[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12192]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. GARY ESAJIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2016

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Gary Esajian on 
being honored as the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce 2016 Agriculturalist 
of the Year.
  Mr. Gary Esajian's family has lived in the Central Valley since the 
1920s, and as a third generation Kings County farmer, he has greatly 
contributed to the community throughout his life. Mr. Esajian has shown 
dedication to his hometown of Lemoore and the Central Valley for 
decades through both his community work and success as a farmer. As a 
farmer, Mr. Esajian grows many different crops including almonds, 
pistachios, garlic, tomatoes, wine grapes, walnuts, and onions.
  Mr. Esajian has further shown his service to the community by serving 
as the Westlands Water District Board of Directors for fourteen years, 
as a Board member of the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board, and as the 
Director of a Suncrest Bank in Visalia. In regards to California's 
current drought issue, Mr. Esajian conducted a study on water in 
California, specifically the impacts to Kings and Fresno Counties, 
which has benefited his peers greatly.
  Known for being unassuming and humble, upon receiving his award Mr. 
Esajian credited his family's long agricultural history and not his own 
success. He is also known for being a hardworking and organized man, 
who successfully achieves whatever he puts his mind to.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in commending Mr. Gary Esajian on his 
dedicated service to the Central Valley and on being honored as the 
Lemoore Chamber of Commerce 2016 Agriculturalist of the Year.

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