Ag leaders honored
First Valley of the World Awards presented by Steinbeck Center
June 10, 2005
By Yun Long for the Salinas Californian

Leaders of the Salinas Valley agricultural community gathered Thursday to honor some of their own at the inaugural Valley of the World Awards.

For at least 10 years, National Steinbeck Center officials had been considering creating the awards to recognize agricultural industry leaders and pioneers, said Bruce Taylor, president of the center's board of directors. Jeff Gilles, the Steinbeck Center's vice president of development, put the idea into motion last year.

"Every good idea takes a long time to germinate," Gilles said. "It started a year ago with the opening of the Valley of the World (agricultural) wing at the Steinbeck Center."

The night honored four "fathers" of Salinas Valley agriculture: Bruce Church, Russ Merrill, Gene Harden and Bud Antle.

They were inducted into the Valley of the World Hall of Fame that will be part of the ag wing at the Steinbeck Center

"Each was a leader in the ag industry," said Basil Mills, who was on the committee that chose the inductees. "They helped create the ag industry in Salinas Valley. They were innovators and pioneers."

Mills' son, David Mills, senior vice president of Mills Family Farms, was given the Emerging Agricultural Leader award. Basil Mills stressed he was not on that selection committee.

"In my mind, the emerging leader award is recognition of past and present contributions in the industry and the community," David Mills said. "It is also recognition from my friends and peers that there is still more work for me to do."

Sylvia Panetta was given the National Steinbeck Center Education Award for her efforts to educate others as John Steinbeck would want.