From Mad Agriculture and filmmaker Liam Pickhardt, The Space Between the Lines follows Rincon Farms and farmer Sean Bettles as he steps into leadership of his family’s multigenerational orchard in Carpinteria. Alongside the film, we are also sharing the essay A Game of Mind Versus Heart by Sean Bettles and Tanner Starbard, a written reflection that deepens the themes of stewardship, friendship, and generational transition.
Set just inland from Rincon Point, where the Bettles family surfs, the film is grounded in a region shaped as much by ocean currents as by soil health. Here, what happens on the farm does not stop at the fence line. Water moves downhill. What happens on land makes its way to the sea. Agriculture and ocean ecology are inseparable.
At a time when global agriculture is under immense pressure, from climate instability to market consolidation to rising input costs, this story offers a quieter, more intimate lens. It explores what it actually looks like to transition from conventional to organic farming while holding an entire ecosystem in mind. Not just yields or certifications, but waterways, reefs, surf breaks, and the people stewarding agriculture.
Through moments of daily work, reflection, and Sean’s growing family, The Space Between the Lines asks what it means to step into leadership. It is a meditation on patience, restraint, and the long view required to steward land in a way that honors both history and what lies downstream.
This is a film about agriculture as living memory. About the unseen spaces where continuity is made. And about listening closely to what both land and ocean ask next.
Watch the full film and read the essay in Mad Agriculture’s bio.
Last week at The Steward Hotel in Santa Barbara, California, we gathered to celebrate the debut of our latest film, The Space Between the Lines, by filmmaker @liampickhardt , alongside the release of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14, coalescing around the deep ties between coast, farm, and community.
From Rincon Point to Rincon Farms, the evening brought together surfers, farmers, artists, and friends to share seasonal food, Tractor Beverage tastings, film, and conversation. We honored the Bettles family of Rincon Farms and reflected on how waves, wind, soil, and seasonality shape the landscapes we love and the lives we build around them.
We are so grateful to The Steward Hotel, Rincon Farms, Tractor Beverage Company, and everyone who showed up with curiosity and care. These are the moments that remind us storytelling is not just something we read, but something we gather around.
Order your copy of Issue 14 in the @madagriculture bio link
photos by @tobias.creed@drinktractor@rinconfarms@thestewardsb@liampickhardt
Join us Monday, December 15 at The Steward Hotel in Santa Barbara for an evening that celebrates the deep connections between surfing, orcharding, and coastal ecology. Produced in partnership with The Steward Hotel, Rincon Farms, Tractor Beverage Company, and Mad Agriculture, this gathering honors the shared spirit of Rincon Point to Rincon Farms, two landscapes shaped by waves, wind, soil, and seasonality.
We’re debuting a new short film, The Space Between the Lines, featuring a Santa Barbara County family and their story of growing regenerative and organic avocado and passion fruit in the Rincon watershed. After the screening, join filmmaker Liam Pickhardt, farmer Sean Bettles, Mad Agriculture CFO Tanner Starbard, and Mad Agriculture Media Director Jonnah Perkins for a conversation on seasonal resilience and the creative work of tending land in a changing climate.
We will be serving avocados and passion fruit from Rincon Farms along with other seasonal, locally sourced food from the region. Enjoy fresh juices and cocktails from Tractor Beverage and flavors straight from Rincon Farms’ orchards. Every guest will take home a copy of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14, an edition centered on fecundity, friendship, and abundance.
Tickets and RSVP in Mad Ag’s bio link
Experience the story of Rincon Farms through a new short film premiering in Santa Barbara. On December 15, we are gathering at The Steward Hotel to celebrate the launch of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14 with film, food, community, and the coastal landscapes that shape us.
This evening is produced in partnership with The Steward Hotel, Rincon Farms, Tractor Beverage Company, and Mad Agriculture. Together we will explore the connection between surf culture, orcharding, and the coastal ecosystems that make this place home.
Enjoy avocado tacos, Tractor Beverage cocktails, fresh passionfruit, and a Tractor Beverage soda tasting bar before watching the premiere of a new short film featuring the Bettles family of Rincon Farms. After the screening, join a live conversation with Liam Pickhardt, Sean Bettles, Tanner Starbard, and Jonnah Perkins about seasonal resilience and the creative work of growing food along the California coast.
Every ticket includes a copy of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14. Your presence directly supports Mad Agriculture’s mission to cultivate a more resilient and life-giving food system.
RSVP and details in Mad Ag’s bio
photos and film by Liam Pickhardt
Join us in Santa Barbara, California at The Steward Hotel on December 15 for the official launch of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14, an evening that celebrates the deep connections between surfing, orcharding, and coastal ecology.
