Some of the biggest leaders in local farming and cattle ranching were recognized Thursday at the Annual Cattlemen and Farmers Day Dinner in Paso Robles.
Marilyn Britton was named 2018 Agriculturalist of the Year, Kurt Bollinger was named 2018 Cattleman of the Year and Margaret Avila is the 2018 CattleWoman of the Year.
The San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau calls Britton a "steadfast Farm Bureau member, administrator, community leader, exceptional person, and a friend to generations of farmers, ranchers and agriculturalists" who has has dedicated herself to the industry. Britton is a graduate of Cal Poly and Atascadero High School. She’s also a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Bollinger is a longtime and very active member of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors "who is always giving back to his community and constantly striving to improve his outstanding herd of cows," the group says. He was born and raised in Paso Robles and helps with countless barbecues throughout the year for many charitable causes and organizations.
The farm bureau says CattleWoman of the Year Margaret Avila "embodies all that is admirable about the local cattle industry and its people." She twice served as president of the California State CattleWomen. “My life with the CattleWomen has been a long and exciting time. I have visited each unit throughout the state and met many wonderful people along the way, creating lifelong friendships,” she said.
The Cattlemen and Farmers Day is an annual event at the Mid-State Fair, celebrated with a barbecue dinner of beef, grilled bread, beans, salad and dessert in the form of cakes from the Madonna Inn.
