Stanislaus’ latest Farmworker of the Year has devoted 34 years to this employer

John Holland
·1 min read

Jorge Anguiano won the top Farmworker of the Year honor for his 34 years of service to a Patterson-area operation.

The third annual awards were presented Tuesday by the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, the Modesto Rotary Club and AgSafe. Five workers in all were honored at the DoubleTree Hotel luncheon.

The sponsors created the awards in 2021 to recognize people who persevered amid COVID-19. They continued after the pandemic waned.

Anguiano is a manager at Bays Ranch, which grows various tree and annual crops on the West Side. The Mexico native received the Platinum Award and $1,500.

“Jorge said he enjoys managing the irrigation and learning about new water systems,” said presenter Anna Genasci, communication and education director at the Farm Bureau. “... Daniel (Bays) describes Jorge as a kid a heart and part of the Bays family they feel lucky to have.”

The awards coincided with the Rotary chapter’s weekly meeting. The Farm Bureau is part of a national network supporting agriculture. AgSafe is a Modesto-based nonprofit that works on injury prevention and related efforts.

Jorge Anguiano, right, shown with employer Daniel Bays, received the top Farmworker of the Year honor in Modesto on March 21, 2023.
Jorge Anguiano, right, shown with employer Daniel Bays, received the top Farmworker of the Year honor in Modesto on March 21, 2023.

The other 2023 honorees:

  • Gold Award, $1,000: Jose Franco, herd manager at JNM Dairy, west of Modesto.

  • Silver Award, $750: Arthur Alves, who does various tasks at Inderbitzen Dairy, west of Modesto.

  • Excellence Award, $250: Jose Ceja, diverse jobs at Triple C Farms, an almond grower east of Denair.

  • Excellence Award, $250: Jose Morales, various duties at Gold Leaf Farms. It grows almonds east of Modesto, among several nut and date farms in California and Arizona.

The 2021 top award went to Razo Barron, an orchard supervisor with Blossom Hill/Beard’s Quality Nut near Oakdale. Last year, it was Gonzalo Torres, a supervisor for Braden Farms almonds, east of Denair.