Edward Smith hoists his tractor award from the Fresno County Farm Bureau.

Edward Smith was the winner of the Fresno County Farm Bureau’s annual journalism award for General Print media with a story about conditions in the Delta.

Smith’s story from June 2021 was headlined “Growers, experts say conventional wisdom around drought is flawed.”

Smith and other journalists were honored during the Farm Bureau’s annual “Bounty of Fresno County” event held Thursday at Wolf Lakes in Sanger.

The Business Journal’s Smith wins Gruner Public Service award

Other journalism award winners included:

Audio: Patrick Cavanaugh, Ag Information Network, “Initial Zero Allocation Is Part of Massive Decline in Water Availability,” February 2022.

Farm Trade Print: Todd Fitchette, Western Farm Press, “Rice Fields Benefit Endangered Salmon,” January 2022.

Video: Aurora Gomez/Reuben Guerra, ABC30, “Children First: Firebaugh High School’s FFA program,” September 2021.

Heavy Puller Award: 18THIRTY Entertainment was recognized with the Farm Bureau “Heavy Puller Award” for their many shows featuring agriculture including American Grown: My Job Depends on Ag, Tapped Out, Silent Sacrifice, and the Creek Fire documentary.

Serving as judges for the Journalism Awards were Fresno Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Amy Fuentes; California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and Western Agricultural Processors Association’s Assistant Vice President Priscilla Rodriguez; and Farm Bureau President Daniel Hartwig.

Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner Margaret Mims was recognized with the “Friends of the Family Farm Award” for her support and contributions to Fresno County agriculture and rural communities. Sheriff Mims has served as the 25th Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner since November of 2006 and is now finishing up her final year of service.