[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 67 (Thursday, April 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JUSTINA SALINAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Justina Salinas, whom I have named the California 4th District's 2025 
Climate Crisis Champion of the Year for Solano County in recognition of 
her visionary leadership in regenerative agriculture, habitat 
restoration, and environmental advocacy.
  Born in Sacramento, California, Ms. Salinas graduated from the 
American School of London and earned her bachelor's degree from Santa 
Clara University, where she majored in both E-commerce and Studio Art, 
with additional minors in Entrepreneurship and Retail Management. 
Inspired by her grandparents who immigrated to California from 
Guanajuato, Mexico, in the 1960s and worked in the fields with a 
profound respect for nature, Ms. Salinas founded Araceli Farms in 2017, 
a small lavender farm in Dixon.
  What began as a family-run venture evolved into a model of 
environmental restoration for all. Ms. Salinas has transformed her farm 
into a thriving native grassland meadow, prioritizing regenerative 
agriculture practices including soil health restoration, dry farming, 
biodiversity conservation, no till farming, integrated rotational 
grazing, natural pest management, and native plant reintegration. Her 
farm has become a haven for the native species of our Solano County, 
with blue belly lizards, egrets, herons, red-tailed hawks, barn owls, 
and other species all thriving on the property. By intentionally 
choosing not to disturb the soil, Ms. Salinas has fostered a living, 
nutrient-rich environment that has become a sanctuary for wildlife and 
a beacon of sustainable land stewardship.
  Ms. Salinas views farming as an act of healing. Her practices reflect 
a commitment to ethical farming, water conservation, and environmental 
justice, embodying a new model of agriculture that harmonizes 
production with ecological renewal. Ms. Salinas also acknowledges the 
privilege of her access to land. She has made it a mission for Araceli 
Farms to serve as a space for reflection, learning, and community 
connection, fostering opportunities for young people and aspiring 
farmers to engage with the natural world.
  Beyond her farm, Ms. Salinas is an active member of the Community 
Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) Policy Committee and the California 
Native Plant Society. She volunteers with organizations like the 
Research Conservation District, participates in native plant 
restoration projects, and has lent her voice to lobbying efforts in 
Sacramento, advocating for regenerative agriculture and sustainable 
food systems to leaders at the California State Capital. Additionally, 
Ms. Salinas donates gift baskets to schools, hospitals, and animal 
rescues, cares for the elderly, supports underprivileged youth, and 
regularly participates in trash cleanups in our community.
  Mr. Speaker, Justina Salinas reminds us that farming is more than a 
profession, rather a relationship with the land and a call to 
stewardship. Her resilience, kindness, and unwavering dedication to 
ecological justice make her a powerful role model in Solano County and 
beyond. For these reasons and more, it is fitting and proper that we 
recognize her today as Solano County's 2025 Climate Crisis Champion of 
the Year.

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