Her Story
About Rebecca
Rebecca Dafoe is the owner and operator of Briden Wilson Farm, a small family farm and direct-to-consumer business based in Arbuckle, California. With more than two decades of experience in farming, Rebecca has built her work around growing almonds and developing products that connect customers directly with the farm. What began as a small side business selling homegrown almonds evolved into a broader e-commerce operation offering farm products and thoughtfully sourced goods. Her entrepreneurial approach combines agriculture, product development, branding, and customer experience.
Following the loss of her husband, Rebecca took on an even greater role in carrying forward the farm and its legacy. She has spoken openly about the importance of faith, gratitude, family, friendship, and taking life one day at a time while navigating grief and rebuilding her life. Rather than allowing difficult circumstances to define her future, she has continued learning, creating, and expanding the business. Her journey reflects perseverance and adaptability, while honoring the land, family history, and work that helped establish the farm.
Today, Rebecca continues to grow Briden Wilson Farm by introducing new products and finding creative ways to bring the things she loves into her work. Alongside almonds and walnuts, she has explored products such as 100% pure beeswax candles and other farm-to-table offerings while strengthening the farm’s online presence. She places strong importance on authenticity, quality, meaningful customer relationships, and thoughtful presentation, believing that a purchase should feel personal rather than transactional. Through her work, Rebecca is building a business that reflects her values of family, community, hard work, gratitude, and creating something meaningful from the opportunities life provides.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rebecca
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, personal growth, hard work, adaptability, and finding genuine joy in what I’m building. After losing my husband, I had to take on responsibilities and make decisions I had previously shared with him, which helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had. Rather than giving up when the future of the farm became uncertain, I chose to learn, work hard, and give myself the opportunity to build something meaningful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received came through my late husband, who believed in the potential of the products I was developing and their ability to support our farm. His encouragement taught me to believe in what I was building, stay committed to my goals, and recognize opportunities. I’ve also learned a great deal from the relationships and shared knowledge within the farming community.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering farming, e-commerce, or entrepreneurship is to find what brings you joy and build from there. Running a business takes too much time and energy to stay stuck doing something that no longer feels meaningful. If things become stale, try something new, change your approach, experiment, and find ways to make the work exciting again. Most importantly, be willing to learn and grow along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see a significant opportunity for small farms to connect directly with customers through e-commerce, storytelling, and strong branding. Farmers can create specialty products, build meaningful relationships with consumers, and grow beyond traditional agricultural channels. I’m excited about expanding Brighton Wilson Farm beyond almonds while staying connected to our agricultural roots.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are perseverance, family, authenticity, quality, joy, hard work, community, and meaningful connection. My business is deeply personal because it represents both the history of our farm and the future I’m working to create. I also value giving and expressing care through thoughtful gestures, which I strive to reflect in Brighton Wilson Farm’s products and packaging.
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