The Family Business CEOs to Watch Class of 2024 comprises 20 exceptional business leaders who are charting the course for long-term success of their enterprises. They include members of the second through fifth generations of family ownership as well as non-family leaders.
Nisha Baugher-Carrow
CEO | Second generation | Baugher Ranch Organics, Orland, Calif.
Nisha Baugher-Carrow is the CEO of Baugher Ranch Organics, which handles over one-third of all California organic almonds. The company was founded more than four decades ago by her parents, Chris and Marcie Baugher. Under Nisha’s leadership, Baugher Ranch has grown from a small family operation to a trusted partner to businesses of all sizes.
Baugher Ranch has seen significant growth and evolution with Nisha at the helm. The company has expanded its product offerings, improved sustainable farming practices and achieved various certifications for quality and food safety. Notable milestones include advancements in postharvest tasks, such as sorting, cleaning and packaging of almonds.
“Nisha has led her family’s business through a transition from first to second generation, installed a state-of-the-art almond processing facility and is building an outstanding leadership team comprised of family and non-family talent,” says Tim Schultz, a member of Baugher Ranch's board. “She has also led a professionalization of their governance systems, bringing on two non-family board members to advise her through the transition.”
Growing up, Baugher-Carrow assisted with planting the almond orchard. As a teenager, she worked with her dad on various crops and machinery. She attended California State University, Chico, where she majored in exercise physiology. She worked in physical therapy and ran a night shift for her parents, which included sorting, packing, stacking, making boxes and driving a forklift. Although she initially aimed for a career in physical therapy, in 1997 she made the decision to join Baugher Ranch Organics full-time.
“Growing and processing organic almonds isn’t just a business for me; it’s a lifelong passion rooted deeply in my family's heritage,” Baugher-Carrow says.
“I grew up immersed in agriculture, riding alongside my grandfather, uncles and father on tractors and harvesters across our family's farms. These early experiences instilled in me a profound understanding of the dedication and values that define family farming. Witnessing my parents' bold decision in the mid-1980s to convert our conventional almond orchards to organic was transformative. It was a pioneering move during a challenging farming era, driven by their determination to farm sustainably and independently.”
Baugher-Carrow says she is honored to carry on her family legacy. “I take immense pride leading our family business, alongside my sister,” she says. “We cherish our company’s culture; prioritize the well-being of our employees, customers and growers; and hold a profound respect for our industry. Upholding our position as leaders in organic almond handling and processing is not just a business objective but a testament to our commitment to nurturing our community and sustaining our agricultural heritage. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in organic almond production, from meticulous postharvest processing to embracing eco-friendly practices that prioritize environmental stewardship.”