Dec 6, 2021

Winemaker honored as Young Farmers & Ranchers ‘Star Member’

A San Diego County winemaker has been awarded California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers “Star Member Award” for her leadership and commitment to the program.

Alysha Stehly received the award Dec. 4 at the YF&R State Conference in Orange County. The ceremony also honored the Fresno-Madera County group as “Committee of the Year” among all California YF&R organizations.

Stehly received the Star Award this year for her YR&R leadership and dedication, including her involvement with the San Diego County chapter, her service on the YF&R State Committee and on the San Diego County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

Stehly, who grew up in a farming family and makes wine with her husband in Valley Center, last year won the 2020 YF&R “Excellence in Agriculture Award.

The Fresno-Madera committee took home the Committee of the Year Award for its community service, including a food drive and volunteer contributions to a local food bank. The group also organized fundraisers, including a golf tournament and a drive-through barbecue, and earned praise for promoting member networking opportunities with agricultural professionals.

The State Committee separately recognized Fresno-Madera YF&R for excellence for its contributions to Harvest for All, a national food campaign serving needy families.

Meanwhile, the Butte County YF&R was honored as the most innovative program for its outreach in developing an educational video featuring local farmers and ranchers for use on social media and in curriculum used by teachers.

Napa County YF&R was honored for community involvement for its work with a volunteer organic farm and its development of gardening kits distributed throughout the county.

The Young Farmers & Ranchers conference is being held this year in conjunction with the 103rd Annual Meeting of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 31,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 6 million Farm Bureau members.

Alysha Stehly. Photo: Stehleon Vineyards