The 38^th Annual Pear Fair honors John and Cathy Baranek as Grand Marshals - the first couple to share the honor of serving as Grand Marshals in the Pear Fair history.

With a deep-rooted family history in the Delta, John and Cathy continue the farm family legacy of staying actively involved in the Delta community to preserve its values and way of life. They manage both the Herzog company and the Ehrhardt Wine Estates. With a long-standing presence in the California wine grape industry, they are progressive in facing complex water and land issues in California agriculture.

A graduate of Fresno State University with degrees in viticulture and enology, John helped to establish the first vineyards in the Sacramento Delta in 1961 where he developed and trained the vines for mechanical harvest. He is well respected in the wine grape industry with a long list of awards for his knowledge and industry leadership. Author of the Clarksburg Appellation and founding member of the Clarksburg Wine Grape Growers Association, John understands the industry, the issues and the value of agriculture in the California Delta he calls home.

Catherine (Cathy) graduated from Fresno State University with degrees in education and, like her husband, has expanded her knowledge and leadership skills by serving on a wide range of local and state government boards such as Director of Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, leader in community parks development, 4-H, Pear Fair, Farm Bureau and North Delta Conservancy just to name a few. But it is the time with family and community that she values most, staying active in many activities that promote the farming family values and the Delta’s precious resources that she hopes will be well managed for many generations to come.

Put together, the experience of Cathy and John Baranek with their leadership in promoting agriculture plus serving in national, state and local government regarding the industry gives them a wise perspective in facing the Delta’s future.

We are extremely proud and honored to have John ands Cathy as our 38^th Annual Grand Marshals of the Courltand Pear Fair.