doi:10.7916/yeax-1e95Oral history interview with Joe Del Bosque, 2021Del Bosque, Joeoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesClimatic changes--United StatesWater-supply--Management.--CaliforniaWater demand management--CaliforniaDrought management--Law and legislation--CaliforniaDrought relief--Law and legislation--CaliforniaDroughts--CaliforniaFarmersSan Joaquin Valley (Calif.)Del Bosque, JoeObama, BarackUnited StatesJoe Del Bosque discusses his career farming in California's San Joaquin Valley, his advocacy on behalf of California agriculture, and President Obama's February 2014 visit to his farm during a period of extended drought. Del Bosque describes the sequence of events that led to Obama's visit, including his social media post inviting the president to his farm, his coordination with his congressional representative, and the work of the White House's advance team to select and stage suitable venues. He shares stories of the visit, including of his conversations with the president and California Governor Jerry Brown, his participation in a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Valley, and the speech Obama delivered at his farm. Del Bosque focuses on the regulatory changes that he identifies as the most immediate causes of the lack of water available to farmers in the valley, and shares his disappointment over Obama's focus on long-term environmental and climate policies at the expense of regulatory reform or investment in state and regional water systems. Also discussed are area farmers' transition from commodity crops to high-value crops like melons, asparagus, almonds, and organics; the barriers faced by beginning farmers; the effects of drought on agricultural labor markets; and Del Bosque's engagement with state officials and other members of the Obama administration