Rooted In the Valley: The Hagopians Escaped the Armenian Genocide and Thrived
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Richard Hagopian’s family was one of thousands who escaped the Armenian Genocide in the early 1900s and forged a new path in the fertile San Joaquin Valley.
It wasn’t an easy life, especially after his father died, leaving Richard the man of the family while still in his teens. But hard work, a successful music career, and a beloved family restaurant in Visalia sustained the family and built a future for new generations.
Now in his 80s, Richard has come back to farming. Whether his sons will keep it going is up to them.
“I can’t tell the future,” he says.
SJV Water donors and the James B. McClatchy Foundation provided funding for the Rooted in the Valley series.
— Jesse Vad, SJV Water
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SJV Water is an independent, nonprofit news site dedicated to covering water in the San Joaquin Valley. Get inside access to SJV Water by becoming a member.
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