Adam Brothers

In 1850 as a teenager, William Laird Adam immigrated to America from Scotland. Setting in California's Santa Maria Valley, William was a pioneering farmer and merchant. At the time of his arrival, Santa Maria had a population of around 100. William's son, James Adam, was the second generation to cultivate crops in the Santa Maria Valley. James' son John T. Adam Sr., born in 1898, was the third generation. John and his two brothers, William P. and Kenneth, formed the original Adam Bros. Farming. John integrated the tractor, at the time a new tool for agriculture, into the operator and proved its effectiveness to his brothers who preferred to use the older technology of horses and mules. Together, the brothers raised sugar beets, seed beans and cauliflower on a small scale. Richard E. Adam, the forth generation or Adam farmers, has grown vegetables in the Santa Maria Valley for over 50 years. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, served in the United Stated Air Force and the returned home to continue the family business. Today, fifth generation sons Peter, Dominic and Kieran continue continue to farm on some of the same land William Laird Adam settled and farmed in the 1800's.