Brian Pacheco

Brian Pacheco is the FCFB Rural Health and Safety Director

Brian Pacheco, of Kerman, thanks Fresno County Supervisor Phil Larson for getting him involved with Fresno County Farm Bureau. “His [Larson’s] famous line to me was: ‘it’s only one meeting a month’,” Pacheco said. That saying has been used often to urge people to become involved with Farm Bureau. And, the result is always the same – people want to do more, and Pacheco is no exception. He’s has been attending Farm Bureau meetings ever since.

Pacheco became involved with FCFB in 1991, specifically with dairy issues. In 2002, Pacheco became the Director for Rural Health and Safety.

Pacheco is a strong advocate for agriculture – especially dairy issues. He has visited classrooms to teach children about dairy products, been interviewed for magazine and newspaper articles and television news stories, and has provided dairy tours to a variety of different groups. “I spend a lot of time educating the public about our way of life,” he said. “I am amazed how city dwellers want to move to the country but do not want to accept the cultural practices that go along with living in the country.”

Pacheco appreciates Farm Bureau because it defends the family farm, takes the lead on many issues, and he enjoys the people associated with the organization. He said the current leadership does a great job of getting out to the public and telling the farmer’s story.

Pacheco is a fourth generation dairy producer. His great-grandfather began dairying in the early 1900s in Arcadia. His great grandfather decided to move to a dry-area climate, leading the Pacheco family to Kerman. Pacheco Dairy Incorporated is a member of the cooperative California Dairies, Inc.

Pacheco is in partnership with his parents, Jerry and Arlene. They milk over 1,300 Holstein cows and farm nearly 1,000 acres in the Kerman area. The dairy has been one of best in terms of milk production per cow for more than a decade. Part of the reason Pacheco has such a great herd is because of his focus on details and organization.

“Attention to detail is key to our success,” Pacheco said. “The thing with the dairy industry is that you do not have to worry about what you are going to do tomorrow. Cows have to be fed, watered and milked everyday, and that never changes.

“Most people who are at home with their families on holidays do not realize that dairy producers are working just like any another day. There are no holidays or weekends in the dairy business.”

Pacheco stresses a teamwork philosophy at his operation. Of Pacheco’s 20 employees, many of them have worked together for many years, including one employee who has been with the company for 39 years. “I believe it’s important to set a high standard for your employees and to stress teamwork. I want to the employees going home each night knowing that they made a difference and to have a sense of accomplishment.”

Pacheco and his father are a great team. “My father loves the farming aspect of the business, but isn’t crazy about the cows. I love the cows, but I’m not crazy about the farming. It’s a perfect partnership,” he said.

When Pacheco isn’t working or attending meetings, he enjoys attending athletic school events for his children. Pacheco has been married to Alena for 11 years and has three children: Anthony, 10; Danielle, 8; and Matthew, 5. Both Anthony and Danielle will be showing cows for the first time at the Big Fresno Fair in October.

Pacheco graduated in 1991 from the University of California, Davis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in ag economics and a minor in rhetoric and communication. Pacheco was the commencement speaker at his class’ graduation.

While in college and shortly after graduating, Pacheco worked for then-Assemblyman Jim Costa. Pacheco worked in Costa’s Sacramento office as an office clerk for over three years. “It was a great experience for a small country kid to work at the State Capitol,” he said.
For Pacheco, this sparked a passion for him to get involved. Working for Costa, Pacheco got to see first-hand how government works and how laws are made. “I have taken that knowledge and applied it to issues involving agriculture. As an industry, we must be part of the discussion and get involved; otherwise, farmers will become extinct.”

In addition to Farm Bureau, Pacheco also serves as a Trustee of the Kerman Unified School Board, and is involved with the Fresno Madera Farm Credit Board of Directors and Community Regional Medical Center Board of Directors.

Pacheco’s schedule does not allow him to have many hobbies, and even those hobbies are work-related. One of his new passions is his impressive herd of about 20 Brown Swiss cows, which mixes with the Holstein herd. He began raising Brown Swiss when he bought three calves at an auction. “They are beautiful animals,” he said.

Pacheco talks about his family operation with great pride and joy. The investment of time and money into the family business shows that he is not only committed to his cows and his land, he is dedicated to providing a way of life for his family.

Meet Your Board Member Profile: Ag Today, Apr 08

By: John Migliazzo