Kulwant Singh Johl (John Taylor Fertilizer)

Honoree: Nand Singh Johl

Donor: Kulwant Singh Johl

Nand Singh Johl first came to Yuba City, CA from India in 1906. He left behind his wife, Partap Kaur, and two year old son, Jagir Singh Johl. A few years later his brother Chanan Singh Johl joined him in USA. When the law changed for Southeast Asians to be able to purchase land under their own names, Nand Singh Johl purchased an orchard. He began with ten acres and increased his acreage over time. In 1955 Nand Singh Johl helped his nephew, Harbhajan Singh Johl (son of Charan Singh and Rukhman Kaur Johl) immigrate to the United States. Harbhajan Singh Johl started the first Punjabi radio program in Yuba City in 1967. In 1970 Harbhajan Singh Johl sponsored the son of Jagir Singh and Ranjit Kaur Johl, Kulwant Singh Johl to the United States. Jagir Singh Johl, son of Nand Singh/father of Kulwant Singh, immigrated to the United States in 1981 at the age of 77. While in India, Jagir Singh was successful farmer and participated in India's freedom movement which resulted in his imprisonment for a period of 7 years. His service to this community is signified by his opening a high school and four year college in his village of Jandiala, Punjab. Kulwant Johl began working in the family business obtained a degree in Agriculture Science. Kulwant then sponsored his brothers (Surinder Singh Johl, Ranbir Singh Johl, Harwant Singh Johl) and sisters (Darshan Kaur Atwal, Parkash Kaur Bains and Mohinder Kaur Bains) to join him in the United States. Kulwant Johl, past president of Yuba Sutter Farm Bureau sits on numerous Boards in the Agriculture industry in Northern California. The Johl Family as a whole, now farms over 1,000 acres of crops, which include peaches, prunes, walnuts, almonds and pomegranates.