I Am Ag

Zach Merkel - J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

Grower Relations Manager

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I really do not come from an agricultural background at all. I grew up in the Bay Area and applied to the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture program on a bit of a whim with the idea being that I could always change my major if things didn’t work out. After my first day of classes my freshman year, I knew I had made the right choice and never really looked back. After my sophomore year, I was fortunate enough to be hired as a harvest intern for J. Lohr Vineyards, and almost 10 years later and a few positions in between, I reached my current position as Grower Relations Manager.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• I believe the biggest challenge agriculture faces, particularly in California, is the ag-urban interface and the, at times, negative perception of agriculture in the urban centers of our state.

Why do you do what you do?

• I am very lucky to be in a position in my company where I am able to work alongside our contract growers and manage a vineyard as well. I truly enjoy being able to work with a wide variety of different growers towards a common goal and seeing how there are always different ways to approach the same problem. Though I do feel that the industry in general can be over-romanticized, the fact that we are able to sum up and entire years’ worth of hard work and dedication into a bottle is still very special to me.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Never Finished by David Goggins. Great motivation for those New Year’s resolutions.

What are your hobbies?

• My wife and I truly love to travel. Those who know me know that I am constantly planning or updating our next trip. I definitely follow the school of thought that the best time to plan your next vacation is when you are on your current one! I also love to ski, though I don’t l make it to the mountains as much as I’d like to. Additionally, my wife and I both enjoy Crossfit. Not only is it great physical exercise, but I have found that it is hard to worry about the day-to-day when you are singularly focused on trying to catch your breath.

What are words you live by?

• Experience is something you get immediately after you need it.

Who has been a mentor in your career?

• My boss at J. Lohr, Steve Carter. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without his help and guidance, and I know that many others feel the same way. Though his dedication and commitment to his profession are certainly inspiring, what I admire most is the respect and attention he gives to every person he interacts with.

Bas Van Eijk - Cal Coast Orchids

Founder | Owner, Head-Grower

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I have been exposed to horticulture for the majority of my life, my grandfather and his brother and my great grandfather were all growers. Where my great grandfather grew under thin pieces of glass with bricks along the edges. My grandpa and his brother built the first greenhouse for their production of tomatoes and cucumbers. These are greenhouses that I don’t fit in since I am 6 feet 6. They grew from two crops to one big cucumber facility. My dad and almost all my family members helped out at the greenhouse a lot. My grandpa’s cousin slowly purchased more and more of the existing company from my grandpa and he started cultivating perennials first, Dianthus, and later jumped into the world of cut Cymbidiums. With my dad being an electrician in horticulture, he always took me everywhere so I could see at a young age what other growers do.
  Almost 8 years ago I decided to make some major changes in life, and after doing an internship in the crop we currently grow in New Zealand, it sparked my interest that the value of knowledge is way higher abroad then staying in The Netherlands. Since I went to California a few times to visit my relatives and the idea of America, I thought back then it is
  now or never. After working for several growers in California and one adventure in Virginia, we somehow landed on the Central Coast. I worked for a large cut flower company, but my initial dream was always to start my own orchid enterprise in the USA. In 2017, I found the current greenhouse in Los Osos and that was the start of a company that now grows close to 4 million orchids per year, employs 40 great employees and is making California a lot prettier with our flowers.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• It is unfortunate to say but I would say the regulatory climate in the state. We’re also noticing it will become more and more challenging to find people in agriculture that have management experience but can also do the hard work and jump in when needed. Office work is important, but supporting your team and employees in times of high stress is important as well.

Why do you do what you do?

• I do what I do because I love working with nature and plants and believe that there are a lot of opportunities here in the USA. Besides that, imagine a world without flowers!

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

What are your hobbies?

• Even though we grow millions of orchids per year, my hobby is actually gardening and growing my own vegetables. Besides that, I listen to a lot of music and read. If time allows, we love exploring San Luis Obispo County, it has been and is a blessing we can live here.

What are words you live by?

• Always a tricky one, but I think “Be part of the solution.”

Who has been a mentor in your career?

• It is hard for me to answer this question as there are so many people to be thankful for and have been very supportive of our plan to start Cal Coast Orchids. The best ones would always be the close family and friends here in the USA and also back in The Netherlands to keep us with our feet on the ground.

Dalton J. Taylor - La Panza Ranch

General Manager

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• It started at a young age, from being strapped on the front of my parents while gathering cattle on a lease my family had in Carrizo Plains, to running around my family’s feed store in Santa Margarita as a young toddler. It wasn’t long before I was old enough to start helping gather cattle and drive tractor while shadowing my grandfather around the ranch in Pozo. Spending my adolescence around farming and ranching served as a catalyst for what I pursued in college and beyond. Today, I manage a cow/calf operation, olive grove, olive oil processing/bottling facility, as well as various hay crops.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Ever-rising input and labor costs compounded with ongoing water resource and allocation issues are making it increasingly impossible to continue to farm and ranch in the golden state. President John F. Kennedy once said “For the farmer, is the only man in our economy who has to buy everything he buys at retail - sell everything he sells at wholesale - and pay the freight both ways.”

Why do you do what you do?

• When I was given the opportunity to work in an industry that I love and one that most of my role models were involved with, I jumped on it. My job endlessly provides unique opportunities and challenges. No one day is ever like the other and I value that. The good days make it all worth while and the bad days keep me grounded.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Throughout the book, Gladwell looks at the ways we do harm by failing to understand one another.

What are your hobbies?

• I enjoy spending time in the outdoors with loved ones. Whether that be going for hikes, hunting various game, riding horses or roping. Over the past year, my wife and I have taken on the task of remodeling our first home. It has been fun and rewarding to see our home come to life.

What are words you live by?

• “To those before us, to those amongst us, to those we’ll see on the other side. Lord let me not prove unworthy of my brothers.” - Jack Carr

Ryan Horwath - Paso Ag Consulting

Head of Operations

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I am now involved in Agriculture as an AG consultant hoping to aid farmers and agribusiness with solutions to a variety of AG, mostly farm-related, issues. I have farmed in the Salinas Valley, Central Valley, and San Luis Obispo County region. Paso Robles is now home, although I’ve also spent time living in cities such as Gonzales, Greenfield and Avenal. I come from three generation of farmers in the area, and my entire career was spent as a grower in the field. Managing a large family farm meant that all farm related issues went through me, things like labor, water, fertilize, pesticide, equipment, weather issues, air quality, water quality, field pack, harvesting, facility pack, outside grower relations, transportation, ranch design, licensing, and food safety. I am an alumnus of Western Growers’ Future Volunteer Leaders second class.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Agriculture faces a variety of huge issues, here in California they are: over-regulation, bad policy, labor, and water.

Why do you do what you do?

• I began this type of consulting after 20 years in the field farming in both the Salinas and San Joaquin valleys. Many times, there were issues I faced on the ranch and no easy person to turn to and get an answer. I often had to work hard hunting for answers, losing time and money waiting for the wrong person or doing it myself. I thought offering a service that can guide any size grower or agriculture investor in the correct direction could be a huge help. My goal is to offer growers, owners, landowners and ranch managers something I always needed—another set of experienced eyes that can offer actual solutions. With the rise of new agricultural commodities, water challenges, environmental factors, and labor shortages, field experience can make all the difference. The point cannot be stressed enough that the tools and challenges faced in farming are always changing, but you need actual people in the field doing the work. No tech program or gadget will ever replace human insight and experience.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The Stand by Stephen King, I read it in high school, and after the last couple years thought it would be fun to read it again, LOL.

What are your hobbies?

• Reading and spending time with my young family, we have two toddlers!

What are words you live by?

• The Golden Rule: Always do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Anything else you'd like to add?

• My company can implement crop solution programs that maximize your yields, minimize your cost per acre, and increase efficiency on your ranch site. Learn more about our services at pasoagconsulting.com or call 831-809-7986.

