Pajaro valley >> The education nonprofit Agri-Culture announced a new endowment fund for scholarships and local farming grants set up in memory of Joseph J. Crosetti Jr., a farmer known for his love of the Pajaro Valley community.
In time for Father’s Day, Crosetti’s three daughters Gina Chekouras, Lea Andes and Josie Warren established the JJ Crosetti Jr. Memorial Fund to honor their father, who died in January at the age of 72.
“He really went out of his way to help people,” Andes said. “The fund ties back to this, which is what he would have wanted, to give back to the community, to give back to the Pajaro Valley.”
The initial $25,000 gift will come from the Crosetti Lands LLC., which includes Crosetti’s daughters, his sister Jeanette Crosetti and his nephew Rob Johnston and leases the 140-acre Silliman Road Corsetti Ranch to Aptos Berry Farms.
The family plans to increase the contribution in future years and encourages those who knew JJ Crosetti to donate.
Half of the fund will go towards scholarships, supporting college students majoring in agriculture. The other half will help develop programs for promoting and supporting local farmers through grants.
“JJ’s three daughters are his legacy,” said Jess Brown, director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. “They’re going to carry on his love for this valley and agriculture.”
Crosetti farmed a variety of produce in the Pajaro Valley for 50 years. After graduating from the University of San Francisco, he returned to Watsonville and worked for the family farming business, which branched out into the frozen food processing industry.
The Farm Bureau named him the first Farmer of the Year in 1979. He was also among the first donors of fresh produce to Grey Bears, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit that has been providing food for seniors since the 1970s.
Crosetti greatly contributed to the community. Crosetti and Bill Moncovich, president of California Giant Berry Farms, have continued hosting the annual Spring Lamb Barbecue, which their fathers founded. Now in its 56th year, the event has raised more than $1 million for the American Cancer Society. Crosetti also coached baseball and softball for nearly 30 years.
“This is a wonderful tribute to their father who was a big name in agriculture,” said Steve Bontadelli, president of Agri-Culture. “This is a way to have his named remembered.”
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County will manage the Crosetti fund.
Agri-Culture has nine endowment funds and offers two other memorial scholarships. The Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship is a $4,000 award for a college student majoring in agriculture. The Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 award for students associated with the California High School Rodeo Association, District 4, or California 4-H Horse program and pursuing a career in agriculture or animal sciences.
