Buddy Mendes is a farmer and Fresno County Supervisor who farms a variety of crops in the Central Valley.  We caught up with him to chat about family, books, and of course, farming. 

CA Grown: What do you farm?

Buddy: I farm Pima cotton, regular cotton, wheat, safflower, corn, , and almonds.

CA Grown: What are you doing today?

Buddy: I usually get up between 4:30 and 5:00 and meet up with one or both of my sons at the office.  This morning I went to the west side ranch to check on the irrigation drip  to make sure it was working properly and then I came home and got dressed to go to work as a Fresno County Supervisor.  

CA Grown: What is your favorite thing about farming?

Buddy: Other than being my own boss, farming is just a way of life that I am used to. 

CA Grown: How do you give back to the community?

Buddy: I have spent 20 years on the Riverdale Unified School Board, I was on the Riverdale Public Utilities District Board for almost 18 years, and I have been very active in the Lions Club.

CA Grown: What drew you into the farming profession?

Buddy: I always liked it, so I decided to stay in it.  It was the family business.

CA Grown: What are you hobbies or pastimes when you are not farming?

Buddy: I am an avid reader.  I have no hobbies because I am a workaholic [laughs].  I am reading a book right now about the Portuguese who have settled in the United States.  I probably own at least 300 books about the WWI and WWII era.

CA Grown: What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a farmer?

Buddy: You have to be a workaholic if you want to become a farmer.  If you want to play golf all the time, then you will not make it as a farmer.