Berenice Gomez - Justin Vineyards & Winery

Hospitality Staff

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I grew up in the Salinas Valley where agriculture is a crucial part of the economy and community. I began working in crop fields and vineyards about 14 years ago, and occasionally worked as a rancher handling sheep and cattle. I eventually earned a degree in agriculture from California State University, Chico majoring in Crop Sciences. By working in vineyards and cellars, I’ve learned an appreciation of how much it takes to take a vine and develop it into wine. I’ve been in the wine industry for about 5 years, and I’ve seen all aspects of it. From driving tractors in the field, to sending fruit to the cellar, to processing and bottling wine, and finally presenting it to the consumer. I currently work in hospitality, which allows me to explain to our guests the long process it takes to get wine in their glass. During harvest season, I also work part-time with other local wineries in the vineyard or cellar.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• I think one of the hardest struggles in the agriculture industry is connecting with the consumer. There is so much misunderstanding when it comes to how our crops shows up on their table. It’s not easy-peasy, it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and long days from hardworking people to get the finished product. Another major issue in agriculture is the lack of labor. We are seeing a decline of workers out in the field which makes day-today operations difficult for farmers.

Why do you do what you do?

• I currently work in hospitality at a winery because I want to learn all aspects of the wine industry, including connecting with the consumer. I have experience farming and working in the cellar, but I also wanted to learn how to sell our product. To be successful, you need to learn all aspects of your trade. The reason I love working in winemaking is because it takes a balance of art and science to make the right wine, two completely different skills needed to make the
  right product.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The last book I read was Wine Folly from Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack.

What are your hobbies?

• My most prominent hobby is gardening; I enjoy growing my own vegetables. I also draw and paint in my spare time.

What are words you live by?

• A quote I appreciate is: “Without labor nothing prospers” from Sophocles.

Lochlan Buckingham - Laurel Ag & Water

Account Manager

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I grew up on our family beef cattle ranch between San Luis Obispo and Los Osos where both my sister and I loved to spend time with animals and be involved in agriculture. We participated heavily in 4H and FFA through the end of high school, competing in FFA mechanics and speaking contests as well as showing dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep along the way. I attended Cal Poly for Ag Systems Management where I had the pleasure of meeting many other wonderful, like-minded young people with a passion for agriculture. I worked through school at Farm Supply Company where I interacted with the Ag community by loading feed for local farmers and ranchers and working the irrigation counter. It paid off in more ways than one, as while at Farm Supply I loaded hay for a special Cal Poly Rodeo girl who ended up becoming my wife. During college I honed in on my passion for mechanics, and interned with several vineyard and harvesting companies. My first job after graduating was with Vineyard Professional Services as a mechanic keeping their fleet of grape harvesters, tractors, sprayers and quads operational. I then moved to the Los Angeles area for several years to work building residential fiber optic internet, but had to return to the Central Coast as it will always be home, and I needed to return to agriculture. I now work at Laurel Ag and Water, an irrigation design and construction company. The job allows me to help local growers build the best irrigation systems possible and each day is a new and exciting challenge to overcome.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• One of the largest challenges agriculture faces is ag literacy and the misinformation regarding the agriculture industry - especially in the days of social media and the speed in which information travels. As a small example, I remember spending time at the Mid-State Fair reassuring guests that my dairy cow was in fact not starving and that the visibility of her ribs are due to the breed, and she is eating us out of house and home. It’s our job to provide not only fresh, easily digestible food, but information as well.

Why do you do what you do?

• I currently work in irrigation sales, and I love it because I am at my best when I am helping others. This position allows me to help growers use water efficiently by using quality products, offering lower prices, and providing excellent service. Additionally, spending time around central coast farmland keeps me involved in the agriculture industry that I am so passionate about and makes every day exciting with new developments, problems to solve, and interesting people to meet.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The last book I read was The Meateater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival by Steven Rinella. Being in sales, there is a lot of windshield time for audio books. Next in the queue is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

What are your hobbies?

• My Hobbies include working on my 1980’s Toyota Truck, welding and fabrication of scrap metal art out of old horse shoe and mechanical parts, and wood working.

What are words you live by?

• Some words I live by are “Don’t try to save 10 seconds now, do it right the first time”. There are numerous instances where I haven’t closed a gate when I thought I would be coming right back and then spent the next several hours cleaning up my mess with loose cows. I have found this applies to many things in life aside from cows, but that’s the one that seems to repeat itself. Another important quote is “assume positive intent.” This is a reminder to myself in my personal and professional life to be the best irrigation representative, friend, husband, son, and overall person I can be through positivity and empathy.

Carson DiCicco - Vina Quest

Viticulturalist & Pest Control Advisor

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I have mainly been involved in wine grape production, and currently I perform many of the duties of a Pest Control Advisor. I am originally from Watsonville, and I got to see many different agriculture operations growing up. I scouted vineyards out of the Healdsburg area during the summers while earning my bachelor’s degree in agriculture from California State University, Chico. After graduating, I started a full-time position working as a vineyard supervisor at Langtry Farms. After a few years, I moved down to Paso Robles and started working for Vina Quest. Currently, I consult for growers to monitor the various pest populations out in the vineyards. Then, I’ll write the recommendations as those different pests reach our treatment thresholds and evaluate the effectiveness of those treatments. I will typically scout the vineyards weekly and adjust our pest management plans depending on what I find out in the field. Other duties include taking and interpreting soil, nematode, pathogen, and petiole samples, as well as investigating the needs for the development and redevelopment of sites. I am currently pursuing my Certified Crop Advisor license and once I become certified, I plan on taking a more active role in developing nutrient management programs for the various ranches that I check.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The agriculture industry has many bigbissues facing it right now. A lack of water is probably the biggest issue. This winter has provided some water, but our groundwater basins have a long way to go before they are filled. Other big issues right now are the lack of labor and the loss of some of our most effective tools for dealing with pests. This severely impacts our growers’ operations, and it really hinders their ability to be adaptable as different issues or tasks come up during the growing season. Technology is helping to close the gap but there are limitations on what it can do and how we can use it. In summary, we have fewer tools and less people which makes it increasingly difficult to keep up with the quality standards and demands of consumers.

Why do you do what you do?

• I like the challenges and the fast pace of the in-season operations. This career and industry demand that we continue to increase our knowledge, which is something that I identify as one of my core values. As situations and problems change and become more complex, we must be creative to solve these issues. I feel very fortunate that I get to increase my knowledge by being able to work with experienced growers, industry leaders, and by participating in organizations
  like Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Lords of the Fly by Monte Burke. I highly recommend reading it even if you are not into sport fishing, record chasing, or
  fly-fishing.

What are words you live by?

• One quote I try to live by is “carpe diem - seize the day.” When things get busy, it reminds me to stay focused on my goals and be as productive and efficient as I can be at work and outside of work too. It helps me take advantage of some the slow times that I have in my day and moves me towards my goals.

Jeannette McClure - Rabo AgriFinance

Relationship Manager

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I was raised on my family’s 5th generation dairy farm in Point Reyes, CA. Growing up on a dairy instills love, appreciation, and respect for agriculture and our agriculturalists. I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agricultural Business Marketing and minors in Psychology and Dairy Foods Processing – my plan was to head back to the family farm and start a little cheese operation. Well, I got sidetracked and ended up in agricultural lending. Ten years later, and it looks like I’ve made a career out of it.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Water, labor, public policy, and public perception. Farming in California is not for the faint of heart. Ag is at the center of
  some of the most important issues facing our state today—water availability and monitoring, immigration, and increased government oversight and regulations— with a public that is more removed from agriculture than ever before. We are all so fortunate to benefit from the hard work that Farm Bureau is doing to help protect and promote the agricultural industry.

Why do you do what you do?

• I get to help farmers farm. Agriculture requires a lot of capital, but I still haven’t met a farmer who likes spending time in the bank. Growing up in ag, I get to advocate for our customers from a place of deep understanding and appreciation. I love being a partner with our customers to help make financing their businesses as easy as possible.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• I was recently selected to Class 52 of the California Ag Leadership Program. Through this program, we read one
  book every month. One of the recent books was Leadership and Self-Deception. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who interacts with other humans (i.e. everyone).

What are your hobbies?

• I love anything outside. Running, hiking, and enjoying the beautiful wineries in SLO County are some of my favorite
  activities.

What are words you live by?

• Do something, even if it’s wrong. Basically, make a decision and own it, move forward, make progress, and keep going.

Anything else you'd like to add?

• Huge thank you and shout-out to Brent and the SLO County Farm Bureau team for not only making such a major impact
  on SLO County agricultural issues, but also being a leader in the State.

Edward Kronfli - Vine Shepherd Vineyard Management

Owner & Viticulturalist

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I do vineyard management as well as custom pest control services and consulting. At home, I’m a grass farmer and I raise sheep and cows. Looking to get involved in olives too!

