Dream it.

Legacy Ranches is a 3rd generation dairy farm owned and operated by brothers Frank, Jared, and Josh Fernandes. Their grandfather Frank Fernandes immigrated to California from the Azores islands, Portugal around 1920 and worked in the dairy industry. Frank eventually started his own dairy but then struggled during the Great Depression. Frank then took what cows he still owned and began a profit sharing partnership with Bill Hesse in Pixley, California. Mr. Hesse provided the facilities and land while Frank and his large family provided all the labor. The profits and off- springs were split.

When Frank wanted to retire, his sons, Joe and Johnny, purchased his cattle and continued the profit share with the Hesse family. Joe and Johnny grew the herd and eventually purchased their own dairy in Tulare, California with a low interest GI loan for their service in the Korean War.

Build it.

In 1983 after growing the operation, Joe and John split, and Joe continued the dairy with his 6 sons, Joey, Greg, Gary, Frank, Jared, and Josh. When the siblings returned home from college they partnered with their dad and added their influence into the farm. This sense of ownership and responsibility triggered a large growth transformation. They had grown to multiple dairy operations and over 3000 acres of farmland. Following the passing of their dad the brothers realized that the operation needed to split again so that the fourth generation could transition.

Since Frank, Josh, and Jared were the youngest and have kids similar in age, they formed a partnership and split off their share of the assets and began Legacy Ranches in 2016. Today Legacy Ranches consist of 2 dairies and borders the original farm still owned by the Hesse family.

Grow it.

The dairy is made up of both Jersey and Holstein cattle.  All cows are housed in Free stalls with one dairy bedding with recycled sand and the other using separated manure solids.  Each facility has a methane digester, and their methane gas is sold to Calgren Renewable Fuels.   In addition to the digester the larger dairy net meters its electricity with 1 mega-watt solar system.  The Farm land is used to grow Wheat, Corn, Alfalfa, Oats, and Pistachios.