Molly Watkins named Woman of the Year

Farm Bureau News

Molly Watkins was honored in a California Senate ceremony recently as Woman of the Year from the 14th Senate District of Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto.

“I was surprised and delighted by this honor,” Watkins said. “I had no idea that Supervisor Ken Vogel had nominated me. It was his idea.”

Watkins’ tireless devotion to numerous causes and organizations approaches the legendary as she has, among other things, been a presenter for SJFB’s AITC program; hosted an international delegation of Middle Eastern women here to enhance their ag knowledge; helped create AgVenture; and held assorted posts in the San Joaquin-Stanislaus County Cattlewomen’s group and is their guest lecturer.

If that weren’t enough, Watkins also holds a membership on the local Resource Conservation District and is active in SJFB, California Women for Agriculture, and a founding member of the California Roundtable on Ag and the Environment, to name a few.

“When do I sleep?” she asked rhetorically. “Maybe this week. I don’t sleep much.”

Sen. Cogdill said, “I am extremely pleased to honor Molly Watkins as 2008 Woman of the Year. She is a perfect example of what a Woman of the Year should be, balancing her talents between her passion for agriculture, her generous volunteerism and her wonderful family.”

He added, “Molly is a valuable asset to her community and an inspiration to women throughout the state.”

Bruce Blodgett, SJFB executive director, pointed out that Watkins was the only woman selected with a background in agriculture. “Molly has a passion for agriculture and the skill set to make her an effective organizer for ag programs and an advocate for agriculture in general,” he added.

While impressed by gathering with her Women of the Year colleagues – each senator and his/her staff select a candidate from the senator’s district – on the Senate floor in Sacramento, Watkins was amused by the FAQ sheet given to the women which advised honorees to “wear comfortable shoes since she will be standing a good deal before, during and after the ceremony.”

She undoubtedly wears comfortable shoes while racing to meet the requirements of her many and varied volunteer activities such as organizing the Select San Joaquin marketing campaign, working with the SJ County Office of Education to distribute locally grown produce to home economic teachers in the county, and helping monitor local water quality coalition efforts to comply with the Water Quality Control Board’s irrigated lands program.

“I think Kenny’s excited about this,” she said, referring to spouse Kenny Watkins who is serving his second term as CFBF second vice president, and she thinks her two children are, too.

Blodgett remarked that it is “really encouraging to see this support for someone who supports agriculture every day of the year.”