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Stewart Renisick, a New Jersey native, became one of California's largest agricultural magnates, transforming 180,000 acres in the San Jauqouin valley into vast orchards of almonds, pistachios, pomegranates, and citrus. Despite having no traditional farming background, he built a $4.5 billion privately held company, controlling water, crops, and even pollinating bees to maintain seedless fruit. His wife, Lynda, vice chairman and co-owner, drives the company's branding and philanthropy, blending celebrity culture with industrial agriculture. Together, they've redefined California agribusinesses, promoting health-focused products and donating $50-80 million annually to education, healthcare, and worker wellness programs. Their empire, Paramount Farming, now branded "Wonderful", dominates Kern County, showcasing an unprecedented combination of corporate power, innovation, and social influence in modern farming.

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Some recent news on Kern County is that they had a human case of West Nile Virus. Kern County Public Health reported its first 2025 human case of West Nile Virus. Another thing I discovered was their Wifire called "little Fire: near Lake Isabella. A wildfire burning in the Kern River canyon area ignited on August 22, 2025, and was fully contained by September 5, at about 2,506 acres. I also discovered that in California City, Kern County, a previously shuttered prison is being converted into a large ICE detention center. Detainees have protested conditions, citing a lack of medical care, sanitation, and more.

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I discovered a couple of things on Kern Water Bank. In May 2025, the Kern County Water Agency dismissed its general manager just before the end of his contract and appointed two longtime employees to co-manage the agency. Kern's water agency is threatening to terminate water supply to a 600-home development 200 miles north unless residents agree to double their water rates. The State Water Board is considering putting the Kern County Subbasin under a probationary status due to deficiencies in groundwater sustainability plans. A hearing was continued to Sept 17, 2025, to allow more revisions.

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In August 2025, POM Wonderful published a press release stating that in a UCLA study of 60 beverages, their 100% pomegranate juice ranked highest in antioxidant content among the tested beverages. The Wonderful Company is investing in its wine business by hiring new leadership for its wine brands.

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As of August 2025, 47% of California is under drought, an increase of 28% since the start of the water year. The 2024 and 2025 water years had near-average precipitation overall, with wetness in the north and dryness in the south, raising concerns about future volatility. California officials are cautioning that the new water year may see extreme swings between flood and drought conditions. They note that reservoirs are currently above average, but uncertainty looms. As of September 2025, about 36.4% of the U.S. is in moderate to exceptional drought. In California, drought remains widespread.

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In September 2025, The Wonderful Company announced new executive hires to lead commercial strategy for its wine brands. While not brand new, the company has been repositioning and expanding its wine portfolio.

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Controlling water in California is an example of federalism because both the federal and state governments, along with local water districts, share power and often compete over who has authority to manage water storage, distribution, and rights. The federal government builds and operates major projects like dams and aqueducts, the state manages its own water systems and environmental protections, and local agencies fight to secure supplies for farms and cities. These overlapping powers lead to water wars, where conflicts arise over how much water each level of government can allocate, showing the tension and cooperation that define federalism.