Panetta honored as a ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’

In partnership with the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, the national American Farm Bureau organization has honored Rep. Jimmy Panetta as a “Friend of Farm Bureau” for his support of agriculture throughout the past two-year legislative session.

“The Friend of Farm Bureau Award is presented to 10 members of Congress nationally who have advocated for and protected the interest of agriculture in their legislative work,” the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau said in a release. “While American Farm Bureau’s scoring rubric was much more limited due to a rather unproductive legislative session, Congressman Panetta has supported key priorities for farmers and ranchers throughout the past two years.”

Presenting this award to Panetta were representatives from the farm bureaus of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara counties, all within the district he represents.

The organizations said Panetta has been a leader on national farming issues, including efforts to secure relief programs during natural disasters, such as the flooding of 2023, as well as funding for water resource infrastructure.

“Congressman Panetta has always been a strong advocate for Santa Cruz County agriculture,” said Dennis Webb, president of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. “Even though his district was realigned due to redistricting in 2022, which eliminated some agricultural land, Congressman Panetta continues to be one of our strongest advocates in Washington, D.C.”

“Our Central Coast farmers, producers, vintners, and ranchers are the backbone of our economy and the fabric of many communities in the 19th Congressional District,” Panetta said in a release. “Despite the constant challenges that they face from volatile weather events, rigid mandates, uncertain markets and a shrinking workforce, the people in agriculture have always impressed me with their amazing will to always work towards and find a pathway forward. The least that I can do as their U.S. representative is to ensure that the federal government doesn’t hurt them, but rather helps them with the tools and investments that they need to continue their success.”