[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING JOHN AND TERRI BALLETTO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John 
and Terri Balletto, who were honored by the Santa Rosa Junior College 
Foundation Ag Trust in Santa Rosa, California on November 5th for their 
decades of service to our winegrowing and farming community.
  John and Terri have dedicated their lives to our agricultural 
community in Sonoma County and have been strong supporters of Santa 
Rosa Junior College. John stepped in as the College Ag Trust chair 
following Warren Dutton's passing in 2001. He then helped raise over $1 
million to build the Dutton Pavilion in honor of Warren's immense 
contributions to the College and our community. Terri has also made 
significant contributions to Santa Rosa Junior College, offering her 
support and running Public Relations for many successful Ag Trust 
events.
  In addition to their work with the college, the Balletto family has 
been active in our agricultural community. John served two terms as the 
Sonoma County Winegrape Commission Chair, and he will be joining the 
California Association of Winegrape Growers Board in 2017. Terri and 
John's family vineyard, which they run with their two daughters, 
produces winegrapes on over 600 acres. Their leadership in the 
agricultural community has been recognized numerous times, winning them 
a variety of honors ranging from Sonoma County Winegrape Commission's 
Excellence in Viticulture to Sonoma County Farm Bureau's Farm Family of 
the Year.
  Amid their many important responsibilities, Terri and John still find 
the time to give back to our community. Terri is the Director, 
Secretary, and Executive Board member for the 4-H Foundation of Sonoma 
County, and she serves on the Sonoma County Fair Foundation committee. 
Additionally, John and Terri have both served as directors and 
presidents of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
  Mr. Speaker, John and Terri Balletto have enriched Sonoma County 
through their unmatched commitment to serving Santa Rosa Junior College 
and our agricultural community's needs. Therefore, it is fitting and 
proper that we honor them here today.

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