The San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame, now in its 40th year, celebrates individuals who have significantly shaped the area’s agricultural heritage. This honor recognizes the efforts and history of those who have enriched the lives of county residents and laid the groundwork for the future. The agricultural community exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and tradition, carried forward by those who made great personal and physical sacrifices to nurture land and community.
This year’s San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees have been announced and include:
Kimberly Ledbetter Bronson, Vino Farms
Robert Panella Sr., Panella Trucking
Art Perry, George Perry and Sons, Inc.
Rodney and Gayla Schatz, Peltier Winery
Frank Raffel, Port Stockton Nursery (Posthumous)
The honorees will be recognized at the annual Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at the Robert J. Cabral Ag Center, 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton. Tickets are $80 each, prepaid reservations only.
For tickets and additional information, visit the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce webpage, http://stocktonchamber.org/ag-hall-of-fame/ or call (209) 547-2770.
Kimberly Ledbetter Bronson, Vino Farms
A lifelong advocate for agriculture, Kimberly (Kim) Ledbetter Bronson has grown into one of the most respected leaders in California’s winegrape industry. Since joining Vino Farms in 1998 as the third generation of her family to take the helm, Kim has expanded her role from operations to visionary leadership, cultivating a collaborative family model alongside her brother Craig and cousins Marissa, Courtney, and Megan. Together, they have built a strong and unified team that has strengthened company culture, ensured generational continuity, and inspired women in agricultural leadership. Under Kim’s guidance, Vino Farms has grown from farming 10,000 acres to more than 18,000 acres across California. She championed sustainable practices by introducing certified organic and biodynamic vineyards and integrating the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing into operations.
Robert Panella Sr., Panella Trucking
Agriculture has been at the center of Robert Panella Sr.’s life since childhood. His family’s trucking legacy began in 1934 when his father, Ralph Panella, and cousin purchased a two-ton Chevrolet flatbed to haul sugar beets for Spreckels’s Sugar. Over the years, Panella Trucking expanded into hauling a wide range of crops, while Ralph also nurtured a farming operation. Robert joined the business in 1955, first as a driver and later managing operations, working closely with his father until Ralph’s passing in 1980. Carrying forward both the farming and trucking traditions, Robert takes pride in honoring his father’s legacy, who was inducted into the Ag Hall of Fame in 1997. Under Robert’s leadership, Panella Trucking has grown from 50 trucks to a fleet of more than 300 trucks and over 1,000 trailers.
Art Perry, George Perry and Sons, Inc.
Born in 1944 to George and Violet Perry, Art Perry has lived his entire life in Manteca, where his passion for agriculture began at a very young age. A graduate of Manteca High School in 1962, he was active in Future Farmers of America before attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Though he initially pursued teaching, Art’s love for farming and family brought him back to the family operation, which grew into George Perry and Sons, Inc. In the mid-1960s, the family expanded the family business by selling watermelons and pumpkins from local growers. Alongside his brother, George Jr., Art helped expand the business into a year-round produce marketing company. Today, under the fourth generation of Perrys, George Perry and Sons ships more than 1,000 loads of watermelons and 1,000 loads of pumpkins each year, sourcing from growers across Mexico and California.
Rodney and Gayla Schatz, Peltier Winery
Rodney and Gayla Schatz are a remarkable husband-and-wife team whose leadership, innovation, and devotion to family and community have made a lasting impact on San Joaquin County agriculture. Together, they have grown a thriving vineyard and winery operation while championing sustainable practices, industry advancement, and community service. Rodney Schatz was born in Lodi, California, and raised in a multigenerational farming family. After graduating from Lodi High School, he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he majored in Crop Science. In 1985, shortly after college, Rodney and his wife Gayla purchased 40 acres of Old Vine Zinfandel in Acampo, land that became both their home and the foundation of their vineyard and winery. Rodney’s instinct for farming, paired with Gayla’s financial expertise and warm hospitality, proved to be the perfect partnership for building a lasting legacy.
Frank Raffel, Port Stockton Nursery (Posthumous)
Frank Cyril Raffel (1899–1997) was a pioneering nurseryman, visionary rosarian, and lifelong advocate for the beauty and vitality of plants. As the founder of Port Stockton Nursery and the creator of dozens of rose varieties recognized around the world, Raffel left a legacy that shaped both Stockton’s agricultural history and its cultural landscape. Born in Louisiana in 1899, Raffel moved to Reedley in 1906, later living in Modesto before settling in Stockton in 1926. He gained experience as a foreman at a Linden nursery before founding Port Stockton Nursery in 1929. From the moment he opened the nursery on East Main Street, Raffel devoted his life to the land, living on the grounds for nearly 70 years and building a business that continues to thrive today. Raffel’s expertise and innovation set him apart. He developed an impressive 40 rose varieties, including the internationally recognized Banner, Stockton Beauty, California Favorite, Treasure Island, and Gertrude Raffel, which he named for his wife. Among his most famous creations was Sweet Vivien, a highly rated white rose with pink edges beloved for its rare ability to bloom in the shade.
