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NOT JUST FOR SHOW WOMAN TO WATCH
STORY KELLY AMENDOLA PHOTOGRAPHER EDDIE MELIKIAN
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ooth Ranches. You may have seen t the name before in the produce aisle at the grocery store, and you’ve probably eaten their delicious, premium Navel and Valencia oranges. But, you might not have heard about or know the woman behind the company – Loren Booth. With the Central Valley home to some of the state’s most productive agricultural areas, it makes Loren an excellent example of a woman to watch. In a male-dominated field, she is literally “breaking ground.” But, her allure goes far beyond that.
After graduating from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Otis began his long career in publishing with the Times Mirror Company in Southern California. Once he retired, he decided to start his second career as a citrus grower with 40 acres of land he inherited. In 1957, he founded Booth Ranches and planted the first citrus groves in the Orange Cove area.
In 1990, Loren, one of six children and a graduate from Cal Poly SLO with a major in animal science, decided to come work with her father. After going through a divorce, she reached a turning point and wondered what Up in the beautiful, rolling foothills of the she would do next. “Some grove property was Sierra Nevadas, in the small agriculture city the only asset I had, so I went to see if it was of Orange Cove about 40 miles southeast of being farmed to its best advantage,” she says. Fresno, is the home base of Booth Ranches. “That’s when it started; I thought we could Without a doubt, the ranch is a hidden treasure. At the ranch-style office, we met up with probably do better.” She admits she was naive at the time, but she just knew that she could Loren, a fifth-generation blonde, blue-eyed do more to improve the operation, especially Californian, and her two miniature Austrasince her dad wasn’t at the ranch full-time. lian Shepherds. After greeting us warmly in Much of the farming operations were outher work attire of boots, jeans and collared sourced. “When I started working up here, shirt, she showed us around the office. The atmosphere is comfortable, friendly, familial I was commuting from Bakersfield where I lived with my two kids. It was so overwhelmyet professional, very similar to the way she interacts with her employees. Artwork of her ing. I was so over my head initially. Every horses and family hang alongside pictures of decision I made really impacted somebody’s orange groves and the various Booth Ranches life,” she says. citrus labels. The first impression is an acIn a 2006 interview with Forbes magazine, curate indication of her passions. Otis was asked about his definition of success. His response: “Accomplishment.” Loren is It all began with Loren’s father, Franklin “Otis” Booth, Jr. who founded Booth Ranch- obviously her father’s daughter. Since joining es. A little about Otis’ impressive background: the company as general manager about 20 he was born in 1924 in Pasadena, CA and was years ago, she’s made extensive and very impressive accomplishments. the great-grandson of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, the founder of the Los Angeles Times.
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One of her first steps was to purchase a nearby packing house with the goal of bringing more of the operations in-house. While working with her father, they doubled from roughly 4,500 to 8,000 acres of citrus. The groves stretch throughout the Central Valley from Orange Cove all the way to Maricopa in Kern County. Today, Booth Ranches is a vertically integrated farming operation, making it the largest independent grower/shipper in California. They work intelligently by employing the most modern, sustainable and green farming practices. After her father passed away in 2008 at the age of 85, Loren became president and owner of Booth Ranches - Orange, Cattle and Horse Divisions. One of the reasons why I wanted to profile her as a “woman to watch” is because of the healthy work-life balance it seems she’s able to maintain. When I tell her this, she modestly says, “Oh, I try.” A big challenge for working women, especially those with families, is playing many roles and being able to excel at them. It’s nothing short of a balancing act to be a career woman, while being a good and present mother, and also finding the time to take care of themselves. Over the past few years, it’s become a national conversation. It can be even more difficult for women in executive positions. Asked how she does it, Loren says, “It is never easy when you are in a management position. Often times, you are put in uncomfortable situations. I try to think about it ahead of time, but things don’t always work out as planned. I just try to be calm and non-confrontational, and it seems to work.
My team always helps me; we have a great staff and they look out for me.” And as far as working in a male-dominated industry, she thinks it’s been advantageous. Some great men who know the ins and outs of the business have graciously mentored her. Loren clearly has a lot of work accomplishments, but her idea of success is much broader. Proof of this is her considerate involvement within the community and in philanthropy. She is currently the chair for the Hills Valley Irrigation District and on the board of directors for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF). As an alumnus of CALF, she credits it for being integral to her success when she was just starting out. She says, “I could never give back to CALF as much as it has given me.” She is also a past board member for Western Growers and was the first woman to serve on the California Citrus Research Board. Even closer to home, she lives up to the company’s slogan, “Quality Family Citrus Growers,” by treating employees as an extension of the family. Each year, the entire Booth Family gives out the Booth Family Scholarship, providing up to $2,500 a year to children of any full-time Booth Ranches employees. Loren says, “I feel education is a key to solve many of the issues in our community. Many of these students come from families who have never had the opportunity for continued education. Our hope is that these students will encourage their peers to pursue higher education and the benefits that come with that choice. I can’t change the world, but we can try to make a difference in our family of employees.”
