Grow West®

Happy National Corn Month! 🌽 This month, we're celebrating the growers who work hard to produce one of the world's most important crops. From food and livestock feed to many everyday products, corn plays a vital role in our daily lives. Put your corn knowledge to the test! Do you know how many rows of kernels are typically found on most ears of corn? Swipe through to see if you got it right!

Next up in our Intern Spotlight series is Patrick! 🌱 Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Patrick’s path to agriculture has taken him all over the country. After playing baseball at Itasca Community College and earning his degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stout, he spent several years working in hospitality before discovering his passion for plants and agriculture. Patrick’s interest in agriculture began in 2017 with row crops and flowers, and he has been working in grapes since 2022. He recently completed his coursework at Santa Rosa Junior College as he works toward becoming a Pest Control Adviser. During his internship, Patrick has spent time scouting vineyards throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties, monitoring for insects, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies, and learning alongside experienced PCAs. He shared that one of his favorite parts of the internship has been getting out in the field, seeing the different challenges growers face, and connecting what he’s learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Patrick’s goal is to become a well-respected PCA in California and eventually start his own business. He’s passionate about plant health, integrated pest management, and helping growers solve problems to improve crop quality. One of the biggest lessons Patrick learned during his internship is the importance of accurate field observations and reporting, since scouts play a key role in helping PCAs make informed management decisions. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys playing in an adult baseball league, as well as rock climbing and snowboarding. ⚾🧗♂️🏂 When asked who has made the biggest impact during his internship, Patrick pointed to Edgar and Sandy, the two PCAs he has worked closely with throughout the summer. We’re glad to have Patrick on the team and excited to see where his passion for plant health and crop protection takes him! 👏🌿

Meet Ryan, one of our interns at the Walnut Grove location! 🌾 Ryan is entering his senior year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he's majoring in Agricultural Business and is set to graduate in Spring 2027. 🎓 Originally from Stockton, California, Ryan joined Grow West this summer to gain hands-on experience and expand his knowledge of the agriculture industry. This summer, Ryan has spent his time checking fields and ranches, working with crops including alfalfa, wine grapes, almonds, walnuts, tomatoes, and rice. He's also helped build warehouse orders, tend to tenders, complete maintenance projects, and make deliveries, giving him experience across many aspects of Grow West's operations. 🚜 Outside of work, you'll most likely find Ryan hunting 🦌, fishing 🎣, playing or watching sports 🏈, or spending time with family and friends. Ryan hopes to pursue a career in agriculture after graduation, though he's also interested in working in fish and wildlife conservation. Growing up around local ranches and spending time hunting and fishing sparked his interest in agriculture, and studying Agricultural Business has only strengthened that passion. One of the biggest lessons Ryan has learned during his internship is not to be afraid to ask questions or reach out for help when something isn't clear. He credits John Hammer, Brett Schmitz, Zach Paper, Ryan Sherbondy, and the entire Grow West team for making his internship such a valuable learning experience. Thank you for all your hard work this summer, Ryan! We're grateful to have you as part of the Grow West team. 👏🌱

Welcome back, Mackenzie!!🌱📸🤳 Mackenzie is from Woodland, CA, and is entering her final year at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, where she is majoring in Agricultural Communication with a minor in Agribusiness.🎓 This is Mackenzie's second summer as a Marketing Intern with Grow West! Throughout her internship, she's helped bring Grow West's story to life by creating social media content, writing captions, assisting with videos, taking photo and supporting a variety of marketing and communications projects. Her creativity, positive attitude and willingness to jump into every opportunity have made her an incredible part of our team!💙 Growing up in a farming family sparked Mackenzie's passion for agriculture 🚜🌾 and inspired her interest in sharing the stories behind the industry. While she's still exploring her future career path, she's excited to continue learning about opportunities in agricultural marketing and communications while exploring a newfound interest nursing!✨ When she's not at work, you'll likely find her spending time with friends and family, shopping 🛍️ or staying active.☀️ One of the biggest lessons Mackenzie has learned this summer was the importance of communication, adaptability and teamwork. She also credits her mentor, Alexus, for trusting her with larger projects, encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and helping build her confidence along the way. Mackenzie, thank you for your hard work, creativity and dedication over the past two summers! We're so proud of everything you've accomplished and can't wait to see what your final year at Cal Pol and beyond, has in store for you. 🌟👏