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• As a whole, I think agriculture faces its greatest challenge when it comes to the urban-ag interface. I think we have a marketing and branding issue basically. Having grown up in Los Angeles, whenever I talk to my old friends and family they are always amazed and shocked at the many great hurdles we have to overcome just to earn a living. If more people saw how agriculture actually works, we could probably cure a lot of regulatory issues as well as get more support in general.

Why do you do what you do?

• When I open a really good bottle of wine, pour a glass and taste it, it’s almost ethereal, a little slice of heaven. Sometimes it’s so good that I’ll think about it for months after! There can be tastes or smells that remind me of a particular place or time, and suddenly I feel like I’m back in that exact spot. It is difficult to describe just how happy and relaxed I feel when I taste a wine that just blows me away, but I want EVERYONE to get to experience the same thing. That’s why I do what I do. I want to be a part of that little moment of joy in someone’s life or help provide that moment of calm and relaxation at the end of the day. Same goes for beef and lamb! I want someone to bite into the meat I raised and just say, “Wow!” and it make someone’s day. Food and wine are cornerstones of the human experience, and I want to make it just that much better. I think about how every milestone in life (weddings, birthdays, graduations, etc.) is celebrated with food and wine, so we might as well make it delicious! Cheers!

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Agrios, George N. Plant Pathology. Acad. Pr., 1988.

What are your hobbies?

• I wish I had time for hobbies! I guess cooking and barbecuing is a hobby? Between the vineyards and livestock, I rarely have any time to do anything else.

What are words you live by?

• 1) Be true to yourself and trust your gut. 2) Usually the middle choice is correct. 3) Work smart, not hard!

Anything else you'd like to add?

• Take the time to thank a farmer, a field worker, tractor driver, etc. today. Sometimes farming is a thankless job and a little kindness helps make everything better.

Connor Whiteford - Whiteford Ag

Owner

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I’m the sixth generation living on my family’s property in the Rinconada Valley east of Santa Margarita. I grew up knowing the value of hard work and assisting my parents at our small business. While I was a member of Pozo 4-H and Atascadero FFA, my direct involvement in agriculture really took hold at my great uncle’s ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Starting at the age of fifteen, I spent every summer there; cutting hay, working cattle and even learning how to service windmills. I was able to see first-hand the hard work and the satisfaction that came through our efforts. I also learned that agriculture is not a 9-5 job. My love for Nebraska led me to attend college at Chadron State where I majored in Business and minored in Agriculture. My summer internships were with agriculture co-ops in Nebraska. After college, I spent three years working for Land O’Lakes. While at Land O’Lakes, I worked with a variety of crops, including row crops and pivots. One of the major projects I worked with was corn test plots to determine the best growing techniques to enhance productivity for our customers. I transferred to California and worked with corn test plots throughout the
  Central Valley. Wanting to be closer to family, I accepted a position locally and have been here since. While working for Land O’Lakes, I earned my applicator’s license and my Class A driver’s license, both of which I am currently utilizing. I enjoy working in the ag industry. California feeds the nation, and I’m proud to be part of that.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Currently, there are many challenges facing agriculture. The price of fuel directly affects the bottom line of the producer
  and consumer. Access to reliable sources of water for our farmers is also critical. Another challenge is the labor shortage.
  Finding qualified employees, especially in transporting of products, is difficult. As more people move to rural areas, agriculture faces many challenges. People without an understanding of the importance of a strong agriculture industry is a threat. While working in Iowa and Nebraska, people understood the value of ag, and the industry was supported by all, regardless of political leanings. That’s why people involved in agriculture and groups like the Farm Bureau must
  be good ambassadors and help educate our nonagriculture neighbors. In addition, it’s vital to develop a good working relationship with elected leaders. Only through educating and dialogue can we ensure agriculture stays viable.

Why do you do what you do?

• I enjoy being outdoors and a steward of the land. Doing what I can to contribute to the success and to sustaining California agriculture. It’s fulfilling to be involved in the production of winegrapes, oranges, and avocados because I know all that goes in to growing the fruit and getting it to market. The hardworking people I’m surrounded by (mostly immigrants) motivate me, as well as the lengths to which growers and ranchers will go to keep growing food. The whole industry seems to only be getting more efficient and responsible in sustainability terms, which will continue to be a strong priority of mine and one I will strive to pass on.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Damn Few by Rorke Denver, Dirt -The Erosion of Civilizations by David Montgomery, and Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley.

What are your hobbies?

• For me, hunting with my compound bow has become a passion I enjoy. I also like shooting targets with both rifle and pistols to hone patience and skill. Since I was young, I have always appreciated music and like to play acoustic and slide guitar. The Marine Corps taught me how walking long distances up tall hills provides a rewarding experience, especially at the top. Traveling to foreign countries is something I gain perspective from. I appreciate spending time working
  on the family ranch on weekends, gaining invaluable insights from my Dad. Lastly, I strive to volunteer frequently and spend quality time with my lady and friends at McPhees or the Longbranch in Creston.

What are words you live by?

• “Trust, then verify.” Theodore Roosevelt’s speech “Man in the Arena”– “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.” Forperspective, I remind myself “The question is not what you look at, but what you see” – Thoreau. “Semper Fidelis” – Marine’s motto.

Hilary Phillips - Natural Resources Conservation Service

District Conservationist- Templeton Service Center

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• Today, I serve as Templeton Service Center’s District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). My initial involvement in agriculture began as a caretaker for farms and ranches, then conducting school experiments, working with a Resource Conservation District, and finally with this position where I started as a Soil Conservationist. NRCS is a branch of the USDA, a voluntary and non-regulatory agency that is funded under the Farm Bill. Our main program is the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers to address the following natural resource concerns: soil, water, air, plants, animals, energy, and human considerations. Through EQIP, NRCS provides financial assistance and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. As the
  District Conservationist I oversee multiple NRCS employees, ranging from engineers to rangeland and soil conservationists who provide assistance throughout SLO County. Also, as with any federal agency, our programs have an encyclopedia of guidelines and policy that I am required to ensure is being met.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• I see the biggest challenges of agricultural operations include the rising costs of equipment and labor, increasing regulatory demands, and the decrease of product value. Conserving ag land is also a very real challenge. I’ve witnessed ranchers selling their property as a means of financial security or, the next generation isn’t interested in perpetuating their parent’s ag business. Urban encroachment is also happening at alarming rates, but the reasons for selling agricultural property can be very personal.

Why do you do what you do?

• I grew up in San Luis Obispo in the 70’s through the early 90’s, so I had the pleasure of living in this area before the growth we see now. I was introduced to riding horses and was encouraged to be outdoors at a very young age, so it made sense to move to Colorado just days after I graduated high school. I eventually graduated with a BS in Biology from Fort
  Lewis College and a MS from Colorado State University Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Department. Most of my educational and work experience has been geared towards land conservation and agriculture. During the pandemic we saw “the great resignation” and many people reconsidering their current positions. I also thought about my profession and job, but decided I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Working with my NRCS team to provide farmers and ranchers with financial, technical, and engineering assistance is a really gratifying occupation. Sometimes I get to hang out with horses, and then I really know I’m in the right place.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. This book was about the Dust Bowl and focused on one family’s struggle as they moved from Texas to California as a matter of life or death. The agency I work for, NRCS (called the Soil Conservation Services or SCS in the 1930s), was mentioned, so that was an interesting piece for me. The book also brought to light the human element of farm worker’s rights and the uphill battle those working in the fields have faced.

JoAnn Wall - Above & Beyond Real Estate Services, Inc. | Alliance Ag Services, Inc.

CEO/Accredited Rural Appraiser | Broker-Salesperson

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I am involved in the agricultural industry in 3 main categories. My career and work experience revolves around the valuation and brokerage of agricultural and rural residential real estate. This profession requires specialized knowledge about market trends and what impacts those trends. It’s not enough to know the “appraisal process.” Understanding agricultural real estate involves a much more in-depth analysis of various market forces including physical factors such as water, soil type, location, etc., as well as economic factors such as supply and demand and governmental factors such as local land use restrictions and a variety of legislation that impacts marketability and highest and best use. The second category is education. I have been teaching agricultural real estate valuation techniques since 2011 to the next generation of practitioners and experienced appraisers alike. Lastly, I am involved in the charitable community with particular emphasis on those organizations that focus their time and attention on agricultural youth. I cannot stress enough the importance of developing young agricultural leaders of tomorrow. Currently, I am serving on board of the James W. Brabeck Youth Legacy Fund and started the Buyer’s Coalition in 2020 to help exhibitors from the California Mid-State Fair, and now the Santa Barbara County Fair as well, find a buyer for their livestock projects.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Ultimately, the level of misinformation and disinformation regarding food, farming and the agricultural industry has proven to be a challenge unlike any other we face. I remember listening to one of my favorite podcasts “Loos Tales” and the host Trent Loos said something to the effect of “Water is a life-affirming liquid, but too much will kill you.” The comment stuck in my head because I always considered water to be “precious,” never once considering that drowning is a real concern. Perhaps his intent was a message about moderation, but in many ways, it was also about recognizing that even straight-forward messaging can be twisted in such a way as to have the opposite impact. Documentaries which shine a light on the ag industry are largely ignored in favor of horror stories which have a wider appeal with audiences. Everyone appreciates a sensational “got you” moment over a feel-good one.

