Tulare County 49th Annual Farmer of the Year

Richard "Butch" Gist

Celebrating National Dairy Month - June 2009

Family and friends turned out in force for the luncheon to honor Gist, a Tulare native who still lives on the farm his family has owned for three generations.

Celeste Thomas, co-chair of Kiwanis Club’s Ag and Conservation Committee, noted Gist’s service to the community which extends to his days at Tulare Western High School, where he was member of the Class of 1964 and active in FFA, student government and the building of the Greek Theater.

“The story has been told that Butch had been working on the completion of the theater hours before its dedication ceremony was to begin,” Thomas said. “He had just enough time to drive his tractor home, take a quick shower and get back in time for the event.”

He has continued to support community-based activities, serving as a community leader for 4-H, on the Tulare Joint Union High School District’s FFA Advisory Community and as a sponsor of numerous youth sports teams, she said. “Butch is always willing to lend some elbow grease, flip burgers, seek donations, speak to kids about agricultural issues or do whatever else it takes to be supportive of the community,” Thomas said.

She also spoke of Gist’s “clear vision” that allowed him to successfully restructure the family farm during a financially down period in farming.

“Today, Gist Farms is a diversified business consisting of trucking, rail car commodity unloading, specialty commodity processing, commercial chopping, manufacturing and walnut farming,” Thomas said.

She also spoke of Gist’s aptitude for designing and developing agricultural equipment, which has resulted in two patents and a third pending.

“But what Butch enjoys the most is helping out his fellow farmers,” Thomas said. “Over the years he has spent numerous hours helping several farmers to solve a problem by modifying their equipment to work more efficiently.”

Among family members attending the event was Gist’s father, Tom, who he has said “is the smartest businessman he ever knew,” Thomas said.

Gist is married to Clare Gist, assistant superintendent of business services for the Tulare City School District, and has three children, Brooks, a teacher and coach at Sundale School; Marrs, an agricultural engineer who works for Southern California Edison in its AgTAC division; and Swannie, a Tulare Western High School sophomore who is active in FFA and school sports. He also has five grandchildren.

In addition to the Kiwanis Club, other Farmer of the Year sponsors are: Tulare Advance-Register, International Agri-Center, Tulare County Farm Bureau, Preferred Outlets of Tulare, Gainsborough Studios, Machado Hay Company, Citizens Business Bank and Farm Credit West.

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CLARE GIST - OWNER

MARVIN DAVIS - MANAGER

ANA DAVIS - OFFICE