[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING BARBARA BIGELOW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and 
congratulate Barbara Bigelow upon being named as a 2010 Common Threads 
honoree. Mrs. Bigelow will be honored by California State University, 
Fresno at the 2010 Common Threads Award luncheon to be held on Friday, 
April 16, 2010.
  Mrs. Barbara Bigelow was born and raised in southern California and 
attended the University of Southern California. She had little interest 
in agriculture until she met and married Frank, who is a life long 
resident of Madera County and part of a longtime agriculture family. 
Mrs. Bigelow assisted in the family business by helping raise, exhibit 
and sell champion Shorthorn Cattle for beef and breeding. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bigelow also raise and exhibit champion Columbia Sheep.
  Off of the farm, Mrs. Bigelow is very active in the community. In 
1985 she was elected to the then-Spring Valley School District Board of 
Trustees, and continues to serve on the now-Chawanakee Unified School 
District as a trustee. Her service on the board was instrumental in the 
building of Minarets High School in O'Neals. Mrs. Bigelow also served 
as the board President.
  Outside of the school district, Mrs. Bigelow is active in the local 
4-H program and numerous agriculture related groups. Mrs. Bigelow 
became involved with Spring Valley school while her children attended 
there. She was a member of the parent club, school site council and was 
involved with the community-centered centennial event. Mrs. Bigelow 
helped establish the Spring Valley Ag Boosters in 1994, after becoming 
involved with the Spring Valley 4-H club as a community leader and a 
sheep leader. Since 1994, Mrs. Bigelow and a committee of local 
supporters have sponsored a fundraiser at the ``Silkwood-Mattes-Bigelow 
Big Blue Barn'' to raise money for the Spring Valley Ag Boosters.
  Mrs. Bigelow is also very active and supportive of the Sierra High 
School Future Farmers of America program. She has served on the Ag 
Advisory Committee and served as the Site Selection Committee Chair for 
Minarets High School. Between 1992 and 1994, Mrs. Bigelow was the 
director of the Madera County 4-H Summer Camp Program at Jack Ass Rock 
Campground. She is also a twenty year member, and past Chairwoman, of 
the Madera County Republican Central Committee.
  Mrs. Bigelow is a supporter of Children's Hospital of Central 
California, California State University, Fresno's Red Wave, Cal Poly's 
Western Bonanza, the California State Fair, Sierra Winter Classic and 
California Junior Livestock Association. For her community involvement, 
Mrs. Bigelow was named the State of California ``Woman of the Year'' in 
2005 by Assemblyman Dave Cogdill and received the ``Golden Apple 
Award'' for 1999-2000 by the Association of California School 
Administrators.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Barbara 
Bigelow upon her achievements. I invite my colleagues to join me in 
wishing Mrs. Bigelow many years of continued success.

                          ____________________