Gridley Mayor Mike Farr, left, and Comala, Mexico, Municipal President Sergio Agustin Morales Anguiano sign a Sister City Agreement during a special Gridley City Council meeting on Aug. 23, 2024. The partnership promotes cultural exchange and cooperation between the two communities. Photo courtesy of the City of Gridley

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The City of Gridley is continuing a tradition of international friendship by inviting officials from its Sister City, Comala, Colima, Mexico, to attend the 2026 Butte County Fair.

The Gridley City Council approved a consent agenda item June 15 supporting a formal invitation to Comala Municipal President Daniela Orozco and other city representatives to visit Gridley during the fair, scheduled for Aug. 27 through 30. City officials said the visit would strengthen the Sister City relationship through cultural exchange and community engagement.

Mayor Michael Farr's invitation welcomes Orozco, her staff and representatives of Comala to attend the annual fair and continue building the partnership between the two communities. The letter notes the visit would promote cultural exchange, community connections and shared learning.

The staff report states there is no fiscal impact associated with sending the invitation because any travel or participation expenses would be the responsibility of those attending.

Gridley and Comala formally became Sister Cities on Aug. 23, 2024, when Farr and then-Comala Municipal President Sergio Agustin Morales Anguiano signed an agreement during a special City Council meeting. The partnership was created to promote cultural exchange, tourism, education and economic cooperation between the two agricultural communities.

Comala, located in the Mexican state of Colima, is recognized as one of Mexico's "Pueblos Mágicos," or Magic Towns, a designation honoring communities known for their cultural heritage, history and tourism. Agriculture is a major part of both communities, helping form the foundation of the relationship.

The Comala partnership is not Gridley's first international connection.

Gridley also has a Sister City relationship with Te Puke (teh-PUH-keh), New Zealand, that dates back to 1982. An Oct. 21, 1982, letter from then-Te Puke Mayor Ian R. Johnson to then-Gridley Mayor Doris Long confirmed the Te Puke Borough Council had approved Gridley's resolution establishing the partnership during its Sept. 27 meeting.

In the letter, Johnson wrote that a Te Puke-Gridley Sister City Committee had already been formed, with P.S. "Peter" Berry serving as chairman and Mrs. G.S. "Berys" Ross as secretary. He also noted the committee had begun publishing the Te Puke Mayoral newspaper to keep residents informed about the new Sister City relationship and expressed hope that the communities would exchange ideas, news and visitors.

In Gridley, Barbara Spink served as chairwoman of the Sister City Committee, William D. Burleson was co-chairman and Penny Louton was secretary. Newspaper reports from 1982 said organizers hoped the partnership would foster communication between the two communities and eventually lead to organized exchange trips.

More than 40 years later, the invitation to Comala reflects Gridley's continued commitment to building international relationships through cultural exchange and community partnerships.

It is unknown whether officials also invited representatives from Te Puke, New Zealand, to attend the 2026 Butte County Fair.