Known as “Rico” by most these days, Ethan couldn’t wait to turn 18, and once he did, he went and got his learner’s permit to drive trucks. After that, he attended a truck driving school for four weeks, and out of the nine future drivers in his class, he was the only one to pass all his exams on the first try. Once Ethan got his CDL, it was game on! His dad went with him in the truck for a few weeks, but once the harvest began that year (August 2022) he was on his own – and he loved it. Working hard through that harvest with his dad, Ethan had no idea that would be the only harvest he would ever work with him. Later that year (2022), Jisiy started not feeling well, but being stubborn like so many of us, he did not immediately go in to get checked until the pain was too much to bear. Working alongside his dad through it all, Ethan had no idea his father was not feeling well. Early in 2023, he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and even though they tried to treat him, it was too late. He passed away just six months after being diagnosed on July 22, 2023. This was a devasting time for Ethan and his family, but with harvest time just around the corner, Ethan did not get to grieve for long. With help from their longtime crew of seasonal and full-time drivers, Ethan jumped in a truck just a couple weeks after his dad passed away and got to work, following his father’s advice, to keep everything going. He was just 19 years old at the time, but he stepped up and filled his father’s shoes best he could. Thankfully, while growing up, Ethan got to know many of the ranchers they haul for, so many of them trusted that he could get the job done that year – and he did! And two years later, he is still getting it done. Having spent some time with this young man, I have to say, I was very impressed with his level of maturity, his hardworking spirit, and his professionalism. At only 21 years old, he is at the helm of a fairly large trucking operation that includes a very busy four-month stretch during harvest (August through November), a few months of intense truck and trailer maintenance, 10-4 Magazine / May 2025 11
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