“As a young boy growing up on our farm in the Santa Maria Valley, I was very lucky to walk out my front door and into the fields. Now, as a fourth generation farmer, I recall riding in the cab of our case tractor with my dad, watching out the windows, laying on the floor of the cab as the wheels went around under my perch. I would fall asleep to the sound of that engine and spinning wheels.
In agriculture, many people have crossed my path and made me the person I am today. A special memory of mine is our farm irrigator Francisco who would always bring homemade burritos for not only himself but for me as well when we worked together. He nicknamed me “little boss” and to this day that name has stuck, and that is how he greets me. Of course, my father and mother along with my grandparents played a very significant role in shaping me into the farmer I am today, but it was also hard-working, loyal, and dedicated employees like Francisco who showed me the ropes on the ground level at a very early age.
As the years went by I worked on the farm, graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with my degree, and then returned to the farm. I pride myself in a strong work ethic, loyalty, and respect—all values that I learned from those who have crossed my path.”
