Senior Farmer nominees sought

The Madera Chamber of Commerce has asked for nominations for the Senior Farmer of the Year for 2018.

The honor is presented to a senior farmer who has contributed not only to farming in the Madera valley but also to civic and community activities.

Candidates must be 65 or older and live in Madera County. Nominations are scored by a point system and determined by former recipients of this award.

Nomination forms are available at the Madera Chamber of Commerce office, 120 N. E St. in Madera.

Deadline for nominations is Jan. 19.

Past Senior Farmers include:

1981 — Sherman Thomas

1982 — Henry Bitter

1983 — Gino Petrucci

1984 — Walter Rosskopf

1985 — A.K. Baker

1986 — Everett Garner

1987 — Floyd Nelson

1988 — Lionel Rogers

1989 — Ben Coulthard

1990 — J.E. McKinney

1991 — George Andrew

1992 — John Sordi

1993 — Ed Sagouspe

1993 Honorary — Franklin Secara

1994 — Elsie Buchenau

1995 — Norman Dill

1996 — Henry Massaro

1997 — Joe Galleano

1998 — Robert T. Houlding, Sr.

1999 — Dino Petrucci

2000 — Elvin Davis

2001 — Alfred Russell

2002 — Oliver Espinola

2003 — Will Gill, Jr.

2004 — Jack Schnoor

2005 — Richard B. Johnson

2006 — Charles Faso

2007 — Vernon Martinazzi

2008 — William “Billy” McKinney

2009 — Albert Cosyns

2010 — Johnny Deniz

2011 — Melinda “Millie” Meders

2012-2013 — Sarkis Sahatdjian

2014 — Ray Pool

2015 — Ken Leach

2016 — John Yakligian

2017 — Mitch Lasgoity