2025 Agriculturalist, CattleWoman, Cattleman of the Year Named
Three local agriculture leaders honored at California Mid-State Fair
PASO ROBLES, CA (July 17, 2025) – Local agriculture organizations recognized three San Luis Obispo
County farmers and ranchers during the California Mid-State Fair’s annual Cattlemen and Farmers Day at
the Paso Robles Event Center on July 17, 2025.
The 2025 award recipients are:
Marty Settevendemie, Agriculturalist of the Year;
Debbie Arnold, CattleWoman of the Year; and
Jill Twisselman Heely, Cattleman of the Year.
The respective awards were selected by members of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis
Obispo County CattleWomen, and San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association.
“Every year, San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association, and
San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen select an individual who has served the agricultural industry and our
community through farming, ranching, and advocating for agriculture. This tradition started in1963,” said
Farm Bureau Executive Director Paul Clark. “These recipients are all outstanding contributors to our
agricultural economy and culture. For three consecutive years, San Luis Obispo County total crop and
livestock value has exceeded one billion dollars.”
Continue reading below for more information on the winners. Permission to reprint story is granted with
credit to San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau.
Marty Settevendemie, Agriculturalist of the Year
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau has named Marty Settevendemie as 2025 Agriculturalist of the Year. Marty serves as the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures for San Luis Obispo County, leading vital programs that protect agricultural resources, ensure fair commerce, and promote environmental stewardship. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, and raised in Southern California, Marty earned a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Before beginning his career in agricultural research, Marty worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service as a Fisheries Technician, gaining experience in marine resource management and environmental policies. He then worked with a local firm conducting research trials on experimental pesticides slated for registration in California, expanding his expertise in environmental science and regulatory processes.
Marty joined the San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures in 2000 as a Temporary Agricultural Inspector/Biologist, becoming a permanent staff member in 2001. He was promoted to Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in 2005 and appointed as Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer in 2011. Over his career, Marty has developed extensive expertise in pest management, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection.
He has held significant leadership roles within the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA), serving as Vice President of Agricultural Affairs, President-elect, President, and Past President, helping shape statewide agricultural policy and foster interagency collaboration. Marty is also a member of the National Council on Weights and Measures and the Western Weights and Measures Association.
Outside of work, Marty enjoys fishing, woodworking, and spending time outdoors. He and his partner, Wendy, have been together nearly 14 years and reside in Los Osos where they appreciate the natural beauty and peaceful community.
Marty has been an outstanding advocate for agriculture in San Luis Obispo County these many years. He has been a voice of reason regarding the many laws and regulations farmers and ranchers are burdened with, searching for pragmatic solutions while upholding the law and executing his duties to the community at large. A County Agricultural Commissioner often acts as a mediator between agricultural producers and the neighboring community, whether the issues be noise, pesticide application, or dust. Marty and his department have done an excellent job making sure agriculture and the surrounding communities peacefully coexist.
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, and the agricultural community at large, are grateful for Marty’s service to our great county. San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau has given the Agriculturalist of the Year award annually since 1988, making Marty Settevendemie the 37th person to receive this honor.
Debbie Arnold, 2025 CattleWoman of the Year
Debbie Arnold has been selected as the 2025 CattleWoman of the year by the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association. Debbie was born in Walnut Creek, California in 1955, and
4 of 6 raised near Fremont where her father worked as an air traffic controller. After graduating from high school, Debbie moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly as an Animal Science major where she lived with her aunt, fellow cattlewoman Susan Jones at her home in Pozo. In 1975, Debbie married Steve Arnold, whose family had ranched in the Pozo Valley for several generations. Debbie describes her life with Steve as an amazing adventure as they had the opportunity to live and work on some of the largest and most beautiful cattle ranches in San Luis Obispo County, where they made lifelong friendships and wonderful memories. In 1978 Steve and Debbie welcomed their son Joey into the world, and in 1980 their daughter Michelle. Today, Joey and daughter-in-law Jessica Arnold, and daughter Michelle and son-in-law Ryan Pascoe live locally and help with ranch operations.
In 1980 Debbie began taking classes at Cuesta College and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, then opened Small Wonders Preschool in Atascadero where she continued to provide much needed preschool opportunities for local families for seventeen years.
In 2000 Debbie went to work for County Supervisor Mike Ryan as a legislative assistant, and in 2005 for Assemblyman and later Senator Sam Blakeslee as a field representative where she advocated for agriculture and helped to promote policies that would protect the agriculture industry locally and statewide.
Debbie became a member of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen’s Association in 1980 and participated for many years helping with scholarship fundraising and educational activities promoting beef, including displays at the Great AgVenture, Cattlewomen’s fashion shows, Casino night, and Ag Day at the the Fair. Debbie was also active on the Ag Task Force, and served as a bus captain for years for the Paso Robles Agriculture Business Tour Committee.
In 2012 Debbie was elected to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District where she used her decades of experience living on working ranches to help educate policymakers and the public about the issues affecting agriculture. Debbie considers it a great honor to have served the citizens of San Luis Obispo County on the Board.
In January 2025 Debbie retired from public office and today stays busy helping her family with their cattle, farming, and Vintage Cowboy Winery business. She especially enjoys spending time with her four teenage granddaughters Laney and Josie Arnold, and Reagan and Emery Pascoe.
