FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Mattos (209) 576-6355 [email protected]
Sept. 23, 2008, Modesto, CA – – The California Poultry Federation honored outstanding members of the state’s poultry industry last week at its annual conference held at The Resort at Squaw Creek.
The CPF’s top honor went to Richard and Kathy Zacky, who received the Golden Rooster Award for their many years of service and advocacy. Richard served as chairman of the CPF in 2002 and 2003, and he will begin a new term as chairman in 2010. “During his long tenure on the CPF board of directors, Richard has raised the level of awareness of poultry and poultry products among legislators, consumers and business associates,” said CPF Chairman Bob Shipley. “Supporting him, and working right along side at various events, fund-raisers and activities has been his bright and energetic wife, Kathy. Together they have worked tirelessly to serve the many facets of the poultry industry, while giving back to their community, state and country.”
CPF President Bill Mattos praised the Zackys for hosting the CPF’s annual summer meeting at their Avila Beach home. “The Zackys are a primary reason for the growth and interest in this activity year after year,” said Mattos. “Together they have also spent countless hours in both Sacramento and Washington, DC promoting California’s diverse poultry industry and working to level the playing field for business here in California so that we remain competitive with the rest of the nation.”
The Allied Award was presented to Evans Keller, a sales and marketing specialist to the food industry for poultry. Keller has served California’s poultry and egg industry as an allied member since 2002 after spending almost 30 years working in the poultry industry throughout the United States. Today, as a consultant for an animal health company, Keller works as a sales and marketing specialist to the food industry for poultry, covering the nine western states along with researching and formulating start-up agendas for companies in the Organic, Antibiotic Free and Natural Foods arena.
CPF Chairman Shipley said, “Evans has assisted in raising the image and the stature of the poultry industry in both allied and industry circles, and he has also attended every lobby day event for members in Sacramento and Washington, DC effectively promoting the industry and working for a better future for poultry and eggs.” Keller served as Chairman of the CPF in 1993 and has been a member of the board of directors since 1991.
The Pioneer Award was presented to the Diestel Family, owners of Diestel Family Turkey Ranch in Sonora. Their turkey was recently named the best tasting range fed turkey by the San Francisco Chronicle. “This family has always been known for its locally grown, fresh and natural and range fed birds that sell throughout the west,” noted Mattos. In the early 1920s Ernest Bottini, great uncle of Tim Diestel (today’s owner) started what has become the family tradition of raising premium quality range grown turkeys on his 400 acre ranch in the Sierra foothills. Ernest took special care growing each turkey and built a successful trade with many of the famous landmark San Francisco restaurants, to whom he delivered old fashioned New York dressed turkeys on his own truck. “They believe that their family secrets of range growing with extra time, individual care, and a wholesome diet and environment consistently produce a better, tender and juicy turkey that has real old fashioned turkey flavor,” explained Shipley.
(Editor’s note: High resolution photos of award winners are available upon request. Please contact Mark Looker at [email protected])
The CPF, headquartered in Modesto, is the trade association for California‘s meat bird industry, representing chicken, turkey, duck, squab and game bird producers and processors.
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