Mayo Ryan

Fresno County is a great place to be for Mayo P. Ryan

After being involved in various aspects of the agriculture industry throughout Fresno County, Mayo P. Ryan is pleased to be working in the industry he loves. Ryan is a fourth-generation farmer in Fresno and works as a field representative in pistachio grower relations for Paramount Farms. Ryan also serves as the Almond and Nuts Commodity Chairman on the Fresno County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

Four generations of farmers

“My great-grandfather farmed cotton on Kearney Boulevard in 1919,” Ryan said. His grandfather continued the business and his father followed in their footsteps, raising cotton near Tranquility.

Ryan gained experience from helping his father with the farm work. While in school, he would return each summer to work an ag-related job, resulting in a large spectrum of experience by the time of his graduation. “I always wanted to be a farmer,” Ryan said. While Ryan was attending college, his father sold their property, which gave Ryan the opportunity to seek other positions in the industry, rather than returning to the family farm.

Expanding area of interests

Ryan received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Santa Clara University in 1987 and his Master of Business Administration in Agribusiness in 1990, also from Santa Clara. Following his education, Ryan worked as a wine grape grower, a chief financial officer for an almond processing plant, an agriculture financial consultant and in 2002, served as the Chairman for the California Wheat Commission, representing Fresno County. Through his experience in different segments of the industry, Ryan believes “it’s a great place to be.”

California agriculture is as vibrant and necessary as ever to our economy, food safety and quality of life, Ryan said. Without the ability to follow an earlier generation into farming, it is difficult for one to begin a farm from scratch. Ryan feels fortunate he was able to remain in such a vital industry.

Loving his job

Ryan enjoys working with growers in Fresno and Madera counties within the pistachio industry. Paramount farms has been a great company to work for, and “their success speaks for itself,” Ryan stated. “I’ve got a really great job that lets me be out in the field and in the office.”

Fresno has been a great place to raise his family where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and children, said Ryan. His children engage in sports such as water polo and baseball. Ryan himself takes pleasure in bicycle riding. He is happy to be continuing in his career with Paramount Farms and looks forward to becoming more involved in the Farm Bureau.

Meet Your Board Members Profile: Ag Today, Feb 11
By: Sarah Thomas