved back to the United States with his family in 
1949. After a four-year tour in the United States Navy during the 
Korean War, Mr. Machado returned to California in 1955 where he began 
to farm twenty-six acres of rented land near Easton. To make ends meet, 
he also worked on dairies, at cotton gins and at various other odd 
jobs. Today, Fred continues to farm, but on his own 800 acres of 
almonds, grapes, orchards and feed crops.
  Fred and his family have always been involved in the San Joaquin 
Valley agricultural industry in a variety of capacities over the years. 
He was quoted recently as saying, ``I will always be in farming as long 
as I can, I cannot get away from the dirt.'' Machado continued, ``It's 
been great for us. We've made a good living, we've raised our family 
there . . . We're just real happy to be involved in agriculture.''
  A past president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Mr. Machado has 
also served on the board of directors of the National Milk Producers 
Federation, Challenge Dairy and Danish Creamery and several other 
agriculture committees in the Valley. He has extensive community 
service in organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #84, 
Knights of Columbus #153 of Easton, Fraternal Order of Eagles Fresno 
Aerie #39, and the Portuguese Fraternal Organizations--I.D.E.S.S., 
S.E.S, and U.P.E.C.
  Fred Machado has also been the recipient of a number of other awards, 
among which are Fresno County Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service 
Award, the California Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service Award, and 
California State University Fresno, Ag One Community Salute Award. The 
award Mr. Machado is receiving this November 18th is indeed a high 
honor in Fresno County. Fred is truly deserving of this award. It is 
especially fitting to congratulate and salute Mr. Fred Machado for his 
outstanding service to agriculture, the people of California and our 
nation.

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