Once again Modesto Rotary (MoRo), AgSafe and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau (SCFB) will partner to honor an essential workforce, farmworkers in Stanislaus County.

The groups are now accepting nominations for the 2023 Farmworker of the Year awards.

The idea for the award came from a desire of MoRo’s Vocational committee to honor essential workers in some way and felt farmworkers were under-appreciated during the pandemic. So, they decided to have an award as a way to show appreciation to the people who have kept working throughout the pandemic and fed everyone when so many were sheltering at home. That brought about the Farmworker Award 2021. Now that the pandemic is fading in its impact on daily lives, the organizations have turned their sights to the fact that agriculture is the economic engine of the county.

Last year’s awardees included Gonzalo Torres of Braden Farms, Fidel Torres of Riddle Ranches, Federico Ochoa of Paul Wenger’s farm, Raudel Mata of Gold Leaf Farming and Jose Martinez of Five Rings Harvesting.

Nominees for the 2023 awards will be accepted through Jan. 18, 2023. To nominate a farmworker, go to:  https://bit.ly/3EzNS3b. For information on the program, call 209-522-7278.