Tucked into the fertile landscape near Chico, California, the M&T Chico Ranch is a testament to the power of legacy, stewardship, and team-driven agriculture. At the heart of its operations is Mike Bolen, a fourth-generation California farmer and co-manager of the ranch which is a diversified operation growing walnuts, almonds, rice, and California Prunes.

“We’re a diversified farming operation,” Mike explains, “primarily walnuts, almonds, and prunes.” But the story of how he arrived here, and how this ranch thrives, is one of generational knowledge, hard work, and a deep respect for the land and the people who work it.

From Hungary to the Heart of California

Mike’s agricultural roots trace back to his great-grandfather, who emigrated from Hungary, traveled through Canada, and eventually settled in the Sutter Basin north of Robbins. From that pioneering start, each generation of Bolens has continued to farm California’s rich soils. “I’m fourth generation,” Mike says. “And I have a younger son that’s also involved and is the fifth generation.”

Mike grew up farming with his family, and pursued his education in agriculture, first at UC Davis and then completing his degree in agricultural business at Chico State. In 1996, a new opportunity brought him to M&T Chico Ranch as an assistant to the then-manager, Les Inger. “It worked out that I came here in 1996 and I’ve been here ever since.”

Diversity in the Fields and in the Work

For Mike, every day on the ranch brings something new. “It’s the same, but it’s different,” he says with a laugh. “We’re in different fields dealing with different crops every day… That’s what I enjoy the most. Just the diversity.”

This range of crops, especially the storied California Prunes, gives the ranch not only a strong market presence but also a connection to evolving consumer trends. As prunes experience a resurgence in popularity, Mike keeps it simple: “My favorite way to eat prunes is straight out of the bag. I literally do eat prunes just about every day… about five prunes a day.”

Delicious recipes with prunes>>

A Commitment to Sustainability and Stewardship

While producing high-quality crops is the goal, how they get there is just as important. For Mike and the team, sustainability is about more than buzzwords. It’s about survival, integrity, and respect for the land.

“This is our livelihood,” he says. “We try to better the land that we’re on because we’re trying to produce a crop—yes, to stay in business—but we treat the ground as our number one asset.”

This long-term mindset has real-world impacts: careful soil management, crop diversity, and responsible water use all factor into the operation’s strategy for maintaining healthy orchards year after year. “We’re not in it for the short term. We have to be economically viable—and environmentally responsible.”

A Team That’s More Like Family

If you really want to understand what makes M&T Chico Ranch unique, talk to Mike about the team. “Our employees are just fantastic,” he says. “We’ve got about 24 employees who have been here over 15 years, and eight or nine that have been here over 30 years.”

That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. The ranch provides housing for several employees, strong mentorship for new hires, and a workplace culture rooted in mutual respect. “People come to work here because they’ve heard how long others have stayed. They know we value our employees.”

Mike points out one example that says it all: a semi-retired team member, Romero Fuentes, who still returns to help after 49 years with the ranch. “It is a unique ranch,” Mike says. “We offer a lot of things that other places don’t.”

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Why Supporting California Agriculture Matters

With nearly three decades on the M&T Chico Ranch, Mike has seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of California farming. He’s a strong advocate for consumer awareness and support.

“California is unique in and of itself,” he says. “We have a Mediterranean climate where we can grow just about every crop that’s grown in the world. From up here in Chico to the San Joaquin Valley and down to Bakersfield. Not many places can do that.”

But it doesn’t happen without support. Mike stresses the need for continued investment in water infrastructure, access to labor, and public understanding. “Consumers should support California agriculture because of the diversity of crops we can grow and because of the care we put into growing them.”

From Hungarian roots to Chico orchards, from handfuls of daily Prunes to teams that stay for decades, Mike Bolen and M&T Chico Ranch represent the best of California Grown agriculture: experienced, enduring, and deeply committed to the land and people that make it thrive.

Article written for Alison Needham (@agirl_defloured) for California Grown, images and video by James Collier, Paprika Studios.