[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S HARVEST LUNCHEON

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                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, 
to acknowledge and honor the 50th Anniversary of Modesto Chamber of 
Commerce's Harvest Luncheon.
  The first luncheon dates back to 1956 when a Modesto Junior College 
Scholarship was generated from a lunch honoring the richness of 
Stanislaus County's agriculture.
  In 1961, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce officially became the 
sponsor of the Harvest Luncheon;
  In 1961, Stanislaus County's agricultural production was 
$142,031,000;
  The luncheon was originally established to showcase local growers and 
producers and to demonstrate the impact of agriculture in Stanislaus 
County;
  In 1980, Bill Lyons, Sr. offered to donate the beef and ``charge'' 
for the luncheon to increase the scholarship dollars for Modesto Jr. 
College students with agricultural related majors;
  In 1996, the Harvest Luncheon Scholarship was renamed to honor two 
giants in Stanislaus County agriculture, Henry Voss, former Secretary 
and Claire Berryhilll, past Director, of the California Department of 
Food and Agriculture;
  In 2002, Del Monte Foods became a private partnership leader and has 
since generously donated $10,000 annually to the Modesto Chamber of 
Commerce Voss/Berryhill Modesto Junior College Ag Scholarship Program, 
significantly increasing the amount of scholarship dollars awarded;
  With the exception of 1961 and 1963 through 1965, 456 students have 
been awarded in excess of $300,000 in scholarships in the past 50 
years;
  In 2011, Stanislaus County's agricultural production was 
$2,572,434,000;
  The luncheon is made possible through the generous donations of 
agribusiness and agricultural producers and processors from throughout 
Stanislaus County.
  The Harvest Lunch/Ag Aware Committee consists of 33 dedicated 
individuals plus innumerable volunteers who plan for six months and 
serve in excess of 800 attendees in fifteen minutes.
  The tradition of giving thanks for Stanislaus County's bountiful 
harvest of over 350 agricultural commodities continues to this day.
  Mr. Speaker, please join Mr. Cardoza and me in honoring Modesto 
Chamber of Commerce on 50 years of sponsoring the Harvest Luncheon so 
scholarships for agriculture related majors can continue to be awarded. 
The luncheon is a valuable asset to the community and should be 
celebrated.

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