Why do you do what you do?

• I love what I do because it takes me to a variety of agricultural settings and locations to learn about the very specific details of a farming operation. The people and properties are the best part of my job. To fully understand what something is worth, especially agricultural real estate on the Central Coast, I have to dig a lot deeper into the physical and economic characteristic of each property, which are inherently unique. It’s fascinating work, but more importantly the relationships that I’ve built through the years have been invaluable.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Vaquero Heritage by Earnest Morris. Ernie was a local artist who passed away recently. His son is an agricultural real estate appraiser like me, and I was given the book while I was appraising Ernie’s homestead right here in Templeton. His artwork is so rich in history and his book captures a forgotten time of the Vaquero traditions and culture.

What are words you live by?

• My great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Italy and worked hard to establish a life in America. When I was young, my grandma used to always tell me to appreciate the gifts that I have and not to waste them. Simple words, but given the sacrifices she and her parents made, they’ve had a significant impact on my life.

Daryn Miller - Monterey Pacific & Villa Pacifica Ranch

Vineyard Manager & Agronomist

Steven Easterby - Buttonwillow Warehouse Company

Crop Advisor

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I work with growers on the Central Coast to find solutions for crop health and pest management, and provide the necessary products that achieve those goals. From vineyard managers to spinach farmers, together we determine what course of action will have the most significant impact on crop yield and quality, and health of the soil. I scout for pests, perform research trials, and study lab analyses. Underlying each of these activities is the numbers game: discovering how to save farmers money while making them more money. Sourcing and delivering affordable crop health and pest control products requires considerable logistics efforts, especially in years like 2022. I have the privilege of being backed by Buttonwilllow Warehouse Company (BWC), one of the few remaining California-local ag retail companies. BWC is owned and operated by California farmers, and our primary goal is to promote agriculture and help farmers grow the safest and most sustainable food in the world.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The biggest challenge agriculture faces is public ignorance of the industry. I passionately believe that if the public was more exposed to and educated in agriculture, we would garner all the support we need to grow sustainably and provide food for the world in perpetuity. I know I’m beating a worn-out drum here, but we’ve done a poor job of sharing\ agricultural knowledge with the uninitiated, and now we’re paying for it. Farmers and others in the industry care about the land and the health of people, and if we can effectively share that truth, the same passion could be instilled in the public. Then, growing crops in America might not be as challenging as it is now.

Why do you do what you do?

• With the explosion of tech jobs, it may not be the lowest hanging fruit, especially in California, but agriculture is certainly one of the most rewarding industries to establish a career. Contributing to the global supply of food and wine grants a feeling of being part of something bigger than one’s own self. Also, people who work in agriculture tend to be passionate,
  hard-working, and collaborative, and that itself is enjoyable. No other industry offers such a perfect confluence of physically demanding outdoor work with mentally challenging problems and solutions.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• I recently have been re-reading The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy. It’s the second book in his Border Trilogy, the first of which is All the Pretty Horses. It tells the tale of a young cowboy from New Mexico and his odyssey through Mexico in the 1940’s. He has lengthy, thoughtful conversations with various strangers while confronting violent dangers in a stark, yet beautiful, Western landscape.

What are your hobbies?

• Hunting is one of my favorite pastimes, and I never pass on an opportunity to harvest a fat wild pig. I have also picked up golf, and I am proud to say that I have become sufficiently mediocre. I only lose a handful of balls each round now! I also have recently taken up spearfishing. I received my freediving certification, which helped me learn to hold my breath longer and dive deeper. I’m hoping to land some epic halibut and rockfish sometime in the future.

What are words you live by?

• “The value of a man is not measured by what he does for himself to make his life easier, but by what he does for others to make their lives easier.” ~ Eric E. Thomas. These words speak to me because it’s so easy to get busy and become wrapped up in my own world. However, I know that as a man of my community and as a Christian I need to use my talents to help others whenever possible.

Fallon Molnar - Molnar Cattle LLC

Rancher

Joel Vaca - Driscoll's

Southern District Agronomist

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I was born and raised in Salinas, California, the Salad Bowl of the World. Even though my last name is Vaca, and grew up around agriculture, it took me 19 years to figure out that agriculture is what I wanted to pursue for my career. I began in the strawberry industry in 2017, and have worked at Betteravia Farms, ALCO Harvesting and now at Driscoll’s. I strive to be an effective and credible agronomist in the near future.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The biggest challenges that agriculture faces is the rapid depletion of freshwater around the world. The cost and lack of labor is another issue that is more prevalent in the past few years. Due to labor challenges, it is vital to be efficient in every activity to assure one is getting the maximum return on investment.

Why do you do what you do?

• I do what I do because people need to eat nutritional food, and I want to help produce it. Not only do I get to help feed
  people, I also get to enjoy my workdays out in the sun (for the most part) with my fellow stewards of the land. One never stops collaborating and learning in this industry, and I love that about agriculture.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

What are your hobbies?

• I enjoy music very much, and I love going to live music events. I also enjoy mountain biking, basketball, rock fishing, and snowboarding. Barbecuing is pretty awesome as well.

What are words you live by?

• Live life to the fullest and always see the glass half full. Sometimes the road can be bumpy, but one just has to keep on keeping on.

Wilson Roehlk - Coastal Vineyard Services

Pest Control Adviser

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I am a Pest Control Adviser at Coastal Vineyard Services. We are a vineyard management and vineyard development company operating throughout San Luis Obispo County. My appreciation for agriculture can be attributed to growing up in Modesto, California, where walnut and almond orchards can be seen for miles. My family runs a heavy equipment repair and installation company that services the agricultural and construction industries. The people and science involved in agriculture inspired me to pursue a degree in Plant Protection Science from Cal Poly. Through my interests, education, and experiences, I’ve been able to begin developing a well-rounded perspective of farming in California.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• I believe agriculture has always faced many challenges, but tightening regulations, labor shortages, and a disconnected public make farming particularly difficult in California today. I think a majority of people outside of agriculture have a slim understanding of how their food is grown and where it comes from. It’s important for the agricultural community to maintain its efforts to connect with the consumer, as their purchases and votes affect how we operate.

Why do you do what you do?

• Vineyard management and living on the Central Coast has given me the opportunity to be part of cultivating a commodity that people all over the world love and appreciate. The wine industry is unique; It bridges together science, art and agriculture. I truly enjoy the hardworking people and the practices used to make a final commodity.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. An incredible World War II true story.

What are your hobbies?

• I enjoy being outdoors most. I rarely pass up the opportunity to ride my dirt bike or camp with friends and family. I have fun playing golf as well, although I’m still waiting on that skill.

What are words you live by?

• “Take it with a grain of salt.” Not to be mistrusting, but it’s important to build your own perspectives.

Anything else you'd like to add?

• I look forward to becoming more involved in the local agriculture community and growing as a professional in the industry.

Kienun Kocun - Edna Land & Cattle

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I became interested in farming and cattle at the early age of 13. I was nearly born and raised in Edna, California at the historic Old Edna Townsite. Everyday I watched local ranchers and farmers, and decided then that this is what I’d like to do. I now run my own cattle in Edna and lease land to grow and sell hay in the Edna Valley, on Los Osos Valley Road and in Morro Bay. I currently grow Sudan, Forage, Oat and Rye. I also do tractor work with my skip and drag, haul cattle, and custom farming for others.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The issue of development is what first comes to mind. I have a really hard time standing by as family-owned ranches are being sold out from under them to developers. Close to town is one thing, but out in rural areas is another. I can’t stand to see it. Not only does the rich fertile soil go away, so does the land itself, local traditions, and generational farming. I often wonder what things will look like 10 years from now. Because I am a dry farmer, the lack of water is certainly a challenge too.

