Greg Bloom
Barber's Foods
Denver, CO USA
"Keep your hands to the plow, keep your head down, and just bulldoze through it."
Career Roadmap
Greg's work combines: Food, Business, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
There are so many career opportunities in agriculture but many people don't know about them because they grew up in big cities or are going to inner city schools. I encourage you to check out the land-grant university in your state instead. These schools have a wide variety of programs in food production, agriculture, plants, and animals. And if a four-year university isn't for you, find the community colleges that are connected to these schools and try out classes there.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
East Asian Studies
University of Southern California
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up on a farm and also participated in the 4-H youth development program, learning about animals, crops, and agriculture.
2.
As I got older, I wanted a change from farming and found one through the Rotary Club—I lived in Japan for a year where I went to a military school as an exchange student.
3.
When I came back to the U.S., I went to the University of Southern California for East Asian studies and business marketing—I also went back to Japan to further learn the language and culture.
4.
After college, I intended to work in international business going back and forth between Los Angeles and Tokyo but my wife and I decided to move back to Colorado where it was more affordable instead.
5.
I went to the Chamber of Commerce in Denver, Colorado, for a list of all local companies with a Japanese affiliation and ultimately found a job as a sales rep for a Japanese-owned food processor.
6.
Since then, I’ve built my career in the food industry and have worked for six different USDA meat plants.
7.
I’m currently the CEO of Barber’s Foods, a meat distributor in Denver.
8.
Additionally, I’ve made it my mission to dispel the mistrust about farming and ranching and reconnect people to their food—I write about this and also speak about it on a podcast and radio program.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I'm not enjoying it here. I feel isolated. Maybe this industry isn't for me.
How I responded:
When I first started in my career, I worked for companies that weren't the greatest fit for me and I felt discouraged. A few people told me that I should stick it out for a while to develop skills and experience before making a move. After a few years I started going to industry conferences. I found mentors, felt less alone, and saw more opportunities. I encourage others who are feeling similarly to find conferences. Oftentimes the mentorship you're looking for is outside of your own company.