Chuck Ahlem
Owner and Operations, Charles Ahlem Ranch
Chuck is the owner / operator of Charles Ahlem Ranch in Turlock with over 4,000 Jersey milking cows and farming 1,100 acres. In addition, he is a founding partner of Hilmar Cheese Company, which annually produces more cheese from its Hilmar, California site than any other facility in the world. He serves as a member on the USDA Trade Policy Committee (APAC), the California Milk Advisory Board and the UC Davis Western Institute for Food Safety and Security. Ahlem served as Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture during the Schwarzenegger administration. Other positions of leadership have included serving as dairy industry representative on the State Board of Food and Agriculture and membership on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. A lifetime resident of the Central Valley, Chuck graduated with a degree in dairy science from CSU Fresno.