Why do you do what you do?

• It’s very important to me to keep generational farming, as well as these age-old traditions, alive. You could say it’s my calling. Most of my mentors are 30 to 50 years older than I am. They’ve taught me everything I know, we speak daily, we have lunch together, they are like family now. They have been very generous imparting their vast knowledge to me, as they know that there will come a time when I hold the reins. Even though my dad thought I would choose something different for my life path, he too has been very generous when it came to buying my first few pieces of equipment. Now, I’m on my own.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Lol! In TheWild by Jeff Zentner. I don’t read much, as I learn by doing. I always have, and I pick things up quickly. For a short while, I attended our local Montessori School, Mary Kern’s school. Mary called it “observational learning.”

What are your hobbies?

• I enjoy trail riding in Pozo with my buddies. I like to barbecue with family and friends. I enjoy seasonal fishing, hot tubbing, and I enjoy brandings with local ranching families and friends. What I do for a living is sort of a hobby too. I like checking on my cows and enjoying Edna Valley views.

What are words you live by?

• This quote by Albert Einstein hits home for me: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” Other words I try and live by are: honesty, integrity, and always have empathy for others. My mom always said, stay HUMBLE and KIND.

Jillian Taylor - AgWest Farm Credit

Senior Loan Officer

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• My involvement in agriculture started at a young age, as I come from a fifth generation farming
  family in Dixon, California. I recall many memories from my adolescence entailing attempts to start an irrigation siphon with all my seven year-old body’s might and learning to drive a tractor as soon as I could touch the foot pedals on my own. With an agriculture background on my paternal side and an accounting/finance background from my maternal side, pursuing a career in agricultural finance after graduating Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo was an organic decision for me. Outside of my daily involvement with producers, I often find myself helping my husband work cattle and assisting with olive/hay harvests throughout the year.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Today’s agriculture environment faces many great challenges across the state, from water to labor to the subsequent regulations involving the two. An operation being faced with just one of these obstacles can be detrimental, let alone if the triad of challengers are present within one’s operation.

Why do you do what you do?

• Being an advocate for the agricultural industry and its producers is a major passion of mine. In the field I am in, I am able to play a part in helping producers fulfill their dreams and create a livelihood for themselves and their families. This
  industry is filled with salt of the earth individuals, and I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of it.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Bob Goff’s Love Does is a most recent read that inspired me. He states well into his introduction that “…love is never
  stationary. In the end, love doesn’t just keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: love does.”

What are your hobbies?

• Growing up visiting my family’s cabin in Donner Lake, California, watersports and snowboarding are activities I love
  to participate in. Getting outside and staying active is a key component of my lifestyle – whether that be hunting
  various game, going for rides around the ranch or taking our Jeep out for weekend camping trips. I was very active in raising livestock growing up, so it has been a rewarding experience to be a 4-H Leader over the past three years for a local 4-H Group.

What are words you live by?

• “Who you become while you’re waiting is as important as what you’re waiting for.” - John Ortberg Jr. Many of us are guilty of being so fixated on our next destination, milestone, etc. in our lives that we often disregard the journey and growth that one experiences along the way.

Linnea Smith - Vineyard Professional Services

Chief Operating Officer

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I am the Chief Operating Officer for Vineyard Professional Services (VPS). Our team manages vineyards across the Central Coast. I also have the privilege of overseeing our Vineyard Equipment Services division which provides custom equipment jobs for vineyard owners who handle most of their own farming but are looking for some specialty equipment work such as pre-pruning, ripping, and mechanical harvesting. Long before VPS, I was around a variety of agricultural operations. I grew up in the Central Valley surrounded by dairies, tree crops and cotton. Both of my parents worked in the industry, and my extended family still farms fruit trees and nut crops. I came to Cal Poly in 2004, and while my primary focus was Viticulture, Soils became more of a passion and interest. Understanding the Soil Sciences and being taught by some truly incredible professors cemented my interest in agriculture and is responsible for me becoming a Vineyard Manager after graduation.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• It is not a very novel answer, but at its core, agriculture is water, soil, weather and people. Water and people continue to be our largest stressors. Unfortunately, labor is a huge challenge and is anticipated to only get more difficult going forward. I do not have an easy solution, but I am sure what we’ve been doing in the industry up to this point will no longer work in the future. We all share in the burden of reforming the whole system in which we utilize people to produce our food and wine. That includes the consumers of these products. What keeps me optimistic is I know we have some very intelligent people in the agricultural industry and we will figure it out. Water probably doesn’t need much of an explanation. In the North County, we are battling both quantity and quality of our irrigation and drinking water. This will be the #1 topic of discussion for decades to come.

Why do you do what you do?

• There are many contributing factors. I love doing anything that is core to a community. It feels good to produce things that feed the world (and provide drinks!). I like to problem solve, and in the duration of my career at VPS, my role has continued to evolve as the company grows and we face different challenges requiring solutions. I have never had a boring day in my 11 years spent in management.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• I have to admit, if it is not a soils book, I am more of an audio book person. The last book I finished was How I Built This by Guy Raz. I have loved listening to his podcast over the last few years, and the book was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I am always inspired hearing the good, bad, and ugly parts of entrepreneurs’ journeys. It is easy to form opinions on companies by the public “brand,” but I find the stories of the humans behind every business to be far more interesting.

What are your hobbies?

• I love to travel with my husband and explore places and restaurants I have never been to before. After a quiet 2020-2021, our 2022 travel calendar is booked! I spend most of my free time in the yard, growing pumpkins and hanging out with my dogs and chickens. I also love to swim!

What are words you live by?

• I try to spend my time doing things with a purpose; accomplishments that serve a larger purpose and make the world, my loved ones or myself better in some way. I find myself most stifled when working on projects where I cannot see the greater reasoning behind it. Simply put: do something that matters.

Austin Domingos - Tony Domingos Farming

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• As a 4th year Agriculture student at Cal Poly and 4th generation wine grape farmer from Paso Robles, I have been born and raised into the agricultural community and don’t plan on leaving any time soon. My parents Tony and Shelly Domingos set me up for success from the start, enrolling me in Georgia Brown Elementary School, a dual-immersion program, where I learned fluent Spanish that has benefited me my entire life and helped shape my future. At a young age, I started working in the fields and met many immigrants, where I learned about their journeys to America, their lives here, as well as the ones some left behind. I have found people that I will cheers wine glasses with all my life and people who I feel at home with. The work is hard and early in the morning most days, but being in the struggle together is what brings everyone so close together.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The biggest challenge to agriculture in my experience is the lack of understanding and communication between growers and political leaders. Farmers will always try to provide products at the cheapest cost to consumers, however, recent and consistently growing regulations with water, soil treatment, pest control, etc., leave growers with less room for compromise, making it increasingly difficult to find different paths to a successful and cost-efficient growing year.

Why do you do what you do?

• I love working in the ag sector because it’s what I know and love. The ag business opens you up to so many different experiences and knowledge that one wouldn’t find anywhere else. Getting to see your product grow from seed to fruit is such a rewarding feeling that really makes all the hard work feel worth it. My hometown has never been more popular for wine tourism, and it just feels amazing to be able to help contribute to the well-being of our small Central Coast family even in tough times such as this last year and a half.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• The most recent book I just finished was Plato’s The Republic, a philosophical work that explores the questions about human morality and inner turmoil between the good of an individual and the good of the state, as well as attempting to find what exactly good is. This work is quite old (written in 375 BC), however, the morals hold up just as well today as they did then, and I find myself reflecting on the piece without even thinking about it as I go through my daily life.

What are your hobbies?

• I love the outdoors and spending time with my friends. My favorite things to do are surfing, snowboarding, camping, hunting and fishing, wine tasting, rock climbing and anything that has to do with spending time with my parents and younger brothers. Much of my time is also spent on the executive board of the Central Pacific Ski Club, where we host and plan weekly events, ski trips, and so much more for over 1300 members. We’re the biggest social/sports club for miles!

What are words you live by?

• When I was 16, my grandfather Carl Domingos passed away, but he left me with words and lessons that I think about to this day. He and I made a barbecue together in high school for a class project and it took forever to complete. He himself was a renowned craftsman, and in his own words, “Measure twice, cut once. Always take the time to do it right the first time, it’s worth your time and it should be the best it can be for whoever’s buyin’ what you’re makin’.” Carl never did or made anything standard, it was always better than anything you could find anywhere else. He taught me that I am capable of giving my best to anything I do, however, sometimes I do get lazy, and when I do, I know he’s up above yelling, “Goddamnit Austin mark BEFORE you drill!” He also never forgot to remind me that I was a good kid, and that I had great things ahead of me. I will never forget the time I got to spend with him.

