22
Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2017
Successful farming can often depend on the
passing down of knowledge and skills from
one generation to the next. It is shared that
agriculture is one of the few places remaining
where sons and daughters work side-by-side with
moms and dads, parents and grandparents.
Blue Diamond
grower Scott Wilson and his family have
been farming for over 50 years. They are just one of many
member-growers who rely on the next generation to carry
on farming traditions. “Beginning with my grandfather,
then my father,” Scott explains. “We’ve always been
raisin farmers until my father pulled out the vineyard
and planted almonds about 10 years ago.”
Scott hopes to keep farming in the family with
his son, Joshua.
AYoung Farmhand
Ten-year-old Joshua Wilson loves car racing, playing tackle
football, and harvest season. Scott says it is his favorite time
of year because he always gets to ride along on the sweeper
equipment and help with whatever is needed.
Joshua started helping on his family’s farm at the age of
two. When his grandpa would leave town, Joshua would
step in and change the water with his dad. Eight years
later, he is still changing the water and helps his grandpa
at least three days a week during the summer when he’s
out of school.
“His grandpa’s other business is hauling raisins to packing
houses all around the Central Valley with his Freightliner
Big Rig,” notes Scott. “Joshua rides along delivering empty
bins then hauling them back into the packing house.”
Learning About Almonds
The time spent with his dad and grandpa in the ranch
is just one way Joshua learns about farming. He recently
signed up for his first 4-H class through the Clovis
Unified School District and the family’s relationship
with
Blue Diamond
was inspiration for his school science
fair project.
Joshua was interested in exploring the lifecycle of an
almond tree. His display highlighted the five stages of the
almond tree and three stages of harvest. In addition to a
miniature model of an almond orchard, Joshua included
samples of
Blue Diamond Almonds
.
“I chose this project because I like to farm almonds and...I
have been working on the almond ranch for six years,”
writes Joshua.
A Future Almond Farmer
The Wilsons look forward to
Joshua being the family’s next generation farmer.
“He’s made it clear he will only play football until he gets
done with high school,” says Scott. “Because in college,
Joshua says he will need to concentrate on farming!”
FEATURE
The Next
Generation
Almond Farmer