The San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association, local cattle ranchers and producers, and the agricultural community at large, salute Debbie and her family for their contributions to the beef industry, the agricultural community at large, and to the County of San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen has given the Cattlewoman of the Year award annually since 1965, making Debbie Arnold the 60th person to receive this honor.
Jill Twisselman Heely, 2025 Cattleman of the Year
Jill Twisselman Heely has been selected as the 2025 Cattleman of the year by the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association.
Born in Paso Robles’ War Memorial hospital in 1960, Jill is the daughter of James “Buster” and Loretta Twisselman. She was raised on the family’s cattle ranch located in Bitterwater, California. Jill is married to Robert Heely and they have two girls Kaitlin de Jong and Madison Heely. Jill’s family, along with her mother Loretta Twisselman, sister Sheree Davis and her twins Justin and Ashley, have all contributed to the success of the family cattle business called Lazy JT Land and Cattle.
Jill Heely is part of the large Twisselman pioneer ranching family with deep roots in San Luis Obispo County dating back to the late 1880’s. She attended Choice Valley School, a one room school in Bitterwater Valley with 17 students grades 1-6. She was then bused to Shandon for her Junior and Senior High School years. During this time she exhibited keen athleticism as a basketball player. She also began her affiliation with both 4-H and FFA by raising and showing steers at the California Mid-State Fair. After graduating from Shandon High School, she attended the University of Southern California, where she practiced with USC’s women’s basketball team, then transferring to Fresno State University where she earned a Business Administration degree with a concentration in health care administration.
Jill’s first jobs were indicative or her strong work ethic, even as a child, building fence and driving water trucks, bulk trucks, tractors and harvesters for her father on the family ranch. She did it all. Her preferred ranch jobs were riding horses, roping and branding calves. Much like her father, she enjoyed cattle ranching more than farming. While she worked hard during her childhood, her first paid jobs were in health care where she served for many years as the Assistant Controller, then Chief Financial Officer, for both Twin Cities Community Hospital and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. During her tenure as CFO for various Tenet Health facilities, then National Medical Enterprises, she received two national awards as CFO of the Year within the company.
After a successful career in health care administration, Jill stepped into ranch management during the untimely passing of her beloved father, Buster Twisselman, in 1999. With the skills he taught her, and the mentoring from various friends and family, Jill then developed and improved the ranching operation known today as Lazy JT Land and Cattle. Those mentors included John Lacey, Billy Roden, Larry Brooks, Gerald and Ann Davis, and the Tom Twisselman family. With encouragement from one of her mentors, Jill furthered her education in agriculture management by attending a Ranching for Profit School in 2001 which gave her a better understanding of techniques to increase financial sustainability.
Jill Heely now serves as President/CEO and Partner of this family held ranching operation encompassing 30,000 acres in both San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties. Depending on conditions, the ranch operation runs 400-600 head of mother cows.
Over the years, Heely and her husband Robert have improved the “working ranch” infrastructure by adding over 50 water troughs and miles and miles of pipeline and new fencing. Other ranch improvements included new corrals, scales and equipment needed for a progressive cow-calf 6 of 6 ranching operation. Heely has also integrated innovative ranch management methods such as rotational grazing, and extensive water distribution.
What Heely takes the greatest pride in is her Black Angus herd where she has devoted much time and research into improved genetics resulting in some top performing Angus calves in today’s local beef market. As stated by John Rodgers, co-founder of Western Video Market, “her cow herd is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Lazy JT calves have always topped the market and gone to many repeat buyers, from Oregon to Texas, and all points in between.”
Heely is an advocate for the cattle industry and is currently serving leadership roles on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo Country Cattlemen’s Association (past Treasurer), San Luis Obispo County’s Cattlemen’s PAC (Secretary/Treasurer), and the California Cattlemen’s Foundation (Secretary). She has been actively involved in the San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s Association events such as Playdays, Art Shows, and San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s PAC. As an industry cattleman, she has graded bulls at the Cal Poly’s Bull Sale, sifted bulls at the Famoso Western Livestock Market and judged replacement heifers for the State Fair in Sacramento.
Outside of her industry leadership, Heely served on the Board of Directors for Twin Cities Community Hospital (2002 through 2007). She and her husband Robert were also Founding Board Members for the Cancer Support Community, Central Coast where they were recently recognized as the Philanthropists of the Year.
Jill Heely is passionate about the cattle industry and optimistic about its future. She applauds the camaraderie she sees at local calf brandings where “neighbors are helping neighbors getting the job done.” Heely credits local ranching families who are bringing up some amazing, hardworking ranch kids such as the Twisselmans, Renterias, Reeves, Stornettas, Rodens, Scribners and Loftuses. Heely states, “They are the next generation of advocates for our industry’s future…and, as I see it, the future is bright.” And, to all future cattlemen, Heely urges “bring on your work ethic, your innovative sustainability strategies, but along the way, don’t forget to have some FUN!”
The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association, local cattle ranchers and producers, and the agricultural community at large, salute Jill and her family for their contributions to the beef industry and to the County of San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association has given the Cattleman of the Year award annually since 1963, making Jill Heely the 60th person to receive this honor.
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