Brizard honored for distinguished Farm Bureau service

» April 15, 2004 «

Longtime Farm Bureau leader Al Brizard of Groveland has been honored with the highest award presented by the California Farm Bureau Federation. Brizard received the Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service Award during ceremonies at the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau annual meeting in Modesto.

"Al Brizard has made significant and lasting contributions to agriculture at the local and state levels," said CFBF President Bill Pauli. "He has made his mark on water issues, serving on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and on various Farm Bureau water committees at the county and state levels of our organization."

Brizard has served on the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau board of directors since 1988. He was secretary-treasurer of the county Farm Bureau from 1994 to 2000 and has been the water committee chairman since 1993. From 1994 to 2000, he served on the CFBF Water Advisory Committee.

"Al knows how important water is to the future of agriculture and the future of our state's economy. That's why he has been so instrumental for so long in speaking up for farmers and ranchers on water quality and water supply issues," Pauli said. "He is a true champion of agriculture, especially when it comes to practical, sensible solutions on water issues."

In nominating Brizard for the award, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau President Carlos Estacio III noted that despite suffering a stroke in 1998, Brizard kept working on a local land-use case and on issues concerning groundwater in Stanislaus County.

"He was an inspiration to us all. In 1998, Al-still suffering from the effects of the stroke-was instrumental in putting together a task force to explore the feasibility of a groundwater ordinance for Stanislaus County," said Estacio. "In all the years I have served with Al, he has always been the constant source of common sense on the board. Al's knowledge and passion about water issues in California is second to none."

Brizard has been active in agriculture nearly his entire life. After graduating from Fresno State University, he worked in farm management for 20 years in the Livingston area. After farming walnuts for the past 20 years near Patterson, Brizard sold the farm and is retired and living in Groveland.

This is the 51st year that the California Farm Bureau has presented the Distinguished Service Award, which was established in 1953.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.