[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOHN HARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and 
congratulate John Harris upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen 
Award'' by the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Harris will 
be honored on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at a special luncheon at 
Harris Ranch.
  Mr. John Harris was born and raised in Coalinga, California in the 
heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Harris attended and graduated from 
the University of California, Davis in 1965 with a Bachelors of Science 
degree in Agricultural Production/Agricultural Economics. While 
attending UC Davis, he was commissioned into the United States Army 
through the ROTC program.
  Upon returning to the San Joaquin Valley, Mr. Harris began working on 
the family farm and ranch, Harris Farms. Harris Farms was founded in 
1937 by Mr. Harris' parents, Jack and Teresa Harris. Over the years, 
the family business has grown to become one of the largest integrated 
farming operations in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The company 
produces over a dozen crops including almonds, citrus, tomatoes, 
lettuce, wine grapes and pistachios. The farm has also expanded to 
include Harris Ranch Beef Company, which is one of California's largest 
fed cattle processors, producing nearly two million pounds of beef per 
year.
  In 1966, Mr. Harris and his father decided to devote a substantial 
part of the Harris Ranch farming and cattle operation to raising and 
training of Thoroughbred racehorses. The company provides six hundred 
acres to the Thoroughbreds and has bred and raced several of 
California's championship horses. In addition to the farm, the cattle 
ranch and the Thoroughbred Division, the Harris Company also has 
multiple restaurants and an inn. Today, with Mr. Harris serving as the 
Chairman of the Board for Harris Farms, the companies in total employ 
over fifteen hundred people and have gross sales exceeding three 
hundred million dollars.
  Outside of operating Harris Farms, Mr. Harriss is involved with 
numerous organizations. He is a member of the board for the Water 
Growers Association and serves as Chair of the Water Committee. Mr. 
Harris also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Legal 
Foundation and is currently serving as Chair of Cattle PAC for the 
board of California Cattlemen's Association. He has been involved with 
the California Horse Racing Board since 2001 and is currently serving 
as Chairman of the board. Mr. Harris also serves on the boards of 
several agricultural related companies; including Sunny Cove Citrus, 
Los Gatos Tomato Products, Harris Woolf Almonds and California 
Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
  Mr. Harris has worked with the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America 
for almost twenty years, hosting an annual luncheon to benefit the 
chapter. The lunch supports the Scouting programs in western Fresno 
County and Kings County. His concern and dedication to the youth of our 
area and his love of Scouting has kept him working with the Sequoia 
Council, Boy Scouts of America and the growth of Scouting here in the 
San Joaquin Valley.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate John Harris 
upon being awarded the ``Distinguished Citizen Award.'' I invite my 
colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Harris many years of continued 
success.

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