Blending her passions with her work and vice versa is another thing Loren does well. She’s a lifelong horsewoman, riding since she was a child growing up in Pasadena, and as an adult riding and working with some well-known horsemen. While busy learning the farming business, this had to be put on the backburner. A few years ago, an opportunity came up for her to purchase a few quality mares. She took advantage of it and soon after decided, “We’re in the breeding business!” Now, there’s a Horse Division of Booth Ranches. In 2009, she built a state-of-the-art Quarter Horse training facility on 30 acres of pristine property along the Kings River. There they breed, train and board Quarter Horses. She owns broodmares with quality pedigrees, and performance and production records that attract top reining sires. She’s also returned to riding and showing, concentrating solely on reining. She participates in and places in various shows, such as the World Show in Amarillo, Texas. “I enjoy showing, and will keep riding and competing… it’s such a rush!” She shares this love with her daughter Blair and granddaughter Elle. Loren says, “Elle is mad about horses and that makes my life grand!” She gave us an informal tour of her home that overlooks the citrus groves, roaming cattle, and pastures with quality mares and foals, she shows gratitude and happiness for everything we pass, from the office she built just three years ago, to the stunning foaling barn, the pool house where she loves to entertain and her home, a great place for her family to all get together.
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She talks with pride about her growing family. Her son Jake Sill and his wife Chiara recently moved to Visalia from Washington, D.C. and are expecting their first child. Her daughter Blair and son-in-law Bubba Moffett live in Scottsdale, AZ. They have a daughter Elle and new baby boy Duke. Loren says, “Having grandchildren is a complete delight! I can’t wait to share the glory of the ranch with each of them.” If something visual can represent Loren, it’s the painting of a cowgirl wearing bright western clothes that’s hanging above the living room mantle. Loren said to me, “I bought the piece because the cowgirl is painted outside the lines. That’s exactly how I want to live my life. I want to live each day to its fullest.” And she does. In all she does, she does it fully. Her longtime friend Robert Boro says it best, “Loren is the real deal. She is a rare bird of keen intelligence who is at once a hardworking businesswoman, a compassionate humanitarian and philanthropist, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She lives life to the fullest with great humor and a naughtiness that thumbs its nose at social convention and the expected. Her greatest pleasure is giving wings to others so they can fly to new heights. And what enables this extraordinary woman to soar is her roots – deeply set in the earth, the work ethic, farming, horses, and animals large and small, an unquenchable thirst for learning, a love of family and friends, and a wicked sense of humor! If you meet her, you will never forget her. Oh, and be on the lookout for her practical jokes!”
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BLITZ INTERVIEW DONNA KACZMARSKI
PHOTOGRAPHER LOUIZA VICK • STYLING SANDY PHAN • HAIR ASHLEY HALL • MUA ALIANA MOSS • NAILS ELISA WISHAN
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“Everyone thinks we train for three hours a day and not worry about anything.” Peta Murgatroyd
P
eta Murgatroyd was born in Auckland, New Zealand. She moved to Australia at 18 months; as a result, she considers herself more of an Aussie.
At the age of four, Peta started studying classical ballet. She trained for 12 years under former principal dancer of the Kirov Ballet, Madame Lubov Nikonorenko. Within three months of beginning ballroom training, Peta became the Australian State Champion and was a finalist in the Australian Open Championships. She placed 3rd in the world at the British Youth Championships in Blackpool 2006. Peta performed in Burn the Floor in 2004, touring with them around the world for six years. This show sold over four million tickets in more than 30 countries and 160 cities worldwide. When “Burn the Floor” landed on Broadway in August 2009, Peta was the lead female dancer. After achieving her lifelong goal of being on Broadway, she ended her run in January 2010 to pursue a career in film and television. Peta joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars in 2011 as one of the troupe members in the 12th season. She became a regular member of the professional cast as of the 13th season, won Season 14, and has danced through to Season 18. What have you been doing since Dancing With the Stars wrapped? I have been working on my skincare line called Peta Jane. It won’t be out for a while, but I am in production creating the bottle, researching skin care, meeting with the design people, choosing the scent, deciding how we are going to market it… creating Peta Jane as a brand. I love the beauty of the bottle that I have chosen. It’s very sleek and made of glass. As well as the beauty of the bottle, it was very important to me that it was very easy to use, getting the correct amount each time.