Blake Vande Hoef - Integrity Wine Company

Director of Operations

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• In 2012 my parents, Lance and Annette Vande Hoef, established Integrity Wine Company (IWC), a small company in Templeton within the Paso Robles wine region. IWC was a family owned and operated startup, renting portable stainless steel wine tanks to various wineries in and around the local San Luis Obispo region. In 2017, while pursuing an Agribusiness degree at Cal Poly as a Freshman, I stepped into the sales position at IWC. After graduating in 2020, I took on a larger role as Director of Operations. We’ve since then developed different parts of our company to cater to different needs within our industry. Supplying services like “turn-key” backup power solutions, the innovative “Integrity Insert” juice separator for macro-bins, and with our latest exciting venture involving pressing wine grapes in the field and having the ability to ship juice directly from any vineyard to any winery in the state. I’m extremely blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to meet and work closely with so many great people within my industry all across California.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The most prominent challenges that we face today are the lack of both labor and water throughout California. More and
  more, we are seeing employers look for new ways to mechanize simple tasks to get by with their normal operations due to not having the manpower. The availability of water is also proving to become extremely difficult to come by. With heavy scrutiny from regulators and the general public on usage, one can expect a lot of changes to come in the near future as we look to solve these ongoing problems.

Why do you do what you do?

• After leaving the dairy industry when I was a little kid, my dad switched to selling vineyard and winery equipment for a company called Pellenc America. Ever since I can remember, he would let me tag along with him when he ran harvesters at night, and I instantly fell in love with wine grapes and everything to do with them. I didn’t always know exactly what I wanted to do in the industry, but I did know I wanted to be involved somehow. Having been a part of viticulture now for almost 5 years, I am constantly reminded every day that I made the right choice. It’s a pleasure to work with farmers and winemakers on a day-to-day basis as they are always extremely kind, hardworking, and down to earth people.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It’s a personal account of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster in which 8 climbers were killed and left stranded from a storm.

What are your hobbies?

• When I find myself with some free time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, playing basketball, golf, waterskiing, and just spending time outdoors!

What are words you live by?

• I’ve always been taught from a young age to “never give up” and “always work harder than the person next to you.” This
  has helped me become successful in so many aspects of my life from playing highly competitive sports in my youth, all the way to my professional career at IWC.

Danilu Ramirez - DRAM Consulting

President

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• In 1920 my great grandmother came to the United States with her 12 children (sans husband) and began working on a farm in Nogales, Arizona. Eventually she and my great grandfather were together and settled on a fig farm in Merced, Ca. The other side of the ag family arrived in 1922 “picking their way” from Arizona to the carrot capital of Holtville, where my grandpa and grandma met. Since then, every generation has continued the tradition in agriculture.  Being rooted in ag made my decision to attend Cal Poly an easy one. I have always had a passion for science and at the age of 12 I knew I wanted to study plants and become a PCA (my uncle was a crop duster and introduced me to a PCA when I was a kid). After graduating from Cal Poly, SLO I worked as an agronomist at JG Boswell Company. This was one of the most valuable experiences of my entire career. I then proceeded onto several sales positions and also worked in strawberry production in Santa Maria. My experience in irrigation sales led to my interest in water quality and regulatory compliance requirements for growers on the Central Coast. I am a PCA/CCA and the Owner/President of DRAM Agricultural Consulting, Inc. I help growers on the Central Coast remain in compliance with all regulatory requirements revolving around water quality.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• In California I often wonder how growers will continue to keep up with financial burdens as a result of regulation. Labor shortages are also such a huge factor in the vitality of our industry. Living and breathing regulation every day brings with it a harsh reality that growers can barely keep up now... how will they continue to be sustainable? We work vigorously to be more efficient with every resource. Will that be enough?

Why do you do what you do?

• Often, I refer to myself as the middle man advocating for agriculture on behalf of growers. However, sometimes we need to change and adapt into new practices. I strive to work with farming operations to increase profitability, yields and quality while becoming more efficient with resources. Combining knowledge of nutrient uptake, Integrated Pesticide Management, and Irrigation Efficiency are the keys to a sustainable future for California agriculture. Being sustainable encompasses three factors: people, the planet and profits. Working with growers and seeing results through our efforts as well as implementing important.

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• I am really into James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series right now. I’ve always dreamed of being in the military (my dad was a Marine) and also had ambitions to become an FBI agent if the whole Ag career was not on the table! Reading about four women who are all in positions that men are normally in, is something I can relate to!

What are your hobbies?

• I am a mountain bike coach (Trail Sends Mountain Bike Coaching, LLC is my other business) and I also instruct new shooters through Intro to Handgun classes held at SLOSA. These classes are for anyone who has or has not shot a gun before. Teaching gun safety and proper handling is another passion of mine! I love spending time at the gun range, however with ammo being so hard to get these days I focus on dry fire training at home. I also love to trap shoot and participate in three-gun competitions. Any chance I get I am signed up for a tactical shooting class or self-defense class (I studied Krav Maga in the past). I have been a competitive athlete for most of my life, playing tennis and basketball growing up and after college moving onto marathons, ultra-marathons, Ironman triathlons, adventure racing, and mountain bike racing. Every now and then I take my SUP, kayak or surf board out as well.

What are words you live by?

• Nothing good in life comes easy. Challenges, failure, difficult times all lead to some of the best moments and accomplishments. The most difficult times are what shape us, and are clear in my memory. My grandpa told me to never take one red cent I didn’t earn and I always have lived up to that promise I made him. My dad is a business man as well, and sometimes things just didn’t go well. That makes it tough and scary to be on my own, running my own businesses. I feel blessed and so lucky every day to have amazing clients that allow me to work in agriculture!

Holly Smith - Gallo Vineyard

Vineyard Manager

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• I grow wine grapes in SLO County, about 700 acres total.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• Misconceptions affecting consumer choices and the separation between farmer and society. 

Why do you do what you do?

• I appreciate the opportunity to find ways to actively improve our agriculture practices, efficiency, and innovation as part of my everyday job. It is incredibly challenging, but also rewarding. I enjoy the very basic aspects of the job as it is seasonal and completely consumed around monitoring the stages of plant life through the growing season. We harvest our years’ worth of effort and start all over again, with new ideas, insights, and goals.

What is the most recent book you read?

• “Girl, Stop Apologizing” by Rachel Hollis

What are your hobbies?

• I enjoy deep-sea fishing, diving, and anything close to the ocean.

What are words you live by?

Vamos a ver...

Mike Myers - Roberts Vineyard Services

Operations Manager

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• We are a management consulting company that offers services to help wine grape growers in a wide variety of areas ranging from the field operations all the way to the actual processing of the fruit if necessary.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• I feel like it changes every year. Right now, aside from COVID-19, the grape industry isn’t at its highest. We are having a hard time selling grapes right now, whereas two years ago we weren’t having that problem. But, aside from that, I think labor is a major issue.

Why do you do what you do?

• This industry and agriculture in general has been in my family for a while. After I graduated from Cal Poly in 2015, I hadn’t planned on going into vineyards, but I decided that I did want to stay in the area and that kind of is one of the main crops here.

What is the most recent book you read?

• Difficult Conversations by Bruce Patton, Douglas Stone, and Sheila Heen 

What are your hobbies?

• My main hobby is photography. I started with just a general interest, and it has grown from there. Now, I even do it for some of our clients who want photos taken of their vineyards. I also run a blog on the side for reviewing beer called Craft not Crap, so I’ve kind of moved a lot of my photography to be focused around beer now.

What are words you live by?

• One thing that has been in my family, that my dad passed on to me is “Honesty pays business.” My dad told me that quote when I was about six or seven years old and it’s something I’ve always lived by

Dean Hill - California Future Farmers of America

State President

How have you been involved in agriculture?