What happens below the surface matters. 💧🌱 WaterLabs soil moisture data helps growers understand what’s happening in the root zone and make informed irrigation decisions. By tracking moisture trends throughout the field and at multiple depths, growers can compare irrigation sets, monitor water movement, and see how deeply water is reaching below the surface. Because every field is different, every graph is tailored to that site’s unique conditions—providing valuable insight to support smart irrigation decisions all season long. #SmartIrrigationMonth #WaterLabs #GrowWest #Irrigation #SoilMoisture #CaliforniaAgriculture #AgTech

Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸 Today, we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy and the individuals, past and present, who have helped make them possible. From all of us at Grow West, we wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

Kicking off our first Intern Spotlight is Gianna! 🌟 Gianna grew up on a commercial cattle ranch in Woodland, California, where her passion for agriculture first began. She is currently a junior at California State University, Fresno, pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business with a minor in Animal Science. She’s also a member of Fresno State’s NCAA Division I equestrian team, where balancing academics and athletics has helped her build discipline, time management, and teamwork. 🐎📚 This summer, Gianna has been gaining hands-on experience in the field by checking insect traps in orchards and sunflower fields, sweeping alfalfa fields, and assisting with pressure bombing. Her favorite part of the internship has been getting out in the field and seeing firsthand how crop management decisions are made. She’s especially enjoyed applying what she’s learned in the classroom to real-world agricultural situations. 🚜🌻 Outside of work, Gianna enjoys showing horses, spending time with friends and family, and going to the beach. ☀️🌊 Gianna says the biggest lesson she learned during her internship was the importance of paying attention to detail and making decisions based on accurate field observations. She also learned that every task, no matter how small, plays an important role in helping growers make informed management decisions. She credits Andrew Rumsey as the most influential person during her internship, sharing that his passion, dedication, and knowledge of the industry inspired her to explore different avenues within agriculture. We’re excited to have Gianna on the Grow West team this summer and can’t wait to see all she accomplishes! 🌱

Happy Smart Irrigation Month! 💧 Smart irrigation is all about making every drop count. At Grow West and WaterLabs, we're proud to support growers with the tools and data they need to make informed irrigation decisions and improve water efficiency. This month, we're celebrating the importance of smart irrigation and the impact it has on our growers, our crops, and our communities.

For Tristan Nelson, farming is built on strong partnerships and the hope of passing something meaningful on to the next generation. For the past 10 years, Grow West has been a trusted part of his operation. Working alongside his PCA, Ian McCormack, has helped take some of the weight off his shoulders, giving Tristan confidence that his fields are being closely monitored for weeds and pest pressure while allowing him to focus on the many other demands of the farm. That partnership has contributed to stronger yields and a more efficient operation. Looking ahead Tristan is most excited about the future of Nelson Family Farms. His two sons and daughter are already eager to help wherever they can, learning the values and responsibilities that come with farming. He looks forward to one day passing the operation on to them and continuing his family's farming tradition for generations to come. 🌾 Thank you for following Tristan's story and joining us for another Meet the Farmer Behind Your Food series spotlight. #GrowWest #MeetTheFarmer #FarmToTable #CaliforniaFarming #MeetTheFarmerBehindYourFood #NelsonFamilyFarms #RiceFarming

Happy National Bring Your Dog to Work Day 🐶 Around Grow West, our four-legged coworkers take their jobs very seriously: snoopervising meetings, greeting office visitors, boosting morale, collecting belly rubs and field and snack scouting. We may do the work, but these pawsome copilots definitely steal the show. Show us your favorite furry co-worker and tag us, we’d love to see who’s clocking in with you today!🐾 #NationalBringYourDogToWorkDay