Clarissa Farinelli was named “Agribusiness Woman of the Year” during the Ceres Chamber of Commerce’s 37th annual Agribusiness Awards Luncheon.
The event, held Thursday at the Diamond Bar Arena in rural Ceres, also paid homage to the late John G. Franzia, co-founder of Bronco Wine Company who died in March at age 84. The posthumous “Agribusiness Man of the Year” award was presented to Franzia’s widow Mary Lynne and winemaker daughter Carol.
The Chamber also doled out two more awards; Brandi LoForti was presented the Grant and Mildred Lucas Memorial Award while Farmers Warehouse received the “Agribusiness of the Year” award.
Agribusiness Woman of the Year
Farinelli has served as an agriculture teacher for 13 years, the past 10 years at Central Valley High School where she is the department head.
Farinelli has been an integral part of expanding the agriscience pathway courses, writing relevant and rigorous curriculum, as well as developing hands-on animal science opportunities for students at the Ken Moncrief Ag Center to include feeder pigs, breeding goats, and laying hens.
As FFA advisor, Farinelli started ag leadership classes at Central Valley with 15 students and building to 100 who are interested in expanding their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
While working for Ceres Unified School District, Farinelli has served on several committees that focus on curriculum development and expanding opportunities for students.
Currently serving as the California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) Tri River Section president, Farinelli has presented workshops and training for agriculture science teachers throughout California. She also coordinates an FFA Leadership Boot Camp at Pinecrest for FFA students from 10 schools in the Tri Rivers FFA section.
The Chamber award joins others Farinelli has collected in recent years. She was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Agriscience Teacher in California, was named as a 2023 Ceres Unified Secondary Teacher of the Year, and was nominated as a Central Region CATA Teacher of Excellence in 2023.
“To be honored is a humbling recognition,” said Farinelli. “I found out a couple days ago. I was surprised. I’m not really a business leader. I’m a teacher. I enjoy high school kids and shaping and supporting them.
“Us and our kids do a lot of community service projects in the Ceres area.”
Posthumous award
The Chamber highlighted the lifetime achievements of wine industry pioneer John Franzia with the presentation of a plaque accepted by Mary Lynn Franzia and daughter Carol.
“My dad would have been very pleased to be recognized for what he did in his business and community,” said Carol.
Born into a family legacy of winemaking, Franzia revolutionized the industry with his innovative approach and commitment to quality.
Franzia grew up working in his family’s business, the Franzia Brothers Winery in Ripon. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Production from UC Davis in 1962. He returned to the family winery operation, working in various roles, including the laboratory, until the family sold the winery in 1973.
That same year, Franzia co-founded Bronco Wine Company with his cousins Joseph and Fred, playing a pivotal role in popularizing affordable, quality wines, making them accessible to a wider audience.
Franzia designed and oversaw construction of the Bronco Winery, located at the corner of Keyes and Bystrum roads west of Keyes. It grew from a small winery to one of the largest wineries in the United States, with a storage capacity of 80 million gallons, eventually becoming the fourth largest wine company in the country. Today Bronco sells wine all throughout the United States under more than 50 brands and exports to more than 90 countries.
Franzia also oversaw the development of Bronco’s vineyards, which grew to over 40,000 acres of wine grapes, making it the largest grower in the nation, and one of the largest in the world. He worked with grape breeders to develop new varieties, including the prolific Fay Triplett of Ceres, planting and producing wines from many of Triplett’s new grapes.
Franzia also worked to ensure that the wine business continued to develop. He joined the American Society for Enology and Viticulture in the 1960s, serving as a member for some 60 years and also as president from 1982 to 1983. He was a long-term member of the Wine Institute’s Technical Committee, leading many initiatives to develop technical expertise in the industry and encouraging the participation and development of many young technical personnel in the industry.
Franzia was instrumental in Bronco’s endowment of the Bronco Wine Company Chair in Viticulture at Fresno State, currently held by Dr. Luca Brillante. Franzia also served on the Agriculture Advisory Council at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he helped to shape agriculture education for students, as well as the creation of the John G. Franzia Family enology laboratory.
Franzia’s four children have all been involved in Bronco’s operations, with his son, Michael, who is chairman of the board.
“John had a quiet nature about him so when he spoke people listened,” said Ceres Chamber of Commerce President Brandy Meyer. “He is fondly remembered for his fierce love for his family, his exceptional craftsmanship in winemaking, and his passion for all things outdoors, particularly fly fishing. John treated everyone with warmth and respect, leaving an indelible mark on those who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Lucas Memorial Award
Brandi LoForti was honored with the award that memorializes the late Ceres farming couple of Grant and Mildred Lucas, who are also the namesake for the Lucas Dual Language Academy in Ceres.
LoForti’s involvement in agriculture began in 1972 when growing up in Hilmar. She recently purchased the family farm where her parents once grew alfalfa, corn and almonds, and is still farmed today.
Brandi and her brother Jim, and sister Sheri worked on the family farm and participated in 4-H and FFA raising animals to show at the Stanislaus County Fair to sell.
LoForti was a Stanislaus County 4-H leader for 18 years when sons Colbie and Dylan and niece Hannah were members. She is still involved with 4-H on the sponsoring committee.
LoForti currently serves as District Director for California Women for Agriculture and sits on an Advisory Board with the county ag commissioner. She is also works on the staff of state Assemblyman Heath Flora, D-Ripon, engaged in agriculture public relations.
LoForti and her oldest son started an insurance agency 10 years ago, specializing in farm, ranch and crop insurance. The agency has grown rapidly and she feels her love of her community and agriculture is what inspired that endeavor.
She said she is blessed with a close family that supports her agriculture advocacy efforts.
“Ag is my passion,” LoForti said. “I love being involved. It’s my life. It’s something I didn’t expect to be honored for. It’s a huge honor.”
Agribusiness of the Year
Jay Gilbert, general manager of Farmers Warehouse, thanked the Ceres Chamber of Commerce after his company was recognized.
Farmers Warehouse, a division of the A.L. Gilbert Company that started in Oakdale in 1892, has been producing animal feeds for distribution throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, and the greater Pacific Rim Islands. With three high capacity mills, over 200 employees, and a commitment to provide the most nutritionally advanced products on the market, A.L. Gilbert Company has evolved into one of the oldest, largest, and most respected feed milling companies on the West Coast.
Agribusiness of the Year
Jay Gilbert, general manager of Farmers Warehouse, thanked the Ceres Chamber of Commerce after his company was recognized.
Farmers Warehouse, a division of the A.L. Gilbert Company that started in Oakdale in 1892, has been producing animal feeds for distribution throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, and the greater Pacific Rim Islands. With three high capacity mills, over 200 employees, and a commitment to provide the most nutritionally advanced products on the market, A.L. Gilbert Company has evolved into one of the oldest, largest, and most respected feed milling companies on the West Coast.
Scholarships
During the Chamber luncheon, scholarship checks were presented to four Central Valley High School FFA chapter members in Lliria Lira Trinidad, Melanie Perez, Grecia Garcia and Bianca Perez; and two Ceres High School Ag students in Jocelin Yepez Lopez and Gabriella Rebello.
Keynote speaker
Christopher Fisher, the city of Turlock’s municipal services director and general manager of the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority, was the keynote speaker. In November he helped dedicate SRWA’s new $230 million Tuolumne River Regional Service Water Treatment Plant near Fox Grove Park. The plant supplies drinking water for the cities of Ceres and Turlock.
Sponsors for the luncheon were Shane and Kim Parson, Diamond Bar Arena, Adam Gray, Ceres Chamber of Commerce, Ceres Unified School District, Cost Less Foods, Insurecal, Meyer CPR & First Aid, Soroptimist International of Ceres, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, Turlock Irrigation District and Yosemite Farm Credit.
