Mourning the Loss of Don Valpredo

Floor Speech

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Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of my friend Donald John Valpredo, a respected member of our community and a pillar of modern agriculture.

Mr. Valpredo passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 85, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of leadership, determination, and family pride. Whether through the many companies he founded and managed or as a respected horseman, Don's loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.

Born on January 5, 1939, to Jeanne and John Valpredo of Mettler, California, Don inherited a proud Italian heritage, fitting his later affectionate moniker of ``The Don'' or ``El Don.'' His father had likely been the first pioneer to drill deep enough to find water in the Mettler area and the Valpredos established their roots there. After Don graduated from Garces Memorial High School, he then attended the University of California, Davis, where he graduated with a degree in Agronomy. He then went to serve our country in the U.S. Coast Guard, which, coupled with its premier academic training, provided a firm foundation to become a true visionary of agricultural excellence in Kern County.

Returning to Mettler after his service, Don partnered with his father, John, in farming. Don was gifted and soon found himself serving in a variety of executive roles. He served as President of Ridge Ginning Company and became an aggressive entrepreneur by founding Kern Ridge Growers, Val-Mar Farms, Bako Sweet, and Country Sweet Produce, among other companies. As a mark of the prevailing Valpredo family legacy, Don's son, Michael, was also a founder of Country Sweet Produce and continues to serve as its President. Under Don's leadership, his farms have grown to now produce over 20 crops year-round across thousands of acres. His businesses today are marked by innovations like water conservation, recycling, and employee co-ownership.

Nor can we forget Don's lifelong passion for horses, which adhered to him after the first horse he bred won her first race. Don's leadership within the horseracing industry shaped the California ThoroughbredBreeders Association (CTBA). Don served as CTBA President four times and once as chairman. In 2017, Don was inducted into the CTBA Hall of Fame for his forty years dedicated to building the sport and the California Cup Sprint. His work in helping to establish the California Cup Sprint--which was later renamed in his honor and is held at Santa Anita Park every January--stands as a lasting tribute to his leadership in developing this industry and racing community in California. Don served as a Commissioner and Vice-Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California for thirteen years, and served on the board of directors of the Breeders' Cup. Yet Don was not only a leader in equine associations, but also a winner of competitions. Don's `Soviet Problem' won Calbred Horse of the Year in 1994, and he would always look back fondly on his time with that special steed.

Don is survived by his wife Sally, son Michael, daughters Natalia Fritz and Alexis Mosely, and seven grandchildren. Amanda and I send our condolences to this incredible family who have lost a great patriarch and leader.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me as we celebrate Don Valpredo's amazing life and legacy. From the fields of Mettler to the racetrack at Santa Anita Park, Don Valpredo will be dearly missed.

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