The Marin County Farm Bureau celebrated its 83rd annual dinner and meeting on February 17. How many organizations in Marin County have that kind of longevity.
And in they came, ranchers, older ranchers, young in their Sunday best-clean blue jeans and stylish Western jackets and boots. This wasn't a movie set for "Big Valley" this was the real thing!

Not a surprise, I saw and chatted with a lot of old friends such as Al Poncia-the Thistle Man" with his signature pony tail-too busy to talk much because he was kissing all the girls.

One of my favorite ladies to see there was Joan Thayer, County Assessor, who is a delightful woman who has been supporting the Marin County Farm Bureau for many years. Ed Shultz of Novato is there every year buying almost all the raffle tickets and he wins big time! Probably covers his Christmas presents for next year.

I would say as a rough estimate, the Grossi family was almost one-third of the whole crowd. Two of their own were being honored that night and they came out in droves. Most every ranch family has a touch of Grossi blood in its lineage-the Giacominis, the Spalettas, the Evans and so on. Very prolific people!

Paul Wenger, 1st Vice President of the California Farm Bureau was the guest speaker. He touched on the diminishing small family farms due to more rules and regulations and we all agreed!

The "Lifetime Achievement" award went to James Joseph and George Anthony Grossi, the two remaining brothers (the 7th and 11th children) of Dominic and Theresa Grossi, Swiss immigrants who came to West Marin over 100 years ago. They were very prolific as I said before and bought many ranches and put their grown children (11 of them) on the ranches and so the Grossi dynasty began.

The "Friend of Farm Bureau" was awarded to Cynthia Murray our 5th District Supervisor. She was first elected to the supervisorial post in November of 1998. Her district encompasses the City of Novato and surround areas and is currently a candidate for the Democratic primary for Assembly District Six seat. This is an award well-deserved because of her deep commitment to agriculture and families in the ag community. Cynthia stands up for ag whenever the need arises.

And wouldn't you know it, standing near the bar awaiting my 7-up which Ed Shultz was graciously getting me and I ungraciously did not thank him for because I was so enthralled with a lady I hadn't seen in a long, long time. The lady was the ever so bubbly Judy Arnold, who is running for Cynthia Murray's seat on the board of supervisors. She hasn't changed except that she's gotten even better looking and still as effervescent as ever.

We go back quite a few decades when Judy founded the Pt. Reyes Village Association and was its first president and I was president of the Pt. Reyes Business Association, we took opposite stands on the warehouse that was to be built in Pt. Reyes Station. It was Judy A. (against the warehouse) vs. Judy B. (for the warehouse). Well, we were all down at the Planning Commission when the warehouse was passed.

I couldn't believe what Judy A. did. She graciously presented a cake in the shape of the warehouse and wanted me to cut it. From then on I admired her immensely. We fought battles together. She was the founder of the West Marin Alliance, combining all the groups from Tomales down to Bolinas and Stinson Beach. On issues to which we all agreed such as oil drilling off our coast (which we all opposed) she'd head up the political punch it took to stop it.

She served as State Senator John Burton's aide for many years. She is always poised, very bright and most of all has "common sense!" And lots of it!

She has great respect for senior citizens and will fight vigorously for them along with many other issues she feels strongly about.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Novato citizens-vote for Judy Arnold and you won't go wrong.

PS: Thanks Ed Shultz for the drink and also thank Martha Stewart for the abalone, but I thought she was going to cook it too!