Like many farming operations, Vail Ranches has been forced to adapt over time. Rising input costs, labor challenges and shifting markets have narrowed the range of crops that can be grown profitably in the Imperial Valley. “This has forced us to pivot over the years, and even though we may not look the same as we did 40 years ago, what I’m most proud of is that even with those pivots, we’ve found a way to balance the business within our family and keep moving forward.” For Elmore McCutcheon, it’s about far more than just earning a paycheck—it’s about a commitment to preserving and growing her family’s legacy. Because of this, her leadership extends well beyond Vail Ranches. Following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, she has become an active advocate for agriculture at both the local and state levels. “I remember as a little girl, they were both very involved in advocacy groups. My dad was on the Western Growers Board, and I grew up watching them not only participate, but be very active in these organizations.” On top of maintaining status as a Western Growers member, she’s also a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program as well as a board member and treasurer of the Imperial County Farm Bureau. Elmore McCutcheon also serves on the Western Growers Retirement Security Plan (RSP) Investment Advisory Committee. “As I’ve become more involved, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing our industry, many of which aren’t fully felt until legislation is passed and its impacts take hold. That’s why I’m passionate about being on the front end of these issues, to help reduce obstacles and ensure our operation continues into the sixth generation.” In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to have leaders like Elmore McCutcheon advocating for a viable future for family farms. By combining hands-on management with proactive engagement in industry and government, she works to ensure the challenges facing agriculture today are met with practical, workable solutions. Looking ahead, her focus remains firmly on longevity. Every decision is made with future success in mind, balancing financial responsibility with thoughtful stewardship of the land and resources that sustain the operation. In honoring the past while planning for what comes next, Elmore McCutcheon demonstrates that legacy is not simply inherited, it is actively built through intention and action. Through leadership, advocacy and adaptability, she is helping ensure Vail Ranches remains a thriving family operation, prepared to carry its work into a sixth generation and beyond.
operation in Ensenada, Mexico, where they’ve been growing for over 30 years. While Elmore McCutcheon was quite familiar with her family’s farming operation growing up, it wasn’t part of her everyday life. “I remember going out to the field to pick some lettuce or dig potatoes. Mostly just goofing off on the weekends,” she said. When it was finally time to go off to college, Elmore McCutcheon found herself drawn to business rather than farming. Early on while attending the University of Southern California to pursue this passion, she realized she had a particular affinity for numbers. “At the same time, both of my grandpas, who were very big parts of my life, were encouraging me to go into accounting. It just seemed like a good fit.” Once she received her undergrad, she went on to get a master’s degree in accounting, eventually moving to San Francisco and becoming a licensed CPA. In an alternate reality, if she didn’t have the family farm to return to, she said she could’ve continued happily down this path. “I really liked working in public accounting. It was challenging at times, but it was fun; I got to work at a large firm with high- profile clients. But ultimately, I knew my goal was to work for the family business.” It was also important to her to be able to work alongside her grandpa John, who was 89 years old at the time. “He was already retired, but still very much engaged in the business,” said Elmore McCutcheon. “He was so thrilled to see me come back home and start working. He would often come into the office to have his coffee and chat with me.” While she cherished the valuable time spent with her grandpa before he passed, the transition also brought with it the reality of the complexities and stresses of running a multi-generational business. Elmore McCutcheon with her husband, Caleb McCutcheon, and their two daughters, Margaret (2) and Grace (4).
41 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January – March 2026
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