• I grew up a 4th generation agriculturalist. On some level, it has always been a part of my life. However, when I got into high school, my involvement completely changed. I joined the Future Farmers of America by walking into the Agriculture Biology course my freshman year. After a lot of time spent learning and growing in the organization, I was selected and elected to serve all 95,000 students of agriculture education in California. On May 1st, I was installed as the California State FFA President. I plan on continuing to be involved in agriculture as I advance my education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Agricultural Systems Management.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• American agricultural technology has been vastly improving and growing for several years now which is terrific news for the industry. However, many farmers are struggling to use this technology with the lack of accessible internet. With the urban sprawl and the population growing, farmers have to use less land to grow more food. Broadband internet is an essential tool in the growth of the agriculture industry. It is a catalyst for positive growth in agriculture. Expanding broadband to rural America can allow farmers to utilize technology to increase efficiency, improve environmental sustainability and create opportunities to educate the public. 

Why do you do what you do?

• I am blessed to get to do what I do. I decided to serve the FFA for the moments that students realize they can be something more. For me, that moment came in April of my freshman year. I saw my brother give a report in front of thousands of people. Watching all of this, I was very proud of him, and I realized I could do that too. I began to realize what this organization can truly do. Now, I am fortunate enough to help students across California get to this moment. There’s no feeling like helping someone realize their potential.

What’s the most recent book you read?

• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. This is a great book with a very powerful lesson.

What are words you live by?

• “Stay Frosty.” Those are words I have said for longer than I can remember, and really can mean anything by the way one interprets it. To me, “Stay Frosty” means to always stay cool and positive. No matter how bad the situation is, it’s important to just keep going and get through it. I say those words as a reminder to keep going for me, to push past whatever obstacle is in the way, and make it to the end. 
• The greatest piece of advice I have heard this year was from Richard Denir. He said, “...to listen and take what everyone tells you, but do your own research on it. Decide if it’s true or useful based on your observations.” Now I have always been a very trusting person and I listen to what others have to say, but I never put more thought into advice. Since I heard those words, I have discovered he was absolutely right. Different methods work for different people, so decide what works better for you. This was something I heard this year and thought it was very relevant, but I recommend trying it and see if it works for you, do your own research. 

Brycen Ikeda - Ikeda Brothers and POVE

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• We grow vegetable row crops as our main commodity, our biggest being Chinese cabbage. 

What is the biggest change within the agricultural industry/community you have seen through your work?

• There are a lot of challenges, but they all tie into the central theme – the biggest challenge – of staying viable and continuing to run successfully. Remaining profitable is continuing to become tougher and tougher, the prices you receive aren’t keeping pace. You just have to become more efficient and try to drive down costs elsewhere.  

Why do you do what you do?

• I enjoy it, I think. I think everyone’s vision as a kid of a farmer is that you’re outside growing things and harvesting things, you never have to set foot indoors. Unfortunately, that’s not 100% the case; there’s more business to the Ag Business than I anticipated.  The biggest pro and the biggest con of what I do is that it’s a family thing. I’m a fourth-generation farmer with two little ones and one more on the way, I would like to give my kids the opportunity that my father gave me – IF they  want to.

What is the most recent book you read?

• “The Undoing Project” by Michal Lewis and “Paddle your Own Canoe” by Nick Offerman.  I really enjoyed that book.

What are your hobbies?

• I rock climb – I boulder. My daughter and my wife also climb. My favorite hobby is Brazilian Ju Jitsu and golf. The common theme of my hobbies is that you have to check out while you’re doing them, you don’t have space to wonder if you fertilized your avocados enough.

What are words you live by?

• My great-grandfather wrote a pretty impressive will with a line that says, “Be earnest in all that you do.  Halfhearted efforts will not accomplish anything.”  We all choose different parts and apply them to different parts of our lives. My roommate in college always used to say, “If you’re gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.” My grandfather’s will and my college roommate’s motto ended up colliding and both making sense.

Sarah Kramer - Umpqua Bank

Senior Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager

What is your role within the agricultural industry?

• I am a Commercial Lender. I specialize in almonds, avocados, cattle, wine grapes and wineries, and more.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• Water availability and government regulations.

Why do you do what you do?

• I truly enjoy working with farmers and ranchers.  The best part of my job is allowing peoples’ life long passions and dreams to come to fruition.

What is the most recent book you read?

• I end every day by reading. I am currently reading “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng.

What are your hobbies?

• Volunteering and golfing when I have time.  I currently sit on the following boards, in addition to the Farm Bureau: Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (Treasurer); San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen (Past President); San Luis Obispo County Agriculture Education Committee (Treasurer); Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee; Paso Robles High School Agricultural Advisory Committee;  and Agricultural Liaison Advisory Board of San Luis Obispo County. I volunteer through various events hosted by the boards that I sit on.  One of my favorites is the Great AGventure which is hosted by the San Luis Obispo County Agricultural Education Committee.  This is an annual field trip for 4th Graders in San Luis Obispo County in which they learn about various aspects of agriculture (plants, science, animals, engines), and they get to participate in an “Ag-tivity.”  

What are words you live by?

• Try to live life to the fullest every day. 

Tom McGuire - Farm Credit West

Senior Vice President

How are you involved in agriculture?

• I am a portfolio manager for Farm Credit West in Templeton. I’ve been working with farmers and ranchers for 38 years providing financing for farm land, equipment and operating costs. Farm Credit West has been a big part of San Luis Obispo agriculture since the time when the main crops were cattle and grain. We provide relationship lending to producers of grapes, wine, cattle, grain, citrus, avocados, vegetables, etc. 

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• While water and labor supply will continue to be huge issues for agriculture, the general public’s increasing lack of understanding about agriculture will continue to be a source of difficulty in many ways such as government regulations and taxation.

Why do you do what you do?

• I was raised on a cattle ranch in northern California and wanted to work with country folks and support agriculture. I still enjoy working closely with people who have that connection to the earth; the original back-to-nature community. I am a huge fan of Farm Credit West’s cooperative structure that makes us a reliable partner dedicated to serving the needs of our agricultural customers.

What is the most recent book you read?

• Forty Autumns by Nina Wilner, a story about a family in former East Germany and how they were affected during the Cold War. 

What are your hobbies?

• Hiking, gardening, shooting, reading and watching movies.

What are words you live by?

• Be honest, kind and fair.  Always do more than your fair share.

Anthony Yount - Denner Vineyards

Winemaker

How are you involved in agriculture?

• My family and I have a 7 ½-acre vineyard in York Mountain. We also raise chickens (meat and eggs), lambs, and pigs. Through my day job as a winemaker, I also work with over 30 different vineyards throughout the Central Coast.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Well, that’s a tough one because there are so many. For our small business, it’s labor. There’s so much competition for a decreasing pool of people that are interested in working in agriculture. For the industry as a whole, it’s water – we have to find ways to maintain yields and profitability while using less water.

Why do you do what you do?

• I love the differences each vintage brings. Every day there are new challenges and, as a result, no two days are the same. And come on – how can you not love working outside on the Central Coast?!

What’s the most recent book you read?

• I just finished reading Horseman, Pass By by Larry McMurtry. A brutal story about the struggles faced in the world of agriculture – but so well written.

What are your hobbies?

• Fishing, cooking, playing with my two daughters, riding my bicycle, and hunting.

What are words you live by?

• You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be sad.

Wyatt Mello - Mello Land and Cattle Company

Partner

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• We have a cattle operation in San Luis Obispo county. Part of it is a cow/calf operation, and part of it is a stocking operation. The stocking cattle is yearly and comes to us when our grass is growing, after which they go to a feed lot. 

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• The agricultural community has been faced with many challenges in the past, but we are also presented with everchanging obstacles. Policy and regulatory changes as well as anti-agriculture groups are two of the more prominent challenges facing the industry. 

Why do you do what you do?

• We have a love for what wedo, it’s been in our family formultiple generations. We have a love for the land we work on and we take pride in improving every aspect of the operation. It’s very holistic in nature and we have specific paddocks we focus on including native plant regeneration and specific grazing plans.

What is the most recent book you read?

• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell and California Plants by Matt Ritter 

What are your hobbies?

• I really do enjoy what we do here. When I’m not with my three kids, I enjoy hunting and fishing. Me and some guys like to go elk hunting in Colorado as well. 

Erin Amaral - Pacific Coast Farming

Vineyard Manager

How are you involved in agriculture?

• I am a vineyard manager and partner of Pacific Coast Farming. Pacific Coast Farming is a vineyard management and vineyard development company in South San Luis Obispo County, based in the Edna Valley. I was raised on a farm in Crows Landing, California where my family grows almonds and operates a commercial harvesting business. I moved to San Luis Obispo in 1995 to attend Cal Poly and got a degree in Plant Protection Science, focusing on Viticulture. I am a proud graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program, Class 46.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• There are many challenges that agriculture faces, but one of the greater issues in California is water. We need a sustainable water supply to grow food at the same time as protecting the resource. Growers are having to adapt to new regulations that make farming food more challenging. I hope that farmers continue to use their voices and be a part of the process to ensure that these regulations are based on sound science.

