It all started because a young, crazy guy had a dream. Ted Pedrozo, Central Valley native, is a dairy farmer and owner of Crystal View Dairy. Growing up in Merced, CA, he was constantly surrounded by agriculture and fell in love. His grandfather and close family friends each had dairy farms of their own, which is ultimately what inspired him to pursue a career in agriculture. Ted attended college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and majored in Dairy Science with a minor in Agricultural Business. After graduating in 2015, he took his first step towards fulfilling his dreams and worked in Santa Nella, CA managing a dairy. Although he loved this job, he knew the real goal was owning a dairy of his own. Ted decided that he wanted to try something different so he left his management position and began working for his dad in construction. A few months into the job, he found himself wanting to be back with the cows. Luckily for Ted, a former employer informed him of a dairy that was available for rent. Right then and there he knew this would be his opportunity to get back into the dairy industry. Fortunately, with some help from those around him and the money he had been saving, he was able to make his dream come true. Ted started Crystal View Dairy in the fall of 2018 and has never looked back.
INTERVIEW W/ TED PEDROZO
What did you take away from Cal Poly that helped set you up for success in your new business?
"Cal Poly's motto is “Learn by Doing” and it might be cliché, but I would have to say that it was a big thing I learned and still use in my everyday life and why I got to this point in my business. Anyone can read about something in a book and talk about what they’ve learned, but for me to actually understand the material or feel confident in my decisions, I need to have that hands-on experience."
What is your favorite part about working in the Ag industry?
"I have two favorite things about working in agriculture, the first is the community. The people are the best! The second thing I love about it, but also makes it very hard, is the constant challenge every day to make an agriculture business survive and thrive."
How has your background helped shape you into the dairyman you are now? "I would say my parents and grandparents have played the biggest role in making me who I am today. They taught me to do the best I can do, be honest, work hard and put my faith in God and if it is his will, then it will be." What is a fun fact about you? "I love listening to 60s, 70s, and 80s hits on Pandora while I’m in the barn milking cows!"
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