Farm City Celebration Awards
Since 1981, the members of the Farm City Celebration Committee have hosted an annual reception to recognize the outstanding men, women and organizations whom have worked to lift up, cultivate and grow Butte County’s agriculture industry and the Farm City Program.
The Ag Service Award
This award is presented to an individual or organization that has shown a long-term commitment to the agricultural community through personal service, research and/or financial contributions.
Past recipients include:
1981
Fred Montgomery
1982
Len Monaco
1983
Jack Vanella
1984
Nancy Skinner & Gerald Geiger
1985
Harry McGowan
1986
Frank Mertz
1987
Bud Hennigan
1988
Don and Cindy Heffren
1989
Michael Gardner
1992
Steve Dilg, Carl Wick, Jerry Smith
1993
Al Mitchell, Bob Willoughby
1994
Myron Openshaw & Gary Griswold
1995
Ed McLaughlin
1996
Howard Isom
1997
Les Heringer
1998
Diane Avrit
1999
Lance & Audrey Tennis
2000
Sue Murphy
2001
Dick Cassady
2002
Tod Kimmelshue
2003
Dennis Lindberg
2004
Wes Patton
2006
Emmett Skinner
2007
The Livingston Family
2009
Rick Cinquini
2010
Sarah Dahl
2011
Joe Connell
2012
Richard McGowan
2013
Douglas Bentz
2014
Lyman Hagen
2015
Stacy and Amy Gore
2016
Andy & Janet Bertagna
2017
Steve McDonald
2019
Jim & Laurie Noble
2019
John & Annie Bidwell
2021
Nicole Johansson
2025
Randy Meline
Agri‐Business of the Year
This award is presented to a business or agency that has contributed significant time, research and/or financial support to the youth of our community, the farmer and our industry at large.
Past recipients include:
1992
Silver Dollar Fairgrounds
1993
Cooperative Extension Service
1994
CSU, Chico College of Agriculture & University Farm
1995
Pat & Larry's Restaurant
1996
Northern California Farm Credit
1997
Durham Pump
1998
Thomas Welding and Machine
1999
Lundberg Family Farms
2000
Golden West Nuts
2001
California Rice Research Foundation/Rice Experimental Station
2002
Book Family Farm
2003
Tri-Counties Bank
2004
AVAG
2006
Rancho Esquon
2007
Rob Ramay, Ramay Auctions
2008
Butte County Ag Commissioner
2009
Les Schwab of Northern California
2010
Chico Farm & Orchard
2011
James Paivia, Riverwest Processing
2012
Fran Wagner, Wagner Insurance
2013
Matson & Isom
2015
North Valley Ag Services
2016
Butte County Rice Growers
2018
Gorrill Ranch
2020
Almendra Winery & Distillery
2021
Sweeney & Michel, LLC
2023
Heritage Insurance Agency
2024
Northgate Petroleum
2025
Western Canal Water District
Community Service or Special Recognition Awards
This award is presented to a person who, while not directly involved in production agriculture, has made significant contributions to the agricultural community, or to a person who has made significant contributions to the Farm City Celebration project, whether or not they are involved in production agriculture.
Past recipients include:
1995
Michael Gardner
1996
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Supervisor Jane Dolan
1997
Joel Adema – Chico Unified School District Office of Nutrition
1998
Tom Dickinson – Past Dean, CSU, Chico College of Agriculture
1999
Roger Swanson – Matson and Isom Accountancy Corporation
2000
Kathy Chance – C and C Storage
2001
Manuel Esteban – past President, CSU, Chico
2002
John Blacklock – past Butte County Administrator Safeway
2005
California Women for Agriculture, California Dept of Food & Ag, California Farm Bureau Federation
2006
Joan Webster
2007
Butte County Cattlemen
2008
Susan Donohue
2009
Tom DiGrazia, Silver Dollar Fair
2010
Donica O’Laughlin
2011
Nick & Gail Bertagna
2012
Rod & Andrea Carter
2013
Butte County Sheriff’s Posse
2014
Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha
2015
Richard Price
2016
Butte College Agriculture Dept.
2017
Carole Southam
2018
Sarah DeForest
2020
Sheriff Kory Honea
2021
Daniel Householder
2022
CSU Chico College of Ag
2024
Butte County Water & Resource Conservation Department
2024
Colleen Cecil
2025
Butte County Fair
