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Hover over the images below to read about each of the award recipients:

Tawny Tesconi grew up on a small family farm in West Sonoma County, where her love for agriculture was nurtured through 4-H and FFA.
After nearly 30 years as a Fair Manager and CEO in California, including at the Sonoma-Marin Fair and Sonoma County Fair, she retired in 2015 as General Services Director. She then founded an event management firm focused on the fair industry.
In a return to leadership, she became Interim Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, a role that lasted nearly five years before her retirement in 2022. Her career reflects a deep commitment to the agricultural community.
Most recently, Tawny was the Interim Executive Director of the Napa County Farm Bureau, where she successfully managed the organization and its course of advocacy for agriculture in Napa County.

About the Friend of Agriculture Award

The Friend of Agriculture is honored for their strong support and commitment to ensuring a thriving agricultural community in Napa County.

Johnny White is a fifth-generation Napa County farmer whose roots can be traced back to his great-great-grandfather, John Wooden, for whom Wooden Valley is named. Johnny has been involved in farming his entire life, beginning in his childhood home on a ranch in Chiles Valley, where he helped his family grow hay and raise cattle and sheep.
He began serving his community as a teenager, as a volunteer firefighter with the Pope Valley Volunteer Fire Department, and eventually retired from the St. Helena Fire Department as an Assistant Fire Chief nearly 25 years later. Johnny graduated from St. Helena High School and attended Santa Rosa Junior College which helped guide his path to his current vocation.
For the last 37 years Johnny has been with Pina Vineyard Management, working his way up to President/partner of the business. He is involved in managing 1,000 acres of vineyard, and assisting growers with removal and ground preparation of another 1,000 acres annually.
Johnny has served on the St. Helena High Ag Boosters board, and currently serves on the St. Helena High School Ag Advisory Board. He has assisted with the St. Helena FFA vine pruning team, and continues to give his time to Ag Education, guiding students, and helping the St. Helena FFA program.
Johnny lives in Pope Valley with his wife of 41 years, Colette. They raised 5 children together and have 7 grandchildren. In his free time he enjoys escaping to “Cow Town”, Ferndale, CA exploring far North Coast agriculture.

About the Agriculturalist of the Year Award

The Agriculturist of the Year is honored for their notable contributions and work in Napa Valley agriculture and the Napa Valley farming community.

Doug Wight is a 5th generation farmer in the Napa Valley. He graduated from St. Helena High School in 1968 and from Cal Poly with a degree in Fruit Science in 1973. Doug moved home after college and planted his first vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon on his family’s Lewelling Ranch in 1974.
In 1983 he started his business, Wight Vineyard Management, which has now been in operation for over 40 years. Doug has served on the board of directors of the Farm Supply and the Grape Growers Association.
He has also been a long standing member of the American Society of Oenologists and Viticulturists and was one of the original members of Napa County Vit Tech. Doug continues to farm today and mentor the current and future farmers of the 6th and 7th generations of his family.

About the Farm Bureau Member of the Year Award

The Member of the Year is honored for their contributions to the Napa County Farm Bureau, its members, and the community.

“We look forward to celebrating the evening with you at Louis Martini Winery, helping raise funds for the Napa County Farm Bureau, an organization that has, is, and will continue to defend agriculture today and for generations to come. ”

— Napa County Farm Bureau President, Don Munk