For the third generation in a row, a member of the Hain family
is president of the San Benito County Farm Bureau.
Hollister – For the third generation in a row, a member of the Hain family is president of the San Benito County Farm Bureau.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Paul Hain’s deep commitment to the land and the people of the county he has always called home spurred him to lead the county’s agricultural community as the farm bureau president. An organic walnut and chicken rancher in San Benito County, Hain, 51, will organize the bureau’s meetings and serve as the spokesman for farmers in the county. He was elected to the position on Nov. 6 by the board of directors.
“The bureau is a grassroots organization,” said Hain. “By banding together, we (farmers) have a more powerful voice.”
The farm bureau board is comprised of approximately 15 local ranchers and farmers who rotate positions every two years. The bureau deals with issues that affect farmers and makes recommendations to the California Farm Bureau Federation that formulates policy that is later advocated in the state legislature.
Born in Tres Pinos, Hain attended San Benito High School and graduated from Cal State Polytechnic with a degree in Fruit Science. He is married and has two children, ages 26 and 20, and several grandchildren. Hain has been a rancher since the mid-’70s, when he first began working with his father and uncle at John Hain and Sons, a company created by his grandfather. He grew walnuts and later raised chickens that became so popular customers from as far as San Francisco come to Hollister to purchase them. In the mid-’90s, he switched to organic farming for both personal and financial reasons and since then his business has blossomed.
“I am a green kind of guy so organic farming goes with my philosophy,” he said.
Organic walnuts not only fetch a higher price on the market, they are also better for the environment because no pesticides are used, he said.
Hain is now considering expanding into organic turkeys largely because very little competition exists.
With markets open to produce from other countries, local farmers have had to move into other areas in order to stay successful. In addition to advising farmers, the bureau represents an outlet for an interest group that has dwindled in recent years.
“Private land owners like us own the majority of the land here, but politically are a minority,” said Hain.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
