Farming is a tough business. As our population continues to grow, so does the demand for higher crop yields and greater production from our farmers. American farmers receive about 17.5 cents for every dollar consumers spend on food. This is significantly less than the 31 cents farmers received in 1980. With these slim margins, farmers are finding it difficult to purchase new equipment and invest in new technology or agricultural practices.
Many times, we question if farming is sustainable for the economy or the environment, but we seldom ask if it is economically worthwhile for the farmer. Most people do not understand the trials and tribulations that farmers face. These challenges include unpredictable weather, volatile markets, rising expenses, and constant regulatory changes. Farms and families are disappearing, and not only does this impact our food supply, but if we lose this lifestyle, we will also lose a large part of American history.
Mark Tos is a 4th-generation farmer from Hanford, California. When Mark was about 5 years old, his father put his initials “MT” on the wet concrete pad of their new irrigation system. He remembers thinking, ‘This is where I belong.
Growing up on a farm, Mark learned about responsibility at a young age. Mark remembers when he was about 11 years old, his father came out one morning to find him watching cartoons. He told Mark to turn off the television and to get dressed because he needed his help on the farm. From that point forward, Mark spent his summer vacations helping his father spray weeds, water, and drive a tractor.
When Mark started high school at Central Valley Christian, he wanted to play on the football team. For him to play football meant Mark would not be available to work on the farm during the summer. His father agreed, but only if Mark remained productive. His strong work ethic on the football team earned him some notable accolades. He was selected twice to the All East Sierra League first team, was the Lineman of the Year in 2005, was named the Fresno Bee All Area Squad, Small- School All State Honoree, and First Team All Tulare County.
Mark received an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Davis, where he went on to play football for the Aggies. During his tenure at UC Davis, Mark continued to receive more recognition for football. He was voted as Scout Offense Player of the Week. He started in 44 straight games playing both left and right tackle. He was named to the All-Great West 2nd team in 2008 and the All-Great West 1st team in 2009 & 2010.
Mark graduated from UC Davis in 2011 with a degree in International Agricultural Development. After graduating from college, Mark decided to move back home to Hanford and work on the family farm. Farming for Mark is not a job; rather, it is a lifestyle, and he wanted to continue his family legacy.
It was at UC Davis that Mark began dating Jordan Ysusi, who would later become his wife. She recalls seeing the 6’6-foot athlete attending church with his family, but they never crossed paths. Mark remembers meeting Jordan for the first time in high school at Hume Lake Christian camp. He tells an endearing story about trying to strike up a conversation with her while she was working at the snack bar. Jordan did not say much to Mark, and that was the end of it.
In 2009, as fate would have it, the UC Davis Aggies football team was going to play the Fresno State Bulldogs. Jordan posted a good luck message to Mark on Facebook. Mark responded by offering her 2 tickets to an Aggie home game. Soon thereafter, Mark took Jordan on a dinner date. They soon realized they shared similar interests and a solid faith foundation. Mark and Jordan were married in October 2011, and they are the proud parents of three children: Corban, 5, Avery, 3, and Ryland, 4 months. Jordan is a full-time mother and manages their household.
The Tos family has a long lineage in agriculture. Mark’s great-grandfather, Johannes Tos, immigrated from the Netherlands in 1906. After entering the United States at Ellis Island, he moved to California in 1912 and founded the Tos Family Farms. He settled near the Kings River, among other Dutch immigrants, and opened the Christian Reformed Church in Hanford, which is now over 100 years old. They farmed cotton and corn and kept dairy cows. During the Depression, Johannes continued to make his land payments with the help of his sons, Lawrence and William (Bill) Sr., who farmed alongside him.
During the 1950’s, Lawrence was in the milk barn and was kicked in the face by a cow. This altercation ended with Lawrence making an executive decision, unbeknownst to other family members, to get rid of the dairy cows. From that point forward, they began farming only field and tree crops. Over time, the Tos family began to increase their acreage and diversify their crops.
Tos Farms currently farms about 5,000 acres, including almonds, walnuts, stone fruit, and table grapes. Mark spends part of his day out in the field and the other part in the office. He works closely with his father on strategic planning for the farm’s future. In the past, older farmers did most of the work themselves. Today, farming has become more complicated due to food safety and compliance requirements. The younger generation is approaching farming from a different perspective. Farms today cannot continue to grow without hiring additional staff. Mark feels it is imperative to hire and identify people within the organization who can do specific jobs and then manage them to do the job correctly.
Tos Farms is still a multigenerational farming operation, and (uncle) John and (father) Bill Jr. are now the third generation. They are putting succession plans and incentives in place for their sons, Jeff and Mark, respectively, to take over eventually.
It is not often that you will find a successful family business that has been working together for more than 100 years. In fact, statistics show 70% of all family-owned businesses fail before they are passed on to the 2nd generation, and almost 90% do not make it to the 3rd generation. With odds like this, one must wonder what the Tos family secret is.
Mark attributes this to their Christian upbringing and their unconditional love and respect for each other. In addition, they are visionary and adaptable to the ever-changing agricultural industry. Tos Farms has 6 employees who have worked for the company for over 35 years and have played an important role in its farming operations. Retaining 6 employees for that length of time speaks volumes about what kind of employer they are to work for.
The Tos family has deep roots in the Hanford area and continues to build and maintain relationships within the community. Mark is on the school board for Central Valley Christian School. His parents established the Bill and Linda Tos Family Foundation, and Mark now serves as a director. The foundation awards scholarships towards a Christian education. For more information on this and the list of eligible schools and colleges, please check out the website here.
Consumers, especially millennials, are demanding greater accountability and transparency from farm to table. A 2017 survey by the Center for Food Integrity found that only 30% of polled shoppers believe farmers take good care of the environment. There is a disconcerting disconnect between consumers and farmers regarding our food production. The Tos family has an unwavering commitment to their community, their land, its natural resources, and the environment. The continued success of their family business, and whether it can be passed down to future generations, depends on this.
All photo credits by the Tos Family.
~Christine Connell