Features
A NEW VOICE FOR THE COLLECTIVE Chair Rob Yraceburu Leads Western Growers into its 100 th Anniversary 20 A LOOK BACK AT THE WESTERN GROWERS 2025 ANNUAL MEETING 24 THE POWER OF SAYING YES WGW Grad Jenny Garley's Journey in Ag 30 A SHEEP, A PIG AND A CALF Lesa Eidman and a New Era of Ag Leadership 33 FROM ONE ACRE TO 200 FARMS How Lumo Is Redefining Smart Irrigation 37
WESTERN GROWER & SHIPPER Published Since 1929 Volume XCVII | Number 1
To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of Western Growers members
Dave Puglia President and CEO Western Growers davep@wga.com
Editor Michelle Rivera 949.885.4778 | mrivera@wga.com
Contributors Cierra Allen callen@wga.com Ann Donahue
adonahue@wga.com Michael Escañuelas hello@mescanuelas.com Emily Gengler egengler@wga.com Taylor Lauson tlauson@wga.com Cory Lunde clunde@wga.com Emily Lyons
Inside This Issue
4 President’s Notes 6 Law of the Land 10 H-2A 13 Advocacy | California 14 Innovation 16 Health and Wellness 40 Member Profile 42 WG Member Welcome and Anniversaries
45 WGCIT Resident Profile 46 WG Leadership Program 48 Updates from the WGCIT 49 WG News You Can Use 52 Connections 53 Contact Us 54 Farm Dogs and Barn Cats of Western Growers
elyons@wga.com Brittany Thomas bthomas@wga.com
Circulation 949.885.2248 | communications@wga.com
Advertising Sales Dana Davis 302.750.4662 | dana@tygermarketing.com TOGETHER. WGA.COM
Western Grower & Shipper ISSN 0043-3799, Copyright © 2026 by the Western Grower & Shipper is published quarterly by Western Grower & Shipper Publishing Company, a division of Western Growers Service Corp., 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine California 92618. Business and Editorial Offices: 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine California 92618. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Western Grower & Shipper, 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine California 92618. Call (949) 863-1000 to subscribe. Subscription is $25 per year. Foreign subscription is $50 per year. Single copies of issues, $2. Periodicals postage is paid in Irvine, California and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Western Grower & Shipper, PO Box 2130, Newport Beach, California 92658.
3 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January – March 2026
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