As a family owned business, the second to none mindset our employees share with us has ensured we continue producing the highest-quality products available. Cornelio Blanco, a star member of our Oxnard team, currently serves as the ranch manager at our sister company, Rio Farms.

We sat down with Cornelio to chat about his time here, where he coordinates the production of celery, cabbage, peppers, and lima beans.

Roots in Agriculture: A Grandfather’s Legacy

A team member for the last five years, Cornelio’s introduction to agriculture began at an early age working alongside his grandfather in Mexico while on summer break. While there he would help plant sugar cane, sorghum and corn – soaking in everything his grandfather did.

However, the thought of pursuing a degree, let alone a career, in agriculture didn’t spark until Cornelio entered his senior year of high school. Armed with loads of first-hand experience, he began researching potential career options and California universities with highly respected agriculture programs.

Raised in South Los Angeles, Cornelio’s upbringing was a far cry from his grandfather’s fields and those he walks today, but it only seemed to motivate him even more.

Seizing the Moment as a Student

As a student at Cal Poly Pomona majoring in plant science, Cornelio found himself immersed in a world of learning. From plant biology and soil science to learning about the intricacies of different agricultural practices, his time there laid the foundation for a career that would later blossom here at Rio Farms.

He dove head first into learning everything he could – a trait we still see today. But as he reflects on his time there, Cornelio has two pieces of advice to offer students: don’t wait to pursue a Master’s degree if you want it and take the time to slow down. 

“I was always on the run just trying to finish,” he said. “I would love to spend more time in school again to truly absorb the lessons we were learning.”

Before ultimately making his way home to Rio Farms, Cornelio tried his hand in a few other agriculture sectors, but they weren’t the right fit. For Cornelio, “there’s opportunity to grow – that really makes me feel valued and not just a number,” at Rio Farms.

Innovation at Rio Farms

In today’s world of agriculture, groundbreaking technological advancements have emerged, reshaping every aspect of the industry. At the heart of this revolution is a shift that begins in the very fields where our crops are grown. By farming with a twenty-first century spin, we’re able to utilize every acre like never before.

“Our operation runs with 18 guys – so it’s pretty small and we farm a lot,” Cornelio explains. “But once again, what’s helped us is the mindset of Steve Gill, which is to keep innovating – keep looking for ways to be more efficient.”

With nearly 95% of the farm ground Cornelio monitors on a drip irrigation system, he and his team are able to utilize technology like automatic shut-off valves and soil moisture sensors with the click of a button on their phone. Cornelio explains it’s like being able to, “spoon-feed each plant the nutrients it needs.”

Though somewhat costly to implement, these innovations allow us to be efficient in more ways than one. Not only is he saving on time and labor, but the technology is helping contribute to our overall water efficiency – a crucial factor in California agriculture.

A Higher Level of Networking 

Cornelio will be the first to admit the agriculture industry as a whole is rather small and everyone knows everyone. In his eyes, networking is key and he’s grateful Steve Gill has been supportive of his pursuits from the beginning. 

For more than a year now, Cornelio has been pushing himself to develop personally and professionally as a member of California Agricultural Leadership, Class 52.

Ag Leadership, considered to be one of the premier leadership development programs of its kind in the United States, is a rigorous 17-month program. With a select few chosen each year, emerging mid-career leaders in agriculture like Cornelio are propelled into a variety of new experiences. Focusing on leadership, communication, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and complex social and cultural issues, Cornelio is building upon the arsenal of tools he’ll be able to utilize throughout his life and career.

Since first entering the program in the fall of 2022, Cornelio and his fellow classmates have traveled throughout the United States, met with leaders in Washington, D.C., and even traversed through Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica in pursuit of becoming better leaders. 

This month, however, the program wrapped up for Cornelio and his fellow classmates. 

“Something I have learned throughout the program is a lot of self-awareness and always treating everyone with respect,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how high you are up in the ladder – treat everyone the same because at the end of the day we’re all people and we all have feelings.”

At Rio Farms and Gills Onions, we take pride in fostering an environment where employees like Cornelio are not just seen as contributors to the company, but as individuals with unique potentials. Together, we look forward to a future where our employees continue to thrive, being instrumental in the prosperity of Rio Farms, Gills Onions and our community at large.

Ready to try onions the Gills Way? For more information, contact our sales department