We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leonor Bautista-Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Leonor, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

At El Rancho Supply, we believe in the power of giving back to the community that has supported us, and one of the most important ways we do this is by dedicating a portion of every sale to support migrant workers—especially those like my mother, who has spent her life working tirelessly in the fields. Growing up, I witnessed the incredible resilience, dedication, and sacrifices made by farm workers, including my mother, who often worked long hours under harsh conditions with little recognition. These workers are the backbone of our agricultural industry, yet their contributions often go unnoticed and unappreciated. As a business, we feel a deep responsibility to honor their hard work and to ensure they are supported, which is why a percentage of every purchase at El Rancho Supply is donated to help migrant workers, like my mother, improve their lives. We are committed to providing financial assistance, resources, and advocacy for this often-overlooked community. But this is just the beginning. As our business grows, our vision extends far beyond helping just one person. We aim to expand our efforts to help even more farm workers who work tirelessly every day to feed our families and sustain our economy. Our ultimate goal is to build a more sustainable and supportive environment for migrant workers, where their hard work is not only acknowledged but also rewarded, allowing them to thrive and build a better future for themselves and their families. Through our continued success, we hope to be able to provide resources such as healthcare, education, and financial assistance, as well as advocate for the rights and better treatment of all migrant workers. By growing our business and giving back to this community, we strive to create a ripple effect of positive change, ensuring that those who put in so much for the rest of us will finally receive the respect and support they truly deserve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born in a small indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico, where my roots run deep in the rich traditions and culture of my people. However, when I was young, my family had to move to Baja California as my mother sought work in the fields to support us. The harsh realities of life as a migrant worker shaped much of my early experiences, but they also instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the struggles faced by so many in our community. At 18, I immigrated to the United States, where I worked hard to earn a degree in Accounting from a college in North Carolina. It was there that I met my husband, and together, we began dreaming of a better future. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we realized the importance of being self-reliant and not relying on others for our financial stability. This realization led us to start our own business, El Rancho Supply where we now I’ve in Portland, Oregon.. We wanted to create something that would not only provide for our families but also allow us to give back to the community that shaped my journey. Starting our business during such uncertain times was a challenge, but it was a step toward building a more independent and sustainable future for ourselves and the people we care about.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

We started with very little. Enough to buy about 50 blankets and build a website. From there we’ve made sure to grow organically and never acquire any unnecessary debt or grow too fast. We want the business to build stable legs so we can eventually bring on the rest of the family full time.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my husband. We me when I was working for a hispanic newspaper in college and he was advertising his photography business with us. I would call him every month with his bill payment and he would come in to pay it. The rest is history.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elranchosupply.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/elranchosupply
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/elranchosupply
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElRanchoSupply
• Other: https://TikTok.com/elranchosupply