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2008 Common Threads Honorees
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2007 Common
Threads Honorees
Common Threads recognizes five Valley agricultural women
(February 26, 2007) – Five San Joaquin Valley women will receive
Common Threads Awards for their agricultural, philanthropic and
community service to the region.
The five will be honored at 11:15 a.m. April 13 during a
luncheon at the Residence Dining Hall at California State
University, Fresno.
Common Threads is a collaborative effort of Fresno State’s Ag
One Foundation and College of Agricultural Sciences and
Technology with the California Agricultural Leadership
Foundation.
The 11th annual Common Threads recipients are:
Louise Draxler, Kings County — A Fresno State graduate
with a degree in health science, Draxler has dedicated her life
of dairying, health advocacy, education and community service.
For the past 12 years, she has been a full-time teacher at the
California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility at the Corcoran
State Prison and is one of the two testing coordinators for
Tulare Lake Adult School. Prior to that, Draxler pursued a
14-year career at University Medical Center in Fresno and
received her master’s in curriculum and education from Chapman
University and a doctorate in education administration from
LaSalle University.
Lonna Torrico, Fresno County — Fresno State graduate
Torrico did not grow up on a farm nor did she study agriculture.
However, she is a highly enthusiastic agriculture advocate and
educator in her role as director of the Agriculture Literacy
Program at Fresno State. After 20 years as a teacher and
administrator, Torrico attended the California Foundation for
Agriculture in the Classroom’s first Summer Ag Institute for
educators in 1983. Since then she has received over $1.5 million
in grants to expand the agricultural education message;
developed the successful Ag Summer Bridge Program; and helped
the Farm Bureau organize its outreach program to educators.
Sharron Thornton, Merced County — Thornton has provided
years of service to California Women for Agriculture (CWA) at
the state and local level and helped establish her family
business, “The Grass is Greener Landscape Management Company.”
She also has served (current or past) as the Merced County
appointee to the Governor’s California Partnership for the San
Joaquin Valley and represents CWA on the Ag Boosters Barbecue
planning committee, a project of CWA and Ag One.
Linda Hansen, Fresno County — Hansen, a graduate of
Fresno State, mentored thousands of children in 35 years as a
teacher in the Coalinga-Huron Joint Unified School District. In
her 20 years in alternative education, she tried innovative ways
to impress upon students the importance of getting a high school
diploma. After retiring two years ago, Hansen was instrumental
in developing and implementing the first Fresno County Farm and
Nutrition Day last year that attracted more than 1,700 students
and 300 volunteers.
Sandra Gist-Langiano, Tulare County — Her love for
agriculture, children and education has benefited thousands of
students and teachers in Tulare County. The Fresno State
graduate helped launch a garden project at her rural school that
now is a showcase for others. She retired from the classroom in
2003, but maintains her interest in agriculture and education
through the Sundale School Ag/Science after-school Junior Master
Gardener’s program she started three years ago.
Tickets for the luncheon purchased before March 31 are $35 and
$50 after, if available. Net proceeds go to the California
Agricultural Leadership Foundation, the Ag One Foundation and
charities of the honorees’ choice.
For more information and to explore sponsorship opportunities,
please contact Amy Christensen at Ag Leadership, 916.928.2249,
or Christy Melvold at Ag One, 559.278.4266.
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Ag One Foundation to
honor Fred Ruiz
(January 23, 2007) – Ag One Foundation at California State
University, Fresno will honor Fred R. Ruiz during the Ag One
Community Salute Award Dinner at the Fresno Convention Center on
Friday, June 29.
Ruiz, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Ruiz Foods, Inc., is the 12th
Community Salute honoree since the event was established. He will be
honored for his support of California agriculture and commitment to
the community.
As a well-known Valley company in the food processing industry and
the nation’s largest manufacturer and marketer of frozen Mexican
food, Ruiz Foods contributes greatly to the consumption of
California’s beef, wheat, cheese and several other California-grown
products. Ruiz’s commitment to the community is demonstrated by his
unwavering commitment to the children of the Central San Joaquin
Valley through his tireless advocacy of education.
The salute is open to the public and begins with a social hour at 6
p.m. The dinner and program start at 7 p.m. Advance reservations are
$100 per person and $1,000 for a table of 10. Proceeds from this
event will be used to establish the Ag One – Fred R. Ruiz
Scholarship Endowment Fund to benefit students pursuing a degree at
the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
Cargill, the primary sponsor for the event, is an international
provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and
services, with 149,000 employees in 63 countries.
Over the years the Ag One Endowment Fund has awarded more than $1.7
million in scholarships and grants to 2,700 students.
In 1979, several faculty, alumni and friends of the College of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology had an idea to start a
foundation that would benefit, support and promote the college and
its programs. The supporters set out to raise $1 million in endowed
scholarships and grants. Today the Ag One Endowment Fund comprises
more than 80 named funds totaling nearly $5 million.
For information about the Ag One Foundation or tickets, call
559.278.4266.
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