Shafter Cinco de Mayo Festival 2025

Margaret Rodriguez Ramirez has been named the Shafter 2026 Cinco de Mayo grand marshal, honoring her decades of service to families in Shafter and North Kern. She has spent the last 28 years as a student and family support provider with the Richland Family Resource Center, where she has become a trusted advocate and resource for the community.

Rodriguez Ramirez helps families with almost anything related to shelter, counseling, food, clothing and other services, connecting them with resources and other agencies in Kern County. These are mostly low-income and farmworker families from Shafter. The most rewarding part of her job, she said, is helping families become self-sufficient and stable.  

Before that, she worked as a preschool teacher for 18 years with the Head Start program in Buttonwillow, Wasco, and Shafter. She worked with 3- and 4-year old children in rural areas and said she enjoyed it.  "I would teach parents how to prepare their children for kindergarten. I learned a lot and built a lot of trust and friendships with my families."

It is her passion and heart for the community that has kept her at the Richland Family Resource Center for so long. "I love it here. I am a graddaughter of the founders of La Colonia Mexicana. My grandfather was Big John, who was a founder of the community. My heart is here, and I know everybody, and they know me. I've always opened my doors to my families. Anybody who needs my help, I'm always available." 

She said she cried when she heard she was named grand marshal. "I thought, 'Why me?'" She added that she feels very happy about the accolade. "It's an honor to be the grand marshal of a community where I was raised and where I went through all of the schools. I love it here, and I would never move away."

Rodriguez Ramirez was named the 2024-25 Richland School District Employee of the Year and received the Education Support Staff Award from the Shafter Chamber of Commerce in 2019.  In January, she received the "TuVoz, Tu Heroe" (Your voice, Your Hero) Award.  Her response to these accolades:  "My dedication to my families and the trust I have built with them throughout the years has opened doors to these recognitions."

She is an active member of The Gathering church, very involved in the Lideres Campesinas food distributions, participates in the Richland School District community fairs, helping with fundraising efforts, and volunteers for the Christmas parade every year.

She also enjoys spending time with her large extended family, including two adult children and eight grandchildren. She tries to instill in them a messqage of service to others. "I would like them to be advocates for people who need help. Even if you don't get anything in return, you should always try to help.  That is what I have taught my girls."

What she is most looking forward to during the Cinco de Mayo celebration is the dancing, beautiful dresses, food, music and all of the colors. "And seeing all the families I work with and the kids that go to the schools. I just always have a good time."

Article used by permission:

 Veronica Jacuinde, The Shafter Press and Wasco Tribune | March 26, 2026