I also have been traveling with a floorshow, called Burn With a Twist, and Sway in New York. I like to keep my body in shape so I am always dancing. I have also been taking acting and singing lessons. I would love to get back to Broadway. The number one show I would love to be a part of is Chicago. You never know how long Dancing With the Stars will run for, so I would like to see what else I could do. It’s very exciting and challenging! I’ve never sung for anyone before, but I am getting my confidence up. I purposely didn’t take a lot of work away from L.A. this summer so that I could focus on developing these talents. Your last partner, James Maslow, was enchanting to watch, and you both seemed very cozy. When you kissed during your dance, was it real or staged? Do you still keep in touch? Yes, absolutely staged because we planned on doing it. We called it the tango peck. It wasn’t spontaneous because if one of us just did that, it would have been scary and creepy to have that happen all of a sudden. James and I are really good friends, and we keep in touch a lot. You won the mirror ball in Season 14. Did you have a feeling when you met Donald Driver that this was the one? Can you tell from the first time you dance with your partner how you might fare? I could tell right away that there was something special about Donald. His energy and effervescent personality could just light up a room. To this day, we still speak and text each other and see how one another is. He had an ability to make everybody happy and I knew that from the beginning. I didn’t know that we were going to win the mirror ball, but after our first dance, the “cha cha,” I knew we were headed in the right direction. I will never forget the crowd’s reaction to that performance and after our freestyle; I knew that we had killed it.
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WHEN IN HOME
THE HACIENDA IN THE HILLS STORY ASHER COREY PHOTOGRAPHER EDDIE MELIKIAN
W
armth. The moment you step inside Phil and Kathy Stypula’s Valley home, you are enveloped by warmth.
The sunlight streams in from a series of high windows in the main entertainment space, while massive linye doors open graciously to the sparkling salt-water pool, making it a seamless space for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Rustic, hand-carved beams from Mexico line the ceiling of this space, while terracotta tiles in varying patterns can be seen on the floor. The room is anchored by a massive fireplace and reclaimed mantel. Rich leathers and fabrics accent the space, bringing a luxurious , enchanting feel to guests as they enter.
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“An architect’s most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board and a wrecking bar at the site.” -Frank Lloyd Wright
The couple was drawn to the Spanish-Moorish architecture that dots the California coastline. This timeless abode pays homage to the rustic charm of these historic estates. Being a native of Santa Barbara, I was filled with memories from my childhood as I strolled comfortably down the hallways and corridors of this truly original home. Kathy and Phil have a hands-on approach to décor. They worked side-by-side with the architect (Casa de California) to ensure that each tile was hand-selected and each stone was perfectly placed. “I wanted it to feel like it had been here for years,” Kathy told me. The couple broke up tiles and mosaicked walls to bring to life this old-world feel. Attention was paid by these two natural-born entertainers and every detail was considered thoroughly. “We always have a project,” Kathy explained. “We travel to Mexico regularly and always return with tiles and fixtures and other odds and ends to continue the development of our home.” The kitchen and baths are accented in hand-painted tiles. These tiles can also be seen along the treads of the stairs and various other areas of the house. The unexpected pop of color helps the eye move from space to space. The gated courtyard and picturesque fountain are accented by the handmade tile roof. The tiles are stacked three and four atop the homes sloping roofline. The reinforced roof was made specifically to hold the weight of the terracotta tiles, which were again, hand-selected and shipped in from Mexico.
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Back inside the home, there are hidden treasures all around. The wine room is of particular note. The walls are lined with cork tops, and racks of imported wine and champagne. Another gem is the tequila bar. The couple collects various tequilas from around the world. Around the holidays, the family passes out custom bottles of tequila from their own reserve. Each year the bottles are different and commemorative. There is a jewelry room in the master suite, a stoned wall with votive holders and my personal favorite, the second floor reading room. This space is popular with the family’s two children. “My daughters love to read,” Kathy explained. “I find them here often, curled up with some of their favorite stories.
This home feels as though it is a world apart, standing idyllically among the trees and succulents – an oasis from the city, where eclectic style and taste leave an indelible mark on its guests.
“I call architecture frozen music.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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