[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10217-10218]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF EDUARDO AND MARIA VALADAO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2017

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my parents, 
Eduardo and Maria Valadao, on being nominated the 2017 Kings County 
Dairy Couple of the Year.
  This year, Mr. and Mrs. Valadao are being honored as the 2017 Kings 
County Dairy Couple of the Year at the Kings County June Dairy Month 
Committee Dinner in Hanford, California. This award is given to members 
who are actively involved in industry activities. As parents, 
grandparents, and lifetime dairy farmers, Eduardo and Maria Valadao 
exemplify the values, leadership, and commitment this award stands for 
by improving the image of the dairy industry.
  Eduardo F. Valadao was born on October 14, 1943, in Fontinhas, a 
civil parish on the Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores. Almost 
thirteen miles southwest, Maria F. Goncalves was born in Ribeirinha, on 
February 17, 1953. The couple's relationship bloomed after first 
meeting at a bull fight in front of Maria's childhood home. Mr. Valadao 
migrated to Los Angeles County in January of 1969. He immediately took 
a job milking cows, in hopes of creating a successful life for his 
future wife and children. After establishing a life in the States, 
Eduardo traveled back to the Azores and proposed to Maria. Following 
her fiance, Maria immigrated to the United States in 1972. The couple 
married on April 28, 1973, in Artesia, California.
  The youngest of eight, Eduardo Valadao was raised on a dairy, and 
worked close with his father and brothers. He wanted to continue the 
lifestyle he was raised in, to guarantee his days would be spent with 
his family, teaching his sons about hard work. After their first son, 
Eduardo ``Eddie'' Goncalves Valadao, was born on March 18, 1974, the 
family partnered with another Portuguese family and purchased their 
first cows on a dairy in Riverdale. Mr. Valadao worked to grow this 
dairy until it was large enough to support both families involved. 
After Mrs. Valadao gave birth to their second son, Miguel ``Mike'' 
Goncalves Valadao on August 13, 1975, Mr. Valadao moved his family from 
Los Angeles County to Riverdale in September of 1975.
  As a result of the Valadao household increasing, Mr. Valadao moved on 
from the partnership and rented a larger dairy facility in Tulare, 
California, in 1977. The family then welcomed their third son, David 
Goncalves Valadao, on April 14, 1977. Eduardo continued to farm in 
Tulare until he was ready to invest in his own dairy. Following the 
birth of their only daughter, Melinda Goncalves Valadao, on June 16, 
1985, Mr. Valadao purchased the family's first dairy facility located 
in Hanford, California. Eduardo and Maria continued to farm and raise 
their children on this dairy for twelve years. In 1997, they decided to 
expand their operation and purchased the land of the current dairy. It 
wasn't until February of 2000 when the current dairy was in full 
production.

[[Page 10218]]

  Today, Eduardo and Maria Valadao remain actively involved in their 
dairy. Eduardo, continuing the tradition of hard work, can be found at 
the dairy on a daily basis. This humble dairy couple has successfully 
raised their sons with the same work ethic, knowledge, and passion for 
the industry as they each manage their own dairies. The first dairy is 
still in the family, owned and operated by Eddie Valadao. Due to their 
lifetime commitment to dairying, and priority to instill those values 
in their family, Mr. and Mrs. Valadao have become staples in the dairy 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing my 
parents for their strong presence in the dairy industry, and 
congratulating them on being Kings County Dairy Couple of the Year.

                          ____________________