For Mark Cavallero, farming has been a way of life for as long as he can remember. In fact, the Madera, Calif., resident’s first vivid recollections are of helping steer a tractor and doing chores on the farm.
His family began working the land more than 100 years ago. At age 10, Cavallero started farming 10 acres of Thompson’s Seedless Grapes. Cavallero’s father taught him how. Cavallero read as much about grapes as he could, learning what fertilizer to use, how often and how much water to use and when to lay down sulfur.
“My school planner soon became a calendar for my grapes,” he explains. “I made sure to try new things, experimenting with new fertilizers and water.”
Then the summer before his freshman year, he decided to try his hand at almonds. As his production began to grow, he incorporated it into his FFA supervised agricultural experience (SAE). Today, he contracts with the California Almond Growers Co-Op, since he doesn’t have a large farm.
“It all started with 10 acres of grapes, and I’ve never looked back,” Cavallero says.
Cavallero’s success with his farm has earned him the honor of being named a 2017 finalist for American Star Farm.
Almonds are nothing like grapes, so Cavallero says he learned a lot, and he depended on his dad for a great deal of advice. He also talked to many other farmers as well. His passion for farming grew as he began cultivating his 10 acres and as he learned more. “I realized this wasn’t a chore,” he says. “It’s a way of life; it’s what I want to do.”
Cavallero credits his FFA advisors for also helping him learn more about his production and for teaching him skills he is able to use in the field.
“Find an advisor who is just as driven as you are,” Cavallero recommends. “FFA advisors cares about their students, and they’re all there to help you. That’s one of the great things about FFA. The advisors are just as driven as the kids. If you have an ‘in’ in the agriculture industry in any way, it can be even bigger. You just have to do it and find the advisor to help push you through.”
Cavallero’s future plans include majoring in plant science and agricultural business.
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