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“HONORING JERRY PRIETO, JR.” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2281 on Nov. 19, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING JERRY PRIETO, JR.
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HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jerry Prieto, Jr. upon being honored with the 2008 Greater Fresno Area Chamber Agriculturist of the Year. Mr. Prieto was honored at a luncheon November 5, 2008, held at the Radisson Conference Center in Fresno, CA.
Jerry Prieto, Jr. is a native of Corcoran, CA. He is the son of a former migrant farm worker and was raised in a small town with a small family. Mr. Prieto attended California State University, Fresno and obtained his bachelor's of science degree in Plant Science. In 1973, he began working for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture as a Seasonal Agricultural Aide assigned to track the removal and planting of permanent crops. He quickly became a Seasonal Agricultural Inspector assigned to the inspection of cantaloupes and grapes. In 1974, he worked on the Citrus White Fly eradication project and on June 28th was hired as a full-time Agricultural Inspector assigned to the Fresno District performing plant quarantine and pest detection inspections. He also performed inspections on pesticide use, farm worker safety, seeds, and nurseries. In 1977, he was transferred to the egg inspection division where he performed egg quality inspections.
Mr. Prieto was appointed as the Supervising Agricultural Biologist in charge of the egg inspection program in 1979. Within a year he was promoted to the position of Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in charge of the Grower and Consumer Protection Division responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to fruit, vegetable, and egg quality. In this position he was also responsible for gathering crop statistics and producing the Annual Crop and Livestock Report. By 1984, Mr. Prieto had transferred to Deputy Agricultural Commissioner of the Environmental Protection Division, where he enforced the laws and regulations pertaining to pesticide use, farm worker safety, and the coordination of the installation and implementation of the Fresno County Department of Agriculture's first computerized restricted use pesticide permit.
In 1989, Mr. Prieto left the Fresno County Department of Agriculture and took a position as a Senior Personnel Analyst with the Human Resources Division of the Fresno County Personnel Department. He supervised the county's labor relations, recruitment and exam programs. In 1993, he was appointed Fresno County Resource Manager. He was responsible for solid waste issues throughout the county and operated the American Avenue Regional Landfill, the Southeast Regional Landfill and the Coalinga Landfill. He was also responsible for providing road maintenance, street lighting, garbage collection, parks, and sewer and water services to 90 special districts.
Mr. Prieto was appointed to the position of Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weight and Measures exactly 25 years after he began working for the department. He was responsible for promoting and regulating the Nation's highest agriculture producing area. Mr. Prieto was appointed Chairman of Secretary Kawamura's AB 771 Honeybee/Seedless Mandarin Co-Existence Working Group. Mr. Prieto also served as a member of Governor Gray Davis' State Committee on Terrorism and the Western Weights and Measures Association Board of Directors. He served as the first Chairman of the California Agriculture Commissioners and Sealers Association's Food Safety and Agriculture Security Committee. He served as Chairman of the Fresno County Department Heads Council for 4 years. He is a member of the California State University, Fresno Agricultural Plant Science Advisory Committee and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. He is the Chairman of the Fresno County Council of Governments Model Farmland Preservation Committee and the Fresno County Land Conservation Committee. He is a past president of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association. Mr. Prieto served as a judge for the Future Farmers of America California State Final competition for 23 years. For all of his service he has been honored with the ``Distinguished Service Award'' from the Fresno County Farm Bureau, and the ``Service Award'' from the Fresno-
Kings Counties Cattleman's Association.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Jerry Prieto upon being awarded as the 2008 Greater Fresno Area Chamber Agriculturist of the Year. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Prieto many years of continued success.
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