For the former Stanislaus-County based tractor driver Elizabeth “Liz” Gabrio, she’s back in the driver’s seat.
But this time, it’s in a slightly different agricultural career position, and it’s not driving tractors during the apricot harvest on Bays Ranch in Westley, either.
Instead of bin-loading and fruit dropping or working at Headstart Nursery, Gabrio is now executive director of the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau.
She is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has experience working at Bays Ranch in Patterson, where she served as a tractor driver, loading bins and dropping off fruit at the loading docks. She also has experience at Headstart Nursery, Inc. in Gilroy, where she worked most recently, and Driscoll’s Berries out of Watsonville.
Gabrio grew up visiting her family in Westley on the farm, where they grow apricots, almonds and walnuts.
Her first job at Bays Ranch in Westley infused lessons about how much labor goes into harvesting a fruit or vegetable.
Gabrio said her internship at Driscoll’s helped her learn about the sales side of agriculture. Most recently, she worked for Headstart Nursery in Gilroy, which showed her the transplant side of agriculture and introduced her to the Santa Clara County agricultural community.
Gabrio said she’s always loved visiting Westley, her home where she was first introduced to agriculture. Cal Poly taught her the fundamentals of the agriculture industry and helped develop her agricultural business skills, she said.
“The ag community is exciting because it’s always changing and evolving,” Gabrio said. “I’m excited about working for the Farm Bureau.”
Her family has been Farm Bureau members for five generations in Ventura and Stanislaus counties.
Gabrio’s goals at the organization include reaching out to the entire community of Santa Clara County—not only the farmers and ranchers—to promote agriculture. Gabrio said she also hopes to continue the programs that former executive director Jennifer Scheer worked on including the Ag Water Quality Program.
Gabrio said she thinks the industry continues to develop with the times, especially by monitoring water usage and researching new ways to control and minimize their usage.
“I really enjoy talking with the local farmers and ranchers in Santa Clara County, and I’m excited to meet with as many in the community as I can,” Gabrio said.
More information
Santa Clara County Farm Bureau can be contacted at sccfarmbureau.org or (408) 776-1684.
