As we know, agriculture and farming are a huge part of the history of the Santa Maria Valley. Here’s a little history on one of the many local farms that grow the food that feeds the world. This farm also happens to grow the food that feeds the many reptiles that live at the Discovery Museum. Thanks to Babé Farms, and its generous donation of veggies, our museum animals are happy and well fed.
Babé Farms was founded in 1986 and is owned by Judy Lundberg Wafer, a native of the Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys. Judy was born into agriculture. Her grandfather was a dry bean farmer in the Lompoc Valley; her father began farming in Lompoc and moved to the Santa Maria Valley in 1960, farming a 175-acre ranch on Sinton Road. Her roots began in the fields, hoeing in the summer and sharing responsibilities with other family members. She said it was kind of a natural thing, and she was always on the ranch. She said she “wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Her son, Jeff Lundberg, follows in the history of farming as VP of farming operations at Babé Farms. They both look forward to the next generation stepping into their shoes.
This fourth-generation farming family grows a diverse variety of specialty vegetables and lettuces, unequal to any farm on the Central Coast. Visit babefarms.com or farmersgarden.org for more information about local farms and vegetables.
Ramona Chavez is sales coordinator at Babé Farms. Discovery Corner is a weekly column in the Sun, highlighting events, science activities, and more for the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum at 705 S. McClelland in Santa Maria. Send comments to discoverycorner@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2012.