Why do you do what you do?

• I love farming and working with the land.

What is the most recent book you’ve read?

• I’m taking some personal time and enjoying the Outlander series. I will mention that one of my favorite reads was Leadership & Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box.

What are words you live by?

• Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance take it. If it changes your life let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Audrey Mora - Heritage Insurance Agency

Risk Advisor

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• My family (on both sides) have been cattle ranchers here on the Central Coast, going back five generations. While I’m still involved with the operation my grandpa runs, my focus shifted to be an asset for the agriculture industry to lean on. My dad was a Risk Advisor to farms & ranches in Northern California, so when it came time for me to leave Cal Poly, I decided I would follow his path, but here on the Central Coast. I saw this as a great way for me to weave my passion for agriculture into a lifelong career. Now my days revolve around having discussions with businesses in the wine and ag industry on how they can best protect their greatest assets.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• The breakdown of communication between agriculture and consumers. It’s unfortunate, but a lot of people believe what they see on the internet without doing further research. This sways how they purchase products, feed their families, and ultimately how they vote and support agriculture. In my experience, most people do want to have conversations and learn more about where their food comes from, but we need to initiate those conversations and leverage social media to share our stories with people who aren’t familiar with what we do.

Why do you do what you do?

• At the end of the day, this world goes around because of agriculture and the ability to put food on the table. I believe that by doing the best job I can, I am in a small way giving back to an industry that gives us everything and expects nothing in return. The fact that I can help farmers protect their livelihoods or be there to provide peace of mind when things do go wrong is an honor.

What is the most recent book you read?

• You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

What are your hobbies?

• Hiking, backpacking, and camping with my family, friends and dog are some of my favorite things to do. I also enjoy community involvement with associations supporting the wine industry here on the Central Coast. I’m not sure if working cattle would be considered a hobby, but I can be found doing that any chance I get!

What are words you live by?

• Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.

Dave Hendrickson - Double H Avocado Ranch

Co-owner & Ranch Manager

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• Haas avocados. The ranch itself is 13 acres but the avocados themselves are 6 and half acres.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• The greatest challenge is nonagriculture peoples’ disconnect with where their food comes from. Especially now and in these times. There is a lot of people that think their food just comes from the grocery store. They have no idea about the farmers and ranchers and truckers that get their food there. I personally think there should be a basic agriculture class taught in grade school to teach kids from an early age where their food comes from.

Why do you do what you do?

• We bought this property in 1986, and for the first 12 years we grew oat hay. We got into the avocado business 22 years ago. I retired in 2006, I worked for the state. We planted the trees 22 years ago and now it works as a supplemental retirement income. Never thought it would be a sole income of any kind, just supplemental. And to provide the highest quality product our ranch can produce. I think those of us that grow avocados in the region, we think we grow the best avocados in the state. When ours come mature they have the best flavor than any other place in the state. 

What is the most recent book you read?

• I read One Hundred Poems, by Waddie Mitchell, a cowboy poet. I do enjoy cowboy music and cowboy poetry music festivals. It’s something you don’t find on local channels.

What are your hobbies?

• Slo-pitch softball, pickleball and welding

What are words you live by?

• To practice the “Cowboy Code.” Your word is your bond, you finish what you start

Grant Talley - Talley Farms

Production and Irrigation Manager

How are you involved in agriculture?

• I am currently the Production and Irrigation Manager at Talley Farms. Our company was founded by my great-grandfather over 70 years ago, and we farm primarily in the Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley regions. We grow permanent crops, row crops, and have our local direct-to-consumer program called the Talley Box. We commercially grow avocados, lemons, bell peppers, napa cabbage, bok choy, kale, spinach, parsley, and cilantro. With our Talley Box program, we grow upwards of 30+ different crops over the course of a year. My involvement in agriculture started when I turned 12 years old. This was a good opportunity to learn about the farm and appreciate the value of a dollar. Working at a young age gave me the ability to work in most of the departments and helped prepare me for the position I am in today.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• The current landscape in farming feels like a constant battle. Whether it’s struggling with the lack of water, higher wage costs, or increasing regulation, there’s always something going on. If I had to narrow it down to San Luis Obispo County, I would say one of the biggest challenges right now are water regulations that have come before the SLO County Supervisors, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and the Regional Water Board. I worry about giving government more power to tell farmers what they can and can’t grow. I see this as a huge violation of private property rights and a big abandonment of the farmers in our area. Passing more of these regulations will make it more difficult to justify growing in our area. I feel very strongly about preserving the farming and ranching legacy in San Luis Obispo County.

Why do you do what you do?

• I had an opportunity to come back to the farm a few years ago, and since I’ve been back, it has really been a blessing. I’m able to work with my family and have a job that allows me to appreciate the beauty of the Central Coast. I really enjoy farming and the rich community and culture that comes along with it.  

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.

What are your hobbies?

• Golf, tennis, hiking, fishing, hunting, hanging out with friends and watching movies.

What are words you live by?

• “Excuses always lead to mediocrity, but commitment leads to excellence.” I have that written above my desk as a daily reminder. 

Todd Ventura - Poor Richard's Press

President

What do you grow, raise or produce for agriculture?

• Although I don’t currently grow or raise any agricultural products, I do have a large agricultural background. I grew up on a ranch east of Creston and was involved in cattle, grain faming, showing, 4-H, FFA, and livestock judging livestock in high school and college. During college, I got a part time job at Poor Richard’s Press. Currently, the agriculture industry is our largest customer base.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenge agriculture faces?

• Communication. Effectively communicating what American agriculture does for the consumer. People don’t understand where food comes from and how it is produced. 

Why do you do what you do?

• I am in a unique position to combine communication and agriculture. It gives me an opportunity to help expand the understanding of agriculture in our communities.

What are your hobbies?

• I work a lot, but I love baseball. I’m an Atlanta Braves fan.

What are words you live by?

• Forward, ever forward. 

Valerie Bednarski - Tule Technologies

Account Manager

How are you involved in agriculture?

• I am the Central California Account Manager for Tule Technologies. We help growers make irrigation decisions by measuring crop water use. Knowing how much water their crop is using makes it easier for growers to decide how much to irrigate. Our technology is also used by researchers and engineering firms to help improve the current literature on irrigation strategies. I enjoy discussing water politics, although I certainly wouldn’t call myself an expert. I am also a member of the SLO chapter of California Women for Agriculture. My favorite part of being involved in agriculture is meeting our customers at their ranches! I get to meet winegrape growers on the Central Coast and tree nut growers in the Valley.

What’s the biggest challenge agriculture faces?

• Water! I don’t know if there is a single person that understands all the nuances of California water issues. Farmers face a lot of public opposition when it comes to water use. I have friends that work on the environmental side of things, and I hope to help bridge a gap. I truly believe that there is a solution that could work for everyone.

Why do you do what you do?

• I spent a year in Montana doing research work in river water management. In a small town, I was involved in city planning, in-home water conservation, down river irrigators, and fish. Being in a small community allowed me to see the direct impact my work had on water conservation. But I missed California, so I looked for a job where I could talk about water and work with people here. At Tule, I get to feel like I’m making that same kind of impact by helping farmers figure out how to save money, time, and water. And I’ve always wanted to work outside and live on the Central Coast!

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

• I recently started listening to books on audio since I spend a lot of time on the road. Coincidentally, the most recent book I listen to is called “The Road to Character”by David Brooks. He discusses how inward personal development is just as important as outward career success.

What are your hobbies?

• If you asked my friends and family, they’d probably say my hobby is getting injured! I spend a lot of time outside and take tumbles frequently. But my real hobbies are making pizza from scratch, gravel/mountain biking, backpacking, lobster diving, and playing with whatever random sporting equipment I might have on hand. I’ve recently been traveling with two lacrosse sticks and a frisbee.

What are words you live by?

• “You meet amazing people in places that are hard to get to.” My friend told me this one day while biking from Montana to Mexico. I like to think of it in the physical sense, like on top of mountains. And also in the achievement sense, like working with influential people.

Anything else you’d like to add?

• I am so happy to be a part of the SLO community, and I look forward to making more connections!