Vance Ahlem
Stanislaus County Farm Bureau President
Vance Ahlem
As a walnut grower and producer of corn and silage crops, Vance Ahlem understands both the challenges and opportunities facing California agriculture. Serving as the current Stanislaus County Farm Bureau president, Vance is passionate about ensuring agriculture has a strong voice at every level of government.
One aspect of agriculture that often surprises people, Vance says, is just how technology-driven the industry has become.
“People don’t realize how technology driven agriculture is,” he explains. “From plant genetics, animal genetics and farming technologies, innovation plays a major role in creating the precision we need in agriculture.”
For Vance, Farm Bureau’s value lies in its ability to advocate for farmers and ranchers while they focus on running their operations.
“Farm Bureau provides a voice for agriculture at the county, state, and national levels,” he says. “It allows farmers and ranchers to continue attending to their businesses on the farm.”
His message to potential members is simple: “Your voice matters in the future of California agriculture.”
When asked about his favorite agricultural commodity, Vance quickly responded, whey protein.
“Whey used to be considered a byproduct that was often thrown away or fed to cattle,” he says. “Today, it’s one of the highest-valued dairy products on the market.”