Walter Hardesty, a cattle rancher from Elk Grove, has received the California Farm Bureau’s Hometown Hero Award in recognition of his support of the Young Farmers & Ranchers program in Sacramento County.

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The Sacramento County YF&R Committee nominated Hardesty for the award, which was presented Saturday at the 106th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey.

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“Walter plays a significant role in the success of our Sacramento County YF&R program,” Adriana Toste of the Sacramento County YF&R Committee wrote in nominating Hardesty for the award. “He greatly enjoys socializing with our committee and mentoring our young, developing Farm Bureau leaders.”

 

Hardesty, a Sacramento County Farm Bureau member since 1986 and a 21-year board member and multiple-time officer, donates his family’s property each year for the YF&R committee’s annual YF&R BBQ, its main fundraiser for leadership development.

 

“The reason we have been so successful and profitable with our YF&R BBQ is truly because the Hardesty family generously provides their venue free of charge,” Toste said, adding that Hardesty also donates items for the raffle and dessert auction and invites friends, family and community members to the event.

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“Their hospitality is second to none and stands as a testament to Walter’s belief in the value of the YF&R program and the Farm Bureau organization,” Toste said.
 

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