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Pajaro Valley Chamber awards announced

The Pajaronian - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 15:00

Every year the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture names its annual awardees, selecting the people, organizations and events that help shape the Pajaro Valley and the communities that live there.

As every year, the Pajaronian is proud to feature this year’s awardees.

Lifetime Achievement

Dominic and Martha Muzzi, longtime Watsonville farmers and business owners whose family enterprises have shaped the local agriculture industry for decades, were awarded a lifetime achievement honor.

The couple’s story traces back to 1950, when Dominic Muzzi emigrated from Calabria, Italy, with his parents and seven siblings. After initially settling in Canada, the family moved to the Bay Area. During his senior year of high school, Dominic relocated to Pescadero, where he met Martha—the beginning of a partnership that would span more than six decades.

They married in 1962 and, after a brief period in Santa Cruz, established their home in Watsonville. There, in the 1960s, they began farming vegetables along the Central Coast, laying the groundwork for what would become a multigenerational agricultural business.

As their children, Dominic Jr. and Lisa, grew up, they became part of the family’s daily work in the fields. In 1975, the Muzzis opened a roadside produce stand, where Martha became a familiar presence to customers, helping build lasting relationships within the community.

The family expanded its operations in 1984 with the founding of Watsonville Produce, a company focused on cooling, sales and shipping. Over time, the business developed a reputation for quality, food safety and customer service. That growth led to additional facilities in Moss Landing and Yuma, Arizona, and, in 2007, the family became managing partners of Blue Ribbon Frozen Foods in Watsonville.

In 2012, the next phase of the business took shape with the creation of Muzzi Family Farms, which manages sales for both fresh and frozen products produced across the family’s operations.

Despite the growth of their business, those close to the Muzzis say their focus has remained rooted in relationships and community. Over the years, the couple has supported numerous local organizations and contributed time and resources throughout the Pajaro Valley.

Their recognition with a lifetime achievement award highlights not only their business accomplishments, but also their decades-long commitment to the region.

Family members say Dominic and Martha view their legacy not just in terms of the companies they built, but in the people they’ve worked with and the community they’ve supported.

Dominic and Martha Muzzi earned the Lifetime Achievement award. (contributed)

Woman of the Year

Michele Bassi

Michele Bassi said she was “speechless” and honored to be named Woman of the Year, crediting the community she has called home for more than three decades.

“I love this community. I’ve raised my kids here. I have done everything to be involved,” Bassi said. “I’m just really honored to be part of this and to be recognized. There are so many, to me, more deserving people, but I’m thrilled.”

Bassi moved to the Pajaro Valley area about 32 years ago and now lives in Santa Cruz County near Watsonville. While she cited the area’s natural beauty, she said it is the people who have made the strongest impression.

“The people of Santa Cruz County are special,” she said. “The generosity, the compassion, the camaraderie of this community is just incredible.”

After a 32-year career in banking—including 22 years at Wells Fargo and a role as senior vice president at 1st Capital Bank—Bassi transitioned into nonprofit work, following what she described as her passion for service. She now serves as chief development officer for Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, where she has led record-breaking fundraising efforts.

Her connection to the organization dates back more than 30 years, when she first organized a holiday food drive as a young banker.

“I got connected to Second Harvest 30-plus years ago,” she said.

Bassi later served on the organization’s board and as board chair before stepping into her current role.

“As I’m describing what we’re looking for, I’m like, ‘We’re looking for me—that’s my job. I want to do that,’” she said.

Beyond Second Harvest, Bassi has held leadership roles across the county, including serving on the Cabrillo College Foundation board, president of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation board, and as a board member of Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz and Capitola Aptos Rotary. She also helped found Digital NEST and served as president of both Second Harvest and the Food Bank Santa Cruz County.

Her community service has earned numerous honors, including Aptos Chamber Woman of the Year in 2018, the Be the Difference Award from the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County in 2019 and 2023, and the Community Champion Award in 2021. She was also recognized as one of the “15 Women to Know in Santa Cruz County” in 2025.

Bassi holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Fresno, and a graduate degree in banking from Pacific Coast Banker School at the University of Washington.

She said the recognition reflects the broader community she has worked alongside for decades.

“I get to see [that generosity] every day,” she said. “So it’s really special to me.”

Michele Bassi has been named Woman of the Year by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.(Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Man of the Year

Kirk Schmidt

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has named longtime agricultural leader and community volunteer Kirk Schmidt as its Man of the Year, recognizing decades of service across the region.

Schmidt has spent more than 40 years shaping local agriculture while supporting community institutions. His leadership includes serving as president of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, where he was twice named Farmer of the Year.

“I am quite flattered that the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture selected me as Man of the Year, and I’m very pleased to share the stage with the other people,” Schmidt said.

He currently serves on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Board of Directors.

Beyond agriculture, Schmidt has held roles with the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation and the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency. Supporters say his financial and legal expertise helped guide major decisions, including efforts that prevented the closure of Watsonville Community Hospital and returned it to local ownership.

Schmidt’s work also extends internationally through Rotary programs. He recently traveled to Uganda with the Freedom Rotary Club, where he worked with farmers and helped develop a well project. The trip also brought him to schools, orphanages and centers supporting pregnant teens who have been cast out of their communities.

“They’re literally kicked out of their village, and if they’re lucky enough to be invited to one of these programs, it’s wonderful—otherwise they’re going to die,” Schmidt said.

Colleagues describe Schmidt as a thoughtful, detail-oriented leader whose understated approach reflects a deep commitment to the Pajaro Valley.

Business

C&N Tractors

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has named C&N Tractors its 2026 Business of the Year, recognizing the company’s long-standing role in supporting local agriculture and its deep involvement in the community.

Founded in 1974, C&N Tractors has served generations of farmers in Watsonville and across the Central Coast, building a reputation as a reliable partner in the region’s agricultural economy. The company has grown into one of the largest Kubota dealerships in the United States, with a broad presence across Central California and beyond.

C&N offers a full range of services, including equipment sales, parts, repairs, rentals and small engine service, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for farmers. Its in-house fabrication shop allows for custom tractor modifications tailored to local needs.

The business also maintains partnerships with major agricultural brands, including Kubota, STIHL, Gearmore and Brouwer, and serves as a Brouwer dealer for both California and Arizona.

Chamber officials highlighted the company’s strong community involvement as a key factor in the award. C&N has supported local events such as the Pajaro Valley Business Expo and the Santa Cruz County Fair, and has stepped in during emergencies—providing repairs to some farmers during recent flood recovery efforts, in some cases at no cost.

C&N Tractors in Pajaro has been named Business of the Year. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Organization

Slavic American Cultural Organization (SACO)

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has named the Slavic American Cultural Organization (SACO) as its 2026 Organization of the Year, recognizing decades of cultural preservation, education and community outreach in the Pajaro Valley.

Founded in 1979, SACO brings together people with roots in the former Yugoslavia and works to promote Slavic culture, history and traditions while educating the broader community about those contributions.

The organization has more than 400 members and hosts cultural events, fundraisers and educational programs throughout the year. Proceeds support scholarships for local students and help maintain community gathering spaces. Since 1981, SACO has awarded more than 200 scholarships totaling over $240,000.

A centerpiece of its work is the Student Ambassador and Exchange Program, which sends local students to Croatia and other countries in the region while hosting visiting students in Watsonville. The program aims to build cultural understanding and highlight the Pajaro Valley’s agricultural history and international ties.

SACO President Kirt Vojvoda said the organization also focuses on preserving the legacy of Slavic immigrants—particularly Croatians—who helped shape the region’s farming industry.

“I think history is important. Everybody has a story,” he said, noting many immigrants “came over here with nothing and worked to become part of the valley’s agricultural backbone.”

Kirt Vojvoda takes a break from painting a home in Bay Village to reflect on the Slavic American Cultural Organization being tapped as the organization of the year. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Event of the Year

Cal-Giant Skirt Steak BBQ

The annual skirt steak BBQ is the largest fundraiser for the California Giant Foundation, California Giant’s nonprofit arm. The BBQ is an employee-led fundraiser, serving approximately 1,200 meals in the day. Event proceeds benefit the CG Foundation, and are matched by the founder, Bill Moncovich. The CG Foundation also benefits many local non-profits.

Joe Barsi, left, and Bill Moncovich of California Giant at a recent Cal-Giant Skirt Steak BBQ event. (Contributed)

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