Manuel grew up on a coffee farm and graduated with a degree from Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia. He’s the first in his family to grow tree fruit. He is now working for Joe Rasch Orchards, in Sparta, Michigan and is married to Katie (Rasch) Vargas and is the son of Ligia Marin and Gabriel Vargas.
Orlando is pursuing a graduate degree in horticulture at Washington State University. He is the son of Alison and Erik Howe; his biological mother is Maria Mendoza.
The brothers are third-generation farmers in the Annapolis Valley of Central Nova Scotia, Canada. They are the sons of Janette and Timothy Pearson and the grandsons of Janette’s father, Pieter van Oostrum.
Spouses Haley and Patrick are both third-generation apple and pear growers who each graduated from Washington State University: Haley with a degree in accounting and Patrick with a degree in agricultural technology management. Haley’s parents are Belinda and Gary Grillo and Patrick’s are Rhonda and Raymond Colbert.
Kyler, a fourth-generation farmer in the White Salmon Valley, graduated from Washington State University with a fruit and vegetable management degree. He’s married to Payton and is the son of Dena and John Riggleman.
Jon grew up in a suburb outside of Philadelphia and is pursuing his doctorate in plant pathology at WSU. He’s the son of Christine and Gregory Puglisi.
family background/Luis is a second-generation farmer who is studying horticulture at Wenatchee Valley College while working at Washington Fruit and Produce. He is the son of Angelica Barajas Birrueta and Manuel Gaitan.
Andrew is a fourth-generation farmer who manages the family farm with his brother, Timothy, and uncle, Stephen. He is married to Hope and is the son of Mark Stirling.
Noah is a fifth-generation farmer who graduated with a horticulture degree from Michigan State University. He’s married to Zoe Roth and is the son of Barb and Aaron Roth.
FIRA USA show-and-tell expo helps high-tech companies ground their work for farmers.
