[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11273]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING LUCIO E. PEREZ, OF NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of community member Lucio E. Perez for being named Agriculturalist of 
the Year by the Napa County Farm Bureau.
  Mr. Perez comes from a long history of working with Napa's bountiful 
soil. His grandfather, Mr. Lucio D. Perez, emigrated from Mexico and 
settled in the Napa Valley in the early 1930s and worked as an 
agricultural laborer. In 1935, the L. Perez & Sons Family Estates began 
growing wine grapes. The business was passed to his son Ezequiel, and 
later to his grandson Lucio, or as he is known throughout the valley, 
``Cio.''
  He attended St. Helena High School and later studied at Stanford 
University before transferring to the University of California--Davis, 
where he graduated with a degree in Enology & Viticulture. His first 
job outside of the family farm was with Beringer Brothers; assisting 
with the development of new vineyards, fertilizer, and pest management 
problems. Mr. Perez continues to manage L. Perez & Sons Vineyards, and 
also farms acreage in Conn Valley, Carneros and St. Helena. He produces 
zinfandel, chardonnay and, cabernet--reflecting the diverse terroirs of 
the Napa Valley appellations.
  His passion for sustainable agriculture and protecting farmlands led 
him to work with the Napa County Farm Bureau in 1988, where he has 
served on the Board of Directors and as President. He has also 
participated on the California Farm Bureau Federation--Grape Advisory 
Committee, the Tax and Land Use Committee, and Finance Committee. Don 
Lucio Perez, his grandfather, founded a non-profit by the name of 
Comite Mexicano de Beneficiencia, where Mr. Perez has been an active 
member and past treasurer.
  Being recognized as Agriculturalist of the Year by the Napa County 
Farm Bureau is an astounding achievement for someone who has dedicated 
their life to protecting and defending agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we acknowledge Mr. 
Lucio E. Perez for his years of devoted service to the Napa Valley 
community.

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