CRC Blog
Farming gets in your blood
Monday, March 8th, 2010
By: Nicole Van Vleck, California Rice Farmer
March not only marks the beginning of the crop year, but also marks the month that I returned to Montna Farms, my family's farm, full-time. That was sixteen years ago, after I had just gotten married to my, husband, Stan. He was raised on a cattle ranch in Sacramento County and knew the importance of maintaining both of our family farming operations. We chose to live in Sacramento in between each of our family businesses.
I was fortunate that my parents were thrilled that I had decided to make my career back on the ranch. They were not expecting it, as I had not gone to Cal Poly SLO like they and my sister had. Far from it. I graduated in Political Science from UCLA and was enjoying a fantastic job as Legislative Analyst for a law firm working in Sacramento.
My experiences through my formative years laid the foundation for my return. I had not realized it as I set a career path initially, but years of 4H, picking walnuts and prunes, and weighing trucks loaded with rice at the dryer all had an impact on my decision. Also, I realized being a third generation rice farmer, on Montna Farms, which had been in operation in Sutter County since the late 1800's, was an integral part of who I was. I knew that I had been given a chance, which isn't always afforded to daughters in agricultural families, to run the business.
Before there was an official "bring your daughter to work" day, it was a regular occurrence for my sister and me. We would drive the ranch to check the fields and drive harvester with my dad. When I had our first child, he came to work with me daily until he had school, which now seems ages ago. Life has come full circle, my kids now come to work with me to ride harvesters, check fields and bird watch. Soon, they will be old enough for their first summer job on the farm!
Nicole Montna Van Vleck is a third generation rice farmer who farms with her parents and sister in Sutter County. Nicole is Managing Partner of Montna Farms which grows, dries and stores super premium short grain rice. Montna Farms partners with many waterfowl organizations to protect and enhance waterfowl habitat primarily on its working rice lands.
Nicole is a graduate of UCLA and The California Agricultural Leadership Program. Nicole and her husband Stan have two school-aged children.
I was fortunate that my parents were thrilled that I had decided to make my career back on the ranch. They were not expecting it, as I had not gone to Cal Poly SLO like they and my sister had. Far from it. I graduated in Political Science from UCLA and was enjoying a fantastic job as Legislative Analyst for a law firm working in Sacramento.
My experiences through my formative years laid the foundation for my return. I had not realized it as I set a career path initially, but years of 4H, picking walnuts and prunes, and weighing trucks loaded with rice at the dryer all had an impact on my decision. Also, I realized being a third generation rice farmer, on Montna Farms, which had been in operation in Sutter County since the late 1800's, was an integral part of who I was. I knew that I had been given a chance, which isn't always afforded to daughters in agricultural families, to run the business.
Before there was an official "bring your daughter to work" day, it was a regular occurrence for my sister and me. We would drive the ranch to check the fields and drive harvester with my dad. When I had our first child, he came to work with me daily until he had school, which now seems ages ago. Life has come full circle, my kids now come to work with me to ride harvesters, check fields and bird watch. Soon, they will be old enough for their first summer job on the farm!
Nicole Montna Van Vleck is a third generation rice farmer who farms with her parents and sister in Sutter County. Nicole is Managing Partner of Montna Farms which grows, dries and stores super premium short grain rice. Montna Farms partners with many waterfowl organizations to protect and enhance waterfowl habitat primarily on its working rice lands.Nicole is a graduate of UCLA and The California Agricultural Leadership Program. Nicole and her husband Stan have two school-aged children.
