By Anthony Demler, 3rd Generation Egg Farmer. Demler Brothers Pine Hill Egg Ranch, Ramona, CA.

Right off Highway 78 and close enough to San Diego that we can feel the ocean breeze and salt in the air, sits my family’s farm, Demler Brothers Pine Hill.

As a third-generation farmer, I was raised surrounded by agriculture. It was, and still is, a way of life. My grandfather, Edmund Demler, started our family in the egg business and passed the tradition to my father, Kevin Demler, at our San Diego ranch in 1974. The farm was then passed to my brother and me, extending a history that’s ripe with tradition.

Growing up on a farm instilled many life lessons at a young age. Watching my grandfather and father work hard to provide not only for our family, but also provide affordable and nutritious food for families all over the southern west coast has always made me proud to be a Demler. Working on the family farm “when I grow up” was a childhood dream I am now lucky enough to call my life.

My father encouraged me to step away from the farm for college. It was important to him that I have a wide range of experiences and learn as much as I could from others as well as in class. That mindset, in part, inspired me to join the U.S. Marine Corps. We’re also a family business that builds upon the experiences of previous decades and we make sure we stay on top of the latest technology and innovations in our field. A focus on education is important, above all else. So, I attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and completed my degree at Point Loma Nazarene University before returning to the farm.

My brother Alex and I work in tandem to make Demler Brothers the best farm it can possibly be. Living in Ramona, California, has afforded us the opportunity to not only experience a rich farming culture, but also provide the ideal lifestyle for the hens in our care. We also ensure that the farm benefits the Ramona community.

As we approach the Easter season, there is no better time to remember the contributions so many Americans make to this country, celebrated in no small way, at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Many of our service members and their families attend. It’s also the perfect moment to recognize and appreciate traditions, while always looking toward the future with excitement and hope. My brother Alex and I keep that top of mind as we work hard every day on our farm.