The very first Brittany Painter Legacy Memorial Award was presented to Koyle Urrutia on Sunday morning in a ceremony held at the beginning of the Jr. Livestock Auction at the Lassen County Fair.
The award was created to honor the memory of Brittany Painter, a beloved member of the local agricultural community who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. It was designed to celebrate youth and volunteers who embody the values Painter lived by, including hard work, kindness, perseverance, generosity, and a genuine willingness to help others.
Award organizer and Brittany’s sister, Breanna Chavez, made the presentation online from overseas where her husband is stationed.
“When creating this award, my hope was to honor Brittany’s legacy by recognizing a young showman or volunteer who embodies the values she lived by,” Chavez shared during the presentation. “I wanted this award to celebrate the character that often goes unnoticed but leaves a lasting impact on those around them.”
Chavez noted that after reading through dozens of nominations, Urrutia stood out as someone who truly represents those traits.
This fair marked Urrutia’s final year showing livestock, but his season took an unexpected turn when his steer suddenly passed away just a few weeks before the fair. Despite the heartbreak and disappointment, those who nominated Urrutia described him as someone who never gives up.
Nominations consistently highlighted Urrutia as hardworking, dependable, selfless, and determined to build a meaningful future. His dedication extends across many areas—serving as a role model to his younger siblings, attending lineman school, working on his family’s ranch, volunteering in the community, and always lending a helping hand to anyone in need.
“Reading the heartfelt nominations made it clear that he is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others, and I couldn’t be more proud to recognize him as the very first annual recipient of the Brittany Painter Legacy Memorial Award,” Chavez said.
Along with the honor, Urrutia received a custom memorial belt buckle and a $1,000 cash award raised through community donations and T-shirt sales.
Chavez also expressed deep gratitude to everyone who participated in the nomination process.
“To every person who took the time to submit a nomination, thank you,” Chavez said. “Reading about the youth and volunteers was both inspiring and humbling. Every nominee was incredibly deserving, and it was a privilege to learn about so many remarkable people who give so much to the livestock community. Congratulations, Koyle Urrutia. Thank you for carrying on the kind of legacy this award was created to celebrate.”
