LAKE COUNTY — Record numbers of attendees turned out for the 89th annual Lake County Farm Bureau (LCFB) Meeting and Dinner on Thursday night held at John and Joanne Van Eck”s Narley Dude Ranch/Cole Creek Equestrian Center in Kelseyville.
Chuck March, LCFB former executive director, was quite likely responsible for the hearty turnout, as nearly every conversation fondly included his name.
“You”ve given us your all and a little bit more,” District 1 Director David Rosenthal motioned to March and said during his speech. “You are well-known and respected as the face of Lake County agriculture.”
March, who served as executive director for 14 years, was stricken with a life-threatening illness when he contracted a serious blood infection in February 2011. March spent more than four months in a coma and had part of his left leg amputated.
March received the LCFB Agricultural Appreciation Award at the event. A commendation in honor of March in recognition of the agriculture award was presented to him by Brandon Minto, Congressman John Garamendi”s Deputy District Director.
“Chuck”s reputation is well-known and over the years I have had the opportunity to observe and learn of his work,” Garamendi said Friday. “As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, it was my pleasure to recognize the many contributions Chuck March has made to Californian agriculture throughout his career. I thank the Lake County Farm Bureau for inviting me to participate and for their good work in promoting agriculture.”
March said he was honored and touched by the outpouring of support and he was happy to be able to attend the event. He also complimented the choice the LCFB board made regarding his replacement, Claudia Street, as executive director.
“Claudia will do an excellent job,” March said. “They did well with their selection of her.”
Street said she considers March “a living legend” and a “stand-alone” kind of person. She said everywhere she goes, everyone she knows or has just met likes and respects March.
“You know Chuck is special when you see a community love a person this much,” Street said. “He is forever a part of the Farm Bureau.”
California Farm Bureau North Central Region Field Representative Gary Sack, who has known March for more than 40 years, said Friday, “It was wonderful to have him (March) there.”
Since March became ill, Sack has sent email messages about March”s condition, where to send mail and when and where to visit, to a long list of friends, community members and colleagues.
Sack said it was a good feeling for him and the others who have shared in March”s recovery, to see him at the event in street clothes.
“It”s like the icing on the cake,” Sack said. “We”re really making progress.”
March, along with about 275 other attendees, sat at tables decorated by the Blue Heron and Cole Creek 4-H clubs and were served a gourmet dinner prepared by the Kelseyville High School FFA and Jeff and Donelle McAllister while listening to David Neft play the keyboards.
Kelseyville Boy Scout Troop No. 45 kept busy with parking detail, set up and clean up for the event.
A wine social featured selections compliments of The Lake County Wine Studio, Rosa d”Oro, Vigilance, Six Sigma, Gregory Graham, Steele and Atascadero Creek.
Speakers at the event included LCFB President Craig Shannon, Vice President Marc Hooper and District 5 Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown.
Raffle winners announcements and the inaugural dessert auction followed dinner and benefited the LCFB scholarship fund.
Recipients of the LCFB scholarship were Lindee Mae Jones and Karen Recinos Gonzalez.
State Assembly candidate John Munn attended the event as well as U.S. Congress hopeful Kim Vann.
The LCFB board of directors consists of: David and Monica Rosenthal, Craig Shannon, Glenn Benjamin, Dave Mostin, Pat Scully, Paul Lauenroth, Rob Suenram, Marc Hooper, Robert Gayaldo, Diane Henderson and Bob Johnson.
Mandy Feder can be reached at 263-5636 ext. 32 or mandyfeder@yahoo.com.
