The Ceres Chamber of Commerce has opened its nomination filing period for the 30th Annual Ag Awards Luncheon slated for Thursday, May 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ceres Community Center.

Nomination forms can be found online at www.cereschamber.com. The deadline is Friday, May 1.

Each year, the Chamber recognizes an Agribusiness Man and Woman of the Year, as well as scholarship recipients from Ceres High School and Central Valley High School. Last year the Chamber added an Agri-Business award and the Grant Lucas Memorial Award for Ag Industry Leader of the Year, which recognizes an individual who has contributed to strengthen and enhance the local agriculture community and portrays exemplary character of a leader in the agriculture industry. All nominees will be invited to attend the luncheon.

"When you live in the Central Valley and really start to look at our communities and our businesses, you begin to realize that the ag industry touches almost every aspect of our lives," said Ceres Chamber President Renee Ledbetter. "From the seeds we plant to food processing, ag is who we are and we need to recognize those who play a huge part in making it all happen."

Earlier this year, the Chamber recognized other businesses during its annual Installation & Awards Dinner, including Ace Hardware as Business of the Year, Ceres Drug Store for Downtown Business of the Year, and Bronco Wine Company, which received the Legacy Award for conducting business in Ceres for over 40 years.

The keynote address for the event will be presented by representatives of the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District (ESRCD) and Stanislaus Grown. The East Stanislaus RCD is a non-taxing body created by LAFCO, and is locally driven and managed by a voluntary Board of Directors and a small staff. As a local decision making body, the East Stanislaus RCD directs and coordinates activities of the USDA and other local, state, and federal agencies within the District. Stanislaus Grown is made up of members that grow, produce, package, source from or generally support our local agriculture industry and provides more direct-to-consumer opportunities for producers and increases consumer purchases of Stanislaus County products.

Tickets to attend the annual luncheon are $20 per person and $25 after May 22. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Various sponsorship opportunities are available through the Chamber office. Table sponsors receive tickets for a table of eight for $160.

For more information about this event, visit the Chamber's website at www.cereschamber.com or call 537-2601.