Summer GUIDE #2


Sonoma County Fair Dedicates 2015 Hall Of Flowers To Longtime Supporter John Serres


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ Ex- traordinary dedication through the gift of leadership, expertise, talent and financial resources, this describes the recipient of the Sonoma County Fair’s top distinction for 2015. The Fair Board and Staff are honored to dedicate the 2015 Hall of Flowers to longtime supporter John Serres, whose contribu- tions have permanently altered the Fair for the better. He is most notably recognized for his strong leadership in the construction of the horseracing turf track at the fairgrounds, and more recently as a Silver level donor in the effort to build Saralee & Richard’s Barn. A fifth generation rancher operating in Sonoma and Men- docino Counties and Sonora, Mexico, John Serres grows wine grapes and blueberries, runs two working and hunting ranches, and operates a con- struction company. From his home base nestled in the Valley of the Moon, Serres served 15 years on the Sonoma County Fair Board of Directors, from 1996 to 2011, and served as the President of the Board in 2004. His fellow board members would tell you that when John


spoke, people listened. And, when it came time to build the new horseracing turf track


at the fairgrounds, his exper- tise in construction and his take charge manner boded excep- tionally well for the Fair. As an engineering contractor, Serres helped with everything from the drainage system to the fin- ishing touches. And, at the end, against deadline, he pulled 6 to 8 of his own men and donated the time, labor and equipment to get the job done. “John felt strongly that a turf track was what the Sonoma County Fair- grounds needed to stand out from other tracks across the country, and he knew it would be an important revenue source for the Fair,” said Sonoma County Fair Board Direc- tor, Annette O’Kelley, who presented


Serres with the


Hall of Flowers dedication during the Fair’s Award Cer- emony on May 29th in Santa


Rosa. “He wasn’t about to rest until the track was built and built right,” she added. But, while Serres was all


business about his work for the Fair, he also knew how to kick back and always considered fair time to be “fun time.” “Other than showing up to the Hall of Flowers Preview Par- ties as Carmen Miranda, help- ing with the turf track was the highlight of my time with the Fair,” Serres joked upon hear- ing of the Hall of Flowers dedi- cation. “In all seriousness, I feel incredibly honored by this recognition.” Serres’ additional contribu-


tions to the Sonoma County ag- ricultural community include support for 4-H and FFA par- ticipants in the Junior Livestock Auction, support for the Hanna ... continued on page 30


UPBEAT TIMES • July 2015 • 23 Weird Facts & Fun Trivia -5


Originally, the pill was launched to treat menstrual disorders; the fact that it prevented conception was pointed out as a side effect. Lightning moves at a third the speed of light.


The safest form of transport is the elevator.


Two of the towering figures of physics


received their Nobel prizes simultaneously. The 1921 Nobel Prize for


Physics was delayed for a year, and then awarded to Einstein in the same ceremony at which Niels Bohr received the 1922 prize.


Coca-Cola contained Coca from 1885 to 1903; when the drink was reformulated to not contain the active ingredient.


The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water. ~Sigmund Freud


UPBEAT TIMES • July 2015 • 23


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