Farm Bureau's Cecil wins award

Butte County Farm Bureau Executive Director Colleen Cecil was one of six women who won the Common Threads North award for achievement in agriculture.

Committed to giving to others in leadership, the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, California Women in Agriculture, nine county farm bureaus and the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences joined together to create the Common Threads North program in 2003, according to the Common Threads North website.

Cecil and the others were honored in a ceremony April 3 at the Doubletree Hotel in Chico. Cecil has worked for the Farm Bureau for 17 years.

“This committee is an organized committee in agriculture and recognized women in agriculture from Stanislaus County to the Oregon border,” Cecil said. “Another program recognized women from Merced County.”

The committee hosts this event annually.

“The program has been recognizing women since 2004,” Cecil said.

Cecil didn't know she won until January.

“The selection committee kept that a secret,” she said. “Our committee looks for women who are recognized whose roots run deep in agriculture and who make a difference and give their time, talent and treasure to their communities.”

Cecil loved receiving the award.

“All honorees get a vase and a resolution from Sacramento signed by (state Sen.) Brian Dahle and (Assemblyman) James Gallagher,” Cecil said. “We win for who we are as people. My nomination came from two local colleagues. I reside in Orland, and that is where my husband and kids and I call home.”

Cecil grew up in Merced County and moved to the Glenn County area in 2006 to take the job.

“I have been blessed,” she said. “I have been working in agriculture professionally for 25 years. I've seen more women in leadership roles in agriculture recently than 25 years ago. Agriculture tends to be a male-dominated field.”

This year's class of winners are from Glenn, Lake, Sutter, Sierra, Tehama and Placer counties.