Dee Harley was honored with the Farmer of the Year Award, at the 38th annual Farm Day luncheon. Harley’s farm produces the famous goat cheese that bears her name. American Legion Post 474 Commander Russell Bisonette won the Ashcraft Award for outstanding Community Service. Mel Mello Jr., was awarded the Delores Mullin “Like a Rock” Award.
The award came with a special commendation from Gov Schwaartzengger, but in keeping with the Girl Power theme, it was presented by Jackie Speier. Gene Mullins was in the house, along with the full board of Supervisors, representatives from Leland Yee’s and Anna Eshoo’s offices.
Speier made a very strong speech, saying “The community’s relationship with the Peninsula Open Space Trust must be repaired.” She went on to say that now that she has officially retired she will dedicate the coming year to doing “whatever I can to protect and preserve and support the farming community of the San Mateo County Coastside. Call me. Invite me to everything that has anything to do with agriculture, and if I can get here, I will.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that Harley is the first woman to ever win the Farmer of the Year award. This was incorrect.
It was such a pleasure to attend the Farm Day Luncheon and to see the award go this year to Dee Harley of Harley Farms. Dee had always been a generous supporter in the past when I was the HMB 4H goat leader allowing us to visit her farm when the baby goats had just been born. I would like to make a correction to the article by Barry Parr (No offense Barry….) But Dee was NOT the first woman to receive the farmer of the Year award….there just hasn’t been a woman in a long time. Others to recieve the award in the past were posted on the back of the program. Tom & Valerie Phipps, Dolores Mullin, George & Madeline Lea, Virginia Centoni & Joe & Nanda Muzzi.