In 1976, at the age of 34, I moved to Tulare County to marry my native-Visalia-born husband, Greg, an Army Veteran who was working as a correctional officer at the County road camp at the time, was a lifelong jazz and big band musician and became my partner in rehabbing and managing our low-income rental houses in North Visalia, until his death in 2008.
Before settling in Visalia, I had graduated from UC Berkeley, got a Master's Degree while living in Germany for 18 months, a teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach, taught high school and college classes, and traveled extensively. Prior work experiences include, as a teen, helping my parents in their auto repair and patio furniture businesses,then hotel maid, and waitress. I protested the Vietnam War and campaigned for George McGovern for President in 1972 against Richard Nixon.
Consuming 80% of our water, agriculture has already begun implementing more efficient water technologies; this needs to be supported vigorously. With continuing drought and water shortages, increased acreage will need to be fallowed; farmers need support to manage drought resistant cover crops on fallowed land to minimize air pollution and conserve water. Promote changing the mix of agricultural products from our great valleye to crops demanding less water. Solar power farms can coexist with some crops, so let's do both. Dairies can use science to produce less and to capture methane. Science based pest and weed control, phasing out harmful chemicals.