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In this last episode of The Other California, we return to the town where we started, Woodlake. Here, Olga and Manuel Jimenez talk about the legacy of the Bravo Lake Botanical Garden and why listening to the stories of those we see as “the other” matter.

A Japanese farming community called Yamato Colony took roots in Livingston in 1907; by 1940, about 70 Japanese families were farming more than 3700 acres in Livingston. Two years later, its residents were sent away by the U.S. government to concentration camps. We meet 97-year-old Sherman Kishi, who returned after the war to grow grapes and then almonds on his farm. We also hear about the legacy of a Sikh family who left India fifty years ago and ended up creating a cultural oasis in Livingston. Plus, sweet potato farmers look back at when their families immigrated from the Azores.

We leave last week’s Western Stampede behind but return to the town of Chowchilla to find out more about its history from its Dust Bowl migrants to present day immigrants, including the only Yemeni-American family living in Chowchilla. We also meet the 84-year-old grandson of one of the town’s earliest white settlers. His grandparents sold 150 horses and left the cold weather of North Dakota to start a dairy farm in Chowchilla. Their 1910 house still stands. Like many towns back then, Chowchilla had racist housing covenants that kept certain groups of people out. But just a couple of miles from town was a place where Black people could actually buy property. At one point, the Black settlement of Fairmead had the largest single dairy in the state. We find out more about Fairmead’s past and what it can teach us today.

The town of Chowchilla has an annual cattle drive that goes straight through the center of town to mark the beginning of the Chowchilla Western Stampede, an event that includes team roping and barrel racing. This episode explores the history of the stampede and introduces listeners to an 87-year-old rodeo star who has competed in the stampede since the early 1960s. She also tells us about her life as a stunt woman in Hollywood where she doubled for movie stars like Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton. And a horse trainer reflects on his 50-year career.

The town of Woodlake doesn’t have a stoplight but it does have a 13-acre botanical garden where kids learn about agriculture and earn their community service hours. Locals Manuel and Olga Jimenez created and designed the garden to improve their town and give kids a chance to work in the dirt. This episode also takes listeners to Dora’s restaurant where Mariachi singer and owner Dora Orozco serves Mexican food and entertains guests with her songs. And we delve into why the city embraced cannabis businesses ahead of other towns in the valley. Jennifer Malone explains the work she is doing to keep her Wukchumni language and culture alive.

In this episode of The Other California, Host Alice Daniel starts out by sharing her own story about what brought her to the San Joaquin Valley, her first impressions, and how reporting on the stories of the people who live in the many small towns in the region allowed her to better see the richness of the place, the real ridges, the diversity, the distinctness of a land that is truly like no other as well as the vital role of the Valley in the state’s history.

Listen to the trailer for The Other California.

We kick off the 2023 season of Young Artists Spotlight with a performance by violinist Rowan Crass. He performs work of Bach, Lalo, and Paganini.

On this week’s Valley Edition: We speak with some of the researchers working to keep ag alive in a future of changing climate. Listen to this conversation and more on the podcast.

On this week’s Valley Edition: How the supply chain breakdown is impacting the region’s biggest industry, agriculture. Listen to this interview and more.