Behind every successful farm or livestock business are years of hard work that often go unnoticed.
This year’s Pedro Molina Ramos Award has recognised exactly that, honouring Pilar Santana Hernández and Arsenio Pérez Díaz for their lifelong dedication to agriculture and livestock farming in La Laguna.
The awards were presented during FAGATE 2026, Tenerife’s annual Agricultural and Livestock Fair, held at the Casa del Ganadero.
Honouring two lives devoted to the countryside
The awards are presented by the Economic and Social Forum (FES) of La Laguna, recognising individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the municipality’s primary sector.
La Laguna Mayor and FES President Luis Yeray Gutiérrez said the recognition also extends to the families of both recipients, acknowledging the generations of work and sacrifice that have helped keep farming and livestock traditions alive.
He also highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing the sector today, the lack of younger people choosing careers in agriculture and livestock farming.
A legacy that spans generations
FES Technical Director Jordi Bercedo noted that while Pilar Santana and Arsenio Pérez received this year’s honours, the award also celebrates the many parents, grandparents and family members whose efforts have sustained La Laguna’s rural heritage over the decades.
Agriculture in Tenerife has always relied on knowledge being passed from one generation to the next, making that legacy every bit as important as the individuals receiving the award.
Remembering Pedro Molina Ramos
The award is named after Pedro Molina Ramos, one of the most influential figures in Tenerife’s agricultural history.
Throughout his career, he led several of the island’s most important farming and livestock organisations, including AGATE, the La Candelaria Agricultural Cooperative, the Canary Islands Federation of Livestock Pulling and the Canary Islands Rural Development Federation.
He also served as the first Vice President of the Economic and Social Forum of La Laguna.
His work left a lasting mark on Tenerife’s farming community, making the award a fitting tribute to those who continue to uphold the values he championed.
Celebrating those who keep Tenerife’s rural traditions alive
While tourism often dominates the headlines, awards like these serve as a reminder that agriculture and livestock farming remain an essential part of Tenerife’s identity.
Recognising people like Pilar Santana Hernández and Arsenio Pérez Díaz is about more than celebrating individual achievements. It’s about acknowledging the commitment, resilience and dedication that continue to shape the island’s countryside.