A JOURNEY FROM POLICY TO PRODUCTION By Michelle Rivera, Senior Communications Manager
John Chandler and his faithful friend Trip
Chandler Farms in Selma, Calif., has a special kind of legacy. Founded in the late 1800s by W.F. Chandler, the family operation has been growing on the same land for generations. Today, fourth-generation farmer John Chandler and his brother continue that tradition, managing the day-to-day work while honoring their roots. “My great-grandfather came out from Illinois in search of fertile ground and found it in Fresno,” Chandler said. “The family has been farming here ever since.” Chandler grew up immersed in farm life, surrounded by open fields, fruit trees and hardworking family members. “It teaches you responsibility early,” he said. “There’s an expectation that you pitch in from a young age.” Despite his agricultural upbringing, Chandler’s early career path took a different turn. After earning an agriculture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he entered the world of public policy. With a strong interest in politics—fueled in part by his mother, Carol Chandler, a well-known figure in California agriculture—he landed a role advising lawmakers on agriculture issues, first in Washington D.C, then in Sacramento. For more than a decade, Chandler worked on ag policy from the inside, gaining valuable insights into how decisions are made. But in 2012, a phone call from his father changed everything. “He told me he was tired of farming alone and that if my brother and I weren’t interested in coming back, he’d consider renting or selling the farm,” Chandler said. “I realized I didn’t want that to happen.” He returned to Fresno and was soon joined by his brother, Tom. Together, they now run the farm, carrying
forward the legacy while embracing modern challenges. Their father Bill, now retired, still lives on the property their grandfather built during the Great Depression. Chandler’s background in policy continues to shape his approach to farming. “Working in government taught me just how little decision-makers actually understand about what it takes to grow food,” he said. “That’s why farmers have to speak up. We can’t just be good at farming—we have to advocate, too.” Currently, Chandler is an active board member for multiple agricultural associations, including the Fresno Farm Bureau, the California Association of Wine Grape Growers, Nuffield USA and Western Growers. He is also a graduate of the Western Growers Leadership program. As a board member of Western Growers, Chandler focuses on key issues, such as labor, water and agtech. Labor remains a major challenge, he said, especially as regulatory costs climb. Meanwhile, water policy— particularly the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)—looms large for Central Valley growers. But Chandler also sees promise in innovation. “Agtech is the future,” he said. “Especially labor-saving technologies. They aren’t about replacing people— they’re about staying competitive when labor is scarce or expensive.” Still, Chandler cautions that new technologies must make economic sense. “It’s great if a machine can zap weeds with lasers, but if the cost outweighs the benefit, it won’t survive on the farm,” he said. Through it all, Chandler remains grounded by a core principle: perseverance. “Our family has farmed this land for more than a century. There have been good years and bad years, but we’ve kept going,” he said. “That’s what farming takes—resilience, optimism and the belief that your work matters.”
27 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com July | August 2025
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