The San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s association is proud to announce June Kester as the 2006 CattleWoman of the Year. June was raised in the cattle industry since the time of her birth to George and Jean Silva in San Jose, California. George Silva owned and operated the Trophy Meat slaughterhouse in San Miguel before becoming a cattle buyer. He covered almost all of the United States before settling down in Hornbrook, California, in the early 1970's. June moved from Paso Robles to Hornbrook at that time to attend Yreka High School for three years before returning to graduate from Paso Robles High School in 1976. While attending Paso Robles High School, she lived with her stepfather Floyd Schroeder and mother Jean Schroeder in the Kiler Canyon area of Paso Robles.
In 1983 June made plans to move back to Northern California. Those plans changed when Kevin Kester hired her to do day work as a horseback rider and cook for the crew on the Bear Valley Ranch in Parkfield. Ten months later they were married. Today, they own and operate the Bear Valley Ranch where they live with their three children, Kayleen, 19, Kody 17, and Kara, 9.
June has kept very active in her community as a 4-H Horse Leader, school volunteer, youth group advisor, and by organizing events to assist others. She is a Charter Board Member and Secretary of the California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation, and has been a member of the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association since 1983, the year of her marriage.
June has served as a CattleWomen committee chair for Beef Promotion, Publicity, School Field Trips and Casino Night. She initiated the Harris Ranch Beef Sampling Booth at the California Mid-State Fair, which in 2000, won the Walt Rodman Award for outstanding Beef Promotion awarded by the California Beef Council. She has been a CattleWomen Director for more than 12 years, and is the current Public Relations Chairwoman. She is also a member of the Monterey and Fresno/Kings County CattleWomen. June continues her love of horseback riding on beautiful ranches in the area and as an active member of the San Luis Obispo County Cowbelles since 1992. At the State Level, June is a past second Vice-President of California CattleWomen and is currently the Vice-President of the California CattleWomen Heritage Foundation. She also is serving a one year term as the California Ag in the Classroom Committee Chair from 2001 to 2002.
The Kester family raises cattle, kids, and grapes in Parkfield, known as the "Earthquake Capital of the World". Kevin is the current President of San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen, but both he and June are most proud of the fact their ranch is truly a family operation where all the cattle work is done by them and their three children. |
