Board of Directors

Alongside his family, Frank Coelho works as a third-generation farmer in the Five Points region of the District. Serving on the District’s Board since 1991, Mr. Coelho remains dedicated to supporting family farms like his own, where they cultivate a variety of crops including processing tomatoes, pistachios, wine grapes, almonds, cotton, garlic, and garbanzo beans.

Jeremy Hughes, a fifth-generation farmer, has farmed in the District for over 25 years with his family. Mr. Hughes started the company that bears his name in 1997, farming various row crops including processing tomatoes, almonds, and pistachios. Mr. Hughes lives in Clovis with his wife and two children.

William Bourdeau is fourth-generation member of a family from the Westside of California’s San Joaquin Valley and the Founder and CEO of Bourdeau Farms based in Coalinga. Mr. Bourdeau also oversees operations across 25,000 acres in Coalinga, Sanger, and Lodi, helping to lead one of the Valley’s most agriculturally diverse companies in his role as Executive Vice President of Harris Farms.

A fifth-generation Westlands Water District farmer, Jim Anderson has proudly represented local farmers on the Board since 2013. Mr. Anderson and his wife Elizabeth grow a range of crops including garlic, wheat, almonds, and pistachios—adjusting as needed based on water availability.

Ross Franson’s family has farmed in Westlands since the District’s formation in 1952. Mr. Franson’s family grows almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, and other row crops. The family business also operates almond and tomato processing facilities in the District. Mr. Franson currently resides in Fresno with his wife and three children.

Ernie Costamagna is a third-generation family farmer in California. He began farming in Westland’s in the 1980’s. His farming operation is comprised of nuts, wine grapes, cherries, garlic, onions, cotton and processing tomatoes. He is a resident of Hanford CA with his wife and has 7 children.

Justin Diener continues to work in the same area his family began farming in the 1930s. Mr. Diener, with his family, grows processing tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and lemons and raises lambs. Mr. Diener lives in Five Points, where he was born and raised, with his wife and daughter.

Ryan Ferguson has farmed in Westlands Water District with his family for more than 20 years. Previously serving as Board President from April 2021 to December 2022, Mr. Ferguson helped lead the development and adoption of the District’s groundwater sustainability plan and the groundwater banking program. Mr. Ferguson and his father grow almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, onions and cotton on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in the District.