Juli Fagone is a graduate of GHS 17 ’ and Fresno State 21 ’. She is the marketing partner of BR Beef , the farm to table entity of Bianchi Ranches of Gilroy . Juli works numerous farmers markets and is the social media manager for BR Beef and other cattle operations and associations in California and Nevada . She , and most ranchers , are frustrated by misinformation found on the internet “ There are so many misperceptions about cattle operations ,” she says .

Ranchers like Juli are using social media to push back against inaccurate information . She points out that people she interacts with at weekly markets are “ inquisitive and open to learning more .” Ranchers are so devoted to their animals and land they manage , they are rarely seen . Independence is one of their most enduring traits , but it may have allowed others to take hold of the narrative related to ranching . Juli adds , “ I will always advocate for beef integrity .”

Interest in western culture is higher than ever . Last fall 16,000,000 viewers tuned in to “ Yellowstone ”, a fictional drama of a powerful , unpredictable family of ranchers . People are drawn to these forms of entertainment because they portray values that are respected in frontier culture . We in south county are privileged to live among actual ranchers who remind us that a career in ag is as rewarding as any . South Santa Clara Valley residents can be proud knowing that the tradition of raising cattle , started nearly 200 years ago by Mexican Vaqueros , continues today by our very own cowboys and cowgirls .

ABOVE : Brent Kirk , President of Santa Clara County Cattlemen ' s Association and owner of Kirk Cattle Company , LLC . The Association provides scholarships to high school seniors and college students , and support various aspects of the Santa Clara County Fair .

46 SUMMER 2023 gmhTODAY Magazine : Go . Make history ... gmhtoday . com