Rachel Castanon joined the Butte County Farm Bureau team in early August as a Program Coordinator. Rachel will be managing and helping BCFB staff and Board with our many member programs and events throughout the year. You will likely find her answering the phone and she’ll be the first smiling face you see when you visit our office.  She will also serve as the Butte County Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Butte Yuba Sutter Water Quality Coalition. We are excited to have Rachel as part of our Farm Bureau family and we want you to get to know her a bit better. The following Q & A was printed in September/October Butte County Farm News.

Briefly describe where you are originally from and how long you’ve been in Butte County. 
Since I was born! I’ve been raised in Butte County and now coming on 24 years of living in Butte County. I moved away for school for three years, but always returned home.

Where did you attend school and what was your area of study?
After I graduated from Las Plumas High School, I attended Modesto Junior College on an Agriculture Internship where I was an intern in the Agriculture Division Office. I lived on the farm in a housing complex for all 28 Agriculture Interns where I studied Animal Science and Agriculture Business. After two years at Modesto Junior College I transferred to Oklahoma State University for a year and realized how much I missed Butte County and transferred to Chico State University to continue my study of Animal Science and Agriculture Business.

What area of Agriculture are you involved in?
My involvement in agriculture started at a young age, but bloomed in High School where I was fortunate enough to have the best agriculture teachers who took me under their wing and opened many doors of interest to me. I got involved with breeding cattle, sheep, swine, and communication committees to voice the importance of agriculture.

What other organizations are you apart of?
I am involved with the California Paint Horse Association and I am very excited to be a part of the Farm Bureau organization.

What is your big accomplishment in the last 5 years? Or something you are proud to have done or be apart of?
One of my recent accomplishments that I am very proud of is completing my HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certification. I was fortunate enough to travel with three other Chico State students and our professor to San Antonio, Texas to compete in the American Meat Science Associations quiz bowl to represent Chico State. I was also responsible for composing and executing a recipe for a shelf stable snack stick as well as creating the HACCP plan to go with it. It was an experience I am very pleased to have in my life.

Where’s your favorite vacation spot?
My favorite vacation spot is Half Moon Bay  because it is a close weekend getaway with multiple beaches to visit and watch the surfers and enjoy some good food. If I get a chance for a longer vacation, I would be on the plane to Hawaii.

If you could meet anybody in the world who would it be and why?
At a very young age I was singing into my karaoke machine to George Strait, to the point where no one could understand a word I was saying. I can most likely still be found singing karaoke to George Strait sounding likely the same. If I could meet one person in the world it would have to be George Strait and I pray it is on his ranch so I can get a tour of it.

What else is there to know about you?  –spouse, kids, hobbies…
I am a very active individual and always on the go or looking for something to do. I train with a fitness instructor and am in the gym on my days off training. I love food so  I am very focused on staying fit. During  summer down time, I am most likely to be found wake-boarding or fishing on the lake. I was born a horse loving girl and still am today. Recently I bought a 2 year old filly that I cannot wait to start showing in western pleasure events. Also, when I get the chance, I enjoy taking a trip to the bay to watch the Giants or just to visit a couple beaches to soak up the ocean air and enjoy some good seafood.