Settrini named Ag Woman of the Year
Celeste Settrini was recognized last week as Ag Woman of the
Year for San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties at ceremonies
hosted by Ag Against Hunger at Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad.
Settrini named Ag Woman of the Year
Celeste Settrini was recognized last week as Ag Woman of the Year for San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties at ceremonies hosted by Ag Against Hunger at Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad.
The annual luncheon is held to recognize a woman who has significantly contributed to the success of the regional agriculture industry. Settrini did not know she was to be presented with the honor, awarded in front of more than 260 guests.
The selection committee selected Settrini for her work in support of the ag industry in the Salinas valley at the local and national levels. She has volunteered at the San Benito and Monterey County fairs, the Monterey County Agriculture Education, Inc., 4-H, FFA, Produce for Better Health Foundation, the National Junior Hereford Association, United Fresh Vegetable Association, American National Cattlewomen and Ag Against Hunger. She also has been active in the Salvation Army, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Settrini is a fourth-generation Monterey and San Benito County cattle rancher and a member of the Monterey County Cattlemen and the Monterey Cattlewomen. She serves as a cattle industry liaison on the board of the Central Coast Ag Task Force and has served as a livestock auction announcer at the Monterey County Fair for more than 15 years.
She is statewide first vice president for California Women for Agriculture and will assume the president’s job in 2010.
Keynote speakers at the event last week were Ag Against Hunger founders Jess Brown of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, Tim Driscoll of Valley Pride and Willy Eliot-McCrae of Second Harvest of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. They spoke of their inspiration for creating the almost 20-year-old organization and the importance of providing fresh produce to people in need.
Ag Against Hunger is a nonprofit agency providing fresh donated produce to food banks in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Since 1990, area growers and shippers have donated more than 145 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to help feed the hungry.