Produced in partnership with The Steward Hotel, Rincon Farms, Tractor Beverage Company, and Mad Agriculture, this gathering brings together farmers, surfers, artists, chefs, and community to honor the shared spirit of Rincon Point and Rincon Farms, two landscapes shaped by waves, wind, soil, and seasonality.
We will enjoy avocado tacos, Tractor Beverage cocktails, fresh passionfruit desserts, and samples from the Tractor Beverage Mad Farmer Airstream. Then settle in on the lawn for the debut of a new short film featuring the Bettles family of Rincon Farms, followed by a conversation with filmmaker Liam Pickhardt, farmer Sean Bettles, Tanner Starbard, and Jonnah Perkins.
Every guest receives a copy of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 14, an edition rooted in fecundity, friendship, and the creative work of tending land and life along California’s coast.
🎟️ Tickets support Mad Agriculture’s mission to cultivate a more resilient, abundant, and life-giving food system. Join us under the sky.
Link in Mad Agriculture's bio!
So grateful for all of the people who have been stepping up to lend hand to our immigrant community who have are being negatively impacted. Countless companies, farms and community members have offered help and relief to our coworkers, neighbors and friends. Today we’d like to highlight and give gratitude to @rinconfarms for their generous donation of several large boxes full of summer avocados to supplement the volunteer run food distribution program @lacasadelaraza.sb These vital donations supplement the food pantry and help bring sustenance to families who are finding it hard to make ends meet as they are unable to safely get to work, transport their children to school and complete everyday tasks we all take for granted, like picking up groceries. Please support where you’re able. Moving forward we will need the support of our community in donations, donated volunteer hours, and deliveries. Tremendous gratitude to Rincon Farms and all those who have stepped up to answer the call. It takes a village and Santa Barbara strong is community working together. #community #communitysupport #santabarbara #santabarbaracounty #sbcitycouncil #santabarbarastrong #carpinteriastrong #805undocufund #lacasadelaraza #rinconfarms #makechange #bethechange #bettertøgether #immigrantrights #humanrights #feed #805
🚨 New Farm Day Location 🚨
Visit @rinconfarms at Farm Day 🥑
On Saturday, September 6, Rincon Farms will guide you on a tour of their ranch and packing house. Check out how their avocados are grown, packed, cooled and shipped. Learn the difference between their part organic and part conventional farm. 📦🚚
Rincon Farm was established out of 📍Carpinteria in 2005 and remains a family run operation. In addition, they grow and pack other fruits like cherimoyas, passionfruit, and dragonfruit.
Get your FREE tickets now! The link to register is in our bio. ⬆️🎟️🔗
📸 Photos: @ivette.rgphotos
#SEEAG #RinconFarms #Carpinteria #FarmDay #SBCFarmDay
Recap of the Farm Day Every Day tour at Rincon Farms 🥑📸
Thank You to everyone who joined us this weekend! We learned about avocado farming, saw the packing house in action, and tasted delicious guacamole.
We’ll see you all at our County Farm Day events in the fall! @sbcountyfarmday@venturacountyfarmday 🚜🌱
Join us for a FREE farm tour! Experience what a typical day looks like for Sean at Rincon Farms! 🥑
🗓️ Saturday, May 31st from 9:00am to 11:00am
👟 This tour will involve slight uphill walking. Please be prepared for that if you plan to join us.
***This is an all ages, FREE community event. Ticket registration opens this Friday, May 23rd at 10am. Limited tickets available. To access the registration link when it opens, subscribe to our newsletter using the link in our bio!***
#SEEAG #FarmDay #RinconFarms #RegenerativeAg #VenturaCounty
Visit @rinconfarms for the Farm Day Every Day tour! Come learn about avocado farming, a variety of fruit trees, and taste some yummy guac! 🥑
🗓️ Saturday, May 31st from 9:00am to 11:00am
👟 This tour will involve slight uphill walking. Please be prepared for that if you plan to join us.
***This is an all ages, FREE community event. Ticket registration opens this Friday, May 23rd at 10am. Limited tickets available. To access the registration link when it opens, subscribe to our newsletter using the link in our bio!***
#SEEAG #FarmDay #RinconFarms #VenturaCounty #LocalAgriculture #RegenerativeAg
Mark your calendars for May 31st 🗓️
The May Farm Day Every Day tour will be held at Rincon Farms on Saturday, May 31st from 9am to 11am!
Here’s what to expect:
🥑 Walk through the avocado orchards
📦 See the packing facility in action
🌾 Learn about regenerative practices
🔍 Explore the diversity of crops grown
***This is an all ages, FREE community event. Ticket registration opens this Friday, May 23rd at 10am. Limited tickets available. To access the registration link when it opens, subscribe to our newsletter using the link in our bio!***
#SEEAG #FarmDay #RinconFarms #RegenerativeAg #Carpinteria #VenturaCounty
