Services for farming icon Bill Tracy set for Nov. 23

BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. (KGET) – Services for Bill Tracy, the patriarch of one of Kern County's most revered farming families, are set for this Saturday.

Robert William "Bill" Tracy died Nov. 7 at age 82. He was a fourth-generation farmer from Buttonwillow and an integral part of Tracy Ranch, a multifamily farming and cattle operation that was founded in 1862.

Among his other positions of influence in the farming world, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate was appointed in 1987 to serve as the Undersecretary for the California Department of Food and Agricultural under Gov. George Deukmejian.

Usually attired in boots and a cowboy hat, Bill Tracy was a passionate advocate throughout his life for the farming community. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church, 12300 Reina Road, in Bakersfield.