. >> fred holmes is a third generation independent oil producer. he has 400 wells that bring forth 2,000-gallons a day. he started working in oil rigs when he was just 13-year-old. >> those are built our house. of course our business is run out of the house on the kitchen table. >> reporter: his family business is big business now. home is just the 22nd larges oil producer in the state. but he still considers himself a mom and pop oil company compared to the major oil companies such as chevron which is pumping 25,000-barrels of crude in kern county every day. the majors and the independence are both he reaping the benefits of an oil boom that has a barrel of crude in the 80 