the beginning
Gar was a local homegrown boy who attended school, farmed, and built his business in Reedley. Gar loved farming from the very beginning, and as World War II required the sacrifice of his brothers saying goodbye and leaving their homes, Gar stayed behind to take care of his sick mother, farm, and do tractor work for neighbors and friends.
Esther attended Sanger schools and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fresno State. They married in 1944, and in 1949, they took a leap of faith and used their small savings to start their small family business (Gar Tootelian, Inc.) selling Best Fertilizer to their neighbors. They built their business on the belief that their strong family values, faith, and hard work would sustain them into the future. Their patience and hard work paid off and as their family and business grew, they hired their first salesman in 1954.
Gar was an active member of the community: a past president of the Orange Cove Lions Club, a charter member of Eagles, a Toastmaster, a lifetime member of the Reedley Historical Society, an honorary member of Reedley Young Farmers, a founding member of Integrated Agribusiness Professionals, and a past council member of the Episcopal and Armenian churches in Reedley. Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) honored him with a lifetime achievement award in 1993 and, the Reedley Chamber of Commerce recognized Gar as the 2002 Businessman of the Year.
Esther stayed busy raising the family, keeping the business books, teaching Sunday School, serving as PTA President, and being an active member of the Orange Cove Woman's Club.
Seventy-five years later, GAR still grows with the third generation active in the day-to-day business operations with granddaughter Christina and her husband Ralph Rendon. GAR provides Nutritional, Regulatory, and Crop Care Services, Products, and Advice, to 1200 Central Valley Growers in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare Counties.
