Q: How are you involved in the almond industry?
A: I’m a second-generation almond grower in Stanislaus County and work as Relationship Manager at Yosemite Farm Credit. I serve as a member of ABC’s Global Communications Committee, along with being a mentor with the Almond Leadership Program (ALP). My roles keep me close to issues related to almond production - labor challenges, water utilization, dust, carbon sequestration, pollinator habitat and almond market conditions. At Yosemite Farm Credit, the financial challenges are in front of me daily with both small and large growers. While most growers are open to implementing changes, the financial risk involved to transition to no burn/whole orchard recycling, no/low dust harvesters, water efficiencies, less polluting tractors, etc., keeps them from adopting change overnight. The depressed almond prices presently being experienced with export disruptions occurring.
Q: How did you get involved with the Almond Leadership Program and how many years have you been a mentor?
A: I became involved as a mentor after I realized the qualifications for getting selected into the program was more difficult than being a mentor. 😊 Actually, what I had observed was that the mentors were an impressive group of individuals with divergent experiences in the industry. Even for me, every one of them was worth engaging in conversation. I found that most of them just wanted to be sure the next generation didn’t make the mistakes they did. They were also keenly aware of the need to accelerate the next generation's involvement in the industry. They were very relational individuals, with valuable industry experience that understood that being a mentor was a great use of their time. So I wanted to get involved.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a mentor in the Almond Leadership Program?
A: Marylin Albright (former US Secretary of State) once said “The older I get, the younger are my teachers.” I find this to be TRUE every time I meet a new ALP Class. I find that it’s a great opportunity for me to learn every time I engage members of the class. The classes are at the crossroads of integrating existing industry processes with next-generation technology. Once they understand the existing process, they can see opportunities to make things more efficient. The almond industry should be proud of the individuals the ALP attracts and the investment made to expose the class to the almond industry. Participants of this program help to accelerate change in the almond industry.
Q: What is your favorite memory during your time as a mentor?
A: Good memories seem to occur every time the class meets. Relationships are built around common interests, seminar discussions and field trips. But a highlight for me is when I get to job shadow my mentee. It’s a chance to see them in their top performance and full of enthusiasm about their role in the industry. I get to hear about the changes they’ve made and their vision for how to do things better. It’s just a great time to applaud their skills and encourage their next steps.
Q: What advice do you have for young almond leaders?
A: That there’s room for you to thrive and express your best skills. So much to discover, new methodologies to be implemented and the industry has only begun to scratch the surface of uses for almonds and their co-products. There are plenty of opportunities to engage, change and provide leadership in the almond industry.
Q: How do you like to eat almonds?
A: With friends. Almonds always inspire great conversation.
