STOCKTON — The San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame, now in its 27th year, is inducting Allan R. Fetters, Ralph & Denene Lucchetti, Bruce A. Mettler, Stanley Seifert, and John D. Chiappe (posthumous) for 2011.

The Agricultural Hall of Fame honors those individuals who have contributed to agriculture and to their community in significant ways. The winners will then be recognized at the annual Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday October 13, 2011 at the Robert J. Cabral Ag Center, 2101 E. Earhart Ave, Stockton, CA. Tickets are $40 each, pre-paid reservations only.  For tickets call the Stockton Chamber of Commerce 209-547-2770.

 Fretters is from Ripon.

Before the age of 7, Fetters was already an agriculture salesman as he sold vegetables from his garden to his neighbors during the 2nd World War. 

Allan’s father was a Crop Science teacher at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and while he was a young boy Allan helped his father establish Victory Gardens within the community and helped demonstrate canning techniques to assist the war efforts in the 1940s.  After the war the Fetter’s family moved to San Joaquin County where Allan got involved in agriculture; gardening, beekeeping, raising cattle, and doing various jobs at Associated Farm Supply. 

Allan graduated from St. Mary’s High School and attended Stockton College, then transferred to the University of California at Davis where he received his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy.  Upon graduation Allan enlisted in the Army and served as a Flight Officer in both the Army and National Guard.  After completing his military service Allan returned to San Joaquin County with his young family to start his career in agriculture. 

Allan began as a salesman for Best Fertilizer Company, which is now Simplot, in 1960.  In 1964 Allan purchased Tornell Farm Service and moved his family to Ripon.  Allan renamed the business Ripon Farm Service and began serving South San Joaquin County growers.  Allan expanded his business and opened Tracy Farm Service in Tracy, Mid-County Farm Service in Linden, Custom Farm Service in Manteca, and Valley Wide Oil in Ripon.  Allan also acquired Hughson Chemical Company in Stanislaus County and Pro Ag in Mendota.  All of these businesses operated under the title of Professional Farm Services, Incorporated. 

Allan also established and was the 1st President of Irrigation Systems, Inc.  This business was a pioneer in the design and installation of permanent set systems in orchards and vineyards in San Joaquin County.  In 1991 he was the National recipient of the DuPont Environmental Respect Award.  Allan has served on the Board of Directors for: the Western Agriculture Chemical Association, California Ammonia Co., and the California Fertilizer Association, in which he served as president in 1982. 

Allan has been active on committees and in leadership roles in numerous clubs and organizations including Ripon Lions Club, Ripon Rotary, and St. Patrick’s Church Council in Escalon.  Allan was a charter member of the Spring Creek Country Club in Ripon where he served 5 years on the Board of Directors and was instrumental in the establishment of the irrigation system for the original 9-hole course.  Allan is a member of the Stockton Golf & Country Club where he served on the board for three years and he is currently on the Board of Trustees for the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District where he has been a director for 20 years and served as president in 1996 and 1997.