Congratulations to Milenda "Millie" Gaumnitz Meders
2011 Senior Farmer of the Year

The Madera Chamber of Commerce has announced this year's Senior Farmer of the Year.  She is the second woman ever to win the honor since the program started 30 years ago.   Milenda "Millie" Gaumnitz Meders, 76, has been a dairy and beef cattle farmer in Chowchilla for more than 50 years.  She also grows cotton, corn, alfalfa, and almonds and owns irrigation pasture.

The Senior Farmer of the Year Award recognizes lifetime agricultural achievements of farmers in Madera County.  Meders has served as the livestock superintendent for the Chowchilla Fair for 20 years and served one term as director of the Chowchilla Water District, among other accomplishments.  She was nominated by past Senior Farmer Henry Massaro.

"It's been a long time since we've had a female Senior Farmer," said Debi Bray, President/CEO of the Madera Chamber of Commerce.  The only other woman to receive this honor was the late Elsie Buchenau, who was honored in 1994.

By Farin Montanez, Madera Tribune
Saturday, June 25, 2011

Click here for 2011 SENIOR FARMER DINNER RESERVATION FORM

The Madera District Chamber of Commerce will honor Milenda "Millie" Meders, our 2011 Senior Farmer of the Year at the annual presentation and celebration dinner in their honor on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Madera Municipal Golf Course, St. Andrew's Ballroom, 23200 Avenue 17 in Madera. Social Hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m. and the Senior Farmer Presentations to follow. Tickets are $40 per person; reserved tables of ten (10) are available for our $500 sponsors. Reservations are required; no tickets will be sold at the door. Please contact the Chamber office at (559) 673-3563 for reservations, sponsorships or additional information.   If you plan to attend the dinner and would like to participate in the presentation honoring our 2011 Senior Farmer, please contact Debi Bray at the Chamber office (559) 673-3563 or email dbray@maderachamber.com

Sponsorships of this event are available for $250.00 and $500.00.  Proceeds from this event benefit our Madera High Schools Chamber of Commerce Ag Scholarship fund.  If you are interested in sponsoring this event or need additional information, please call the Chamber office at (559) 673-3563 or CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP FORM

Net revenue derived from this event benefits the Madera Chamber of Commerce Ag Scholarship fund.  Your support not only honors our Senior Farmer and Past Recipients, but also supports the Ag Scholarship program for our youth who are our future Farmers.

Senior Farmer of the Year Nomination Information

Since 1981 the Madera District Chamber of Commerce has annually honored outstanding individuals for their leadership, service, and contributions to Madera County Agriculture.  The Senior Farmer of the Year Award recognizes, with great appreciation, the lifetime of an exceptional individual in the field of agriculture.

Candidates must be 65 years or over and live in Madera County.  Nominations are scored by a point system.  The scoring and final determination of the award is conducted by our Past Senior Farmer honorees.   Nomination forms were available at the Madera Chamber of Commerce office located at 120 North E Street in Madera, or online at our website.  Deadline for the 2011 Nominations was June 10, 2011. 

ABOUT THIS ANNUAL EVENT...
Since 1981 the Madera District Chamber of Commerce has annually honored outstanding individuals for their leadership, service, and contributions to Madera County Agriculture. The Senior Farmer of the Year Award recognizes, with great appreciation, the lifetime of an exceptional individual in the discipline of agriculture. Individuals are nominated and awarded points in 8 topic areas and must be 65 years or older. Nominations are reviewed by past honorees who also determine the final selection. These previous honorees, along with our 2011 recipient, have made huge and significant contributions to Madera County and recognizing them is just never quite enough for all they have done.

“Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted”. The truth in this quote by author David Bly, certainly exemplifies the past recipients. Their years of hard work have brought success and continue to provide a prosperous economic base for Madera County. The Chamber looks forward to celebrating a new Senior Farmer of the Year; the following is the impressive list of past honorees:

• 1981 - Sherman Thomas*

• 1982 - Henry J. Bitter*

• 1983 - Gino Petrucci, Sr.*

• 1984 - Walter Rosskopf*

• 1985 - Aubrey 'A.K.' Baker*

• 1986 - Everett Garner*

• 1987 - Floyd Nelson*

• 1988 - Lionel T. Rogers*

• 1989 - Ben Coulthard*

• 1990 - J.E. 'Eldred' McKinney
  

• 1991 - George Andrew

• 1992 - John Sordi*

• 1993 - Edmond 'Ed' Sagouspe*

• 1993 - Honorary Senior Farmer Franklin Secara*

• 1994 - Elsie Buchenau*

• 1995 - Norman E. Dill*

• 1996 - Henry Massaro

• 1997 - Joe Galleano

• 1998 - Robert T. Houlding, Sr.*

• 1999 - Dino Petrucci

• 2000 - Elvin 'E.K.' Davis

• 2001 - Alfred 'Fred' Russell*

• 2002 - Oliver Espinola*

• 2003 - Will Gill, Jr.

• 2004 - Jack W. Schnoor

• 2005 - Richard B. Johnson

• 2006 - Charles 'Charlie' Faso*

• 2007 - Vernon E. Martinazzi

• 2008 - William 'Billy' McKinney*

• 2009 - Albert 'Al' Cosyns

• 2010 - Johnny Deniz
  VISIT US ON FACEBOOK to see our photos from the 2010 Senior Farmer Dinner
  

• 2011 - Milenda "Millie" Gaumnitz Meders
  

* deceased