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“HONORING DINO PETRUCCI” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1711 on Aug. 2, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING DINO PETRUCCI
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HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, August 2, 1999
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dino Petrucci for receiving the Senior Farmer of the Year Award. Dino Petrucci's efforts to educate and inspire young people toward agriculture render him deserving of this award.
Dino was born on a farm in Madera and still lives on the property his family cultivated while he was growing up. He attended Howard Elementary School, graduated from Madera High School in 1947, and earned a college degree in Crop Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
During his four years at Madera High, Dino was actively involved in student government and the Future Farmers of America. He was elected Student Body Vice President and Senior Class Speaker. He also served as Chapter President of FFA and won the FAA State Speaking contest.
Petrucci went on to hold numerous leadership positions in various organizations as a young adult. He was elected the State FFA President and was a National Public Speaker at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City. In addition, he served as President of the Crop Science Department at Cal Poly.
Mr. Petrucci was successful in his undertakings on behalf of these organizations and in his academic endeavors. He earned the coveted American Farmer Degree and co-authored a book that was used in school agriculture departments across the state.
After college, Dino began his teaching career in the Ag Department in Victorville. Two years later, he returned to Madera and embarked upon a 29-year career with the Madera High Ag Department. During this time, Dino was actively farming a variety of crops with his brother, Enzo. Dino and wife Peggy were also raising a family of two children and supporting them on their 4-H and FFA projects.
Many of his former students attest that Mr. Petrucci was a committed teacher, giving more hours than were required of him. For fifteen years, he advised the California Young Farmers and was instrumental in the Madera Chapter receiving recognition as ``Outstanding Chapter'' for many of those years. He also served as State President of the California Ag Teachers Association, and found time to serve as Chairman of the Livestock Department at the Madera District Fair.
While balancing a family and career Dino has made time for community involvement by serving as President of the Lion's Club, President of Madera Toastmasters, and President of Madera County Farm Bureau. He was also elected last year to serve as a Trustee on the Madera Unified School District Board. In addition, Mr. Petrucci began the MUST Center and served as its Director for two years. This program was designed to teach vocational skills to the underprivileged to order to afford them better job opportunities. Currently, Petrucci is actively involved at Howard Elementary School where he attended as a boy, his children attended, and his grandchildren now attend.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dino Petrucci for his outstanding accomplishments and service to his community. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Dino many more years of continued success and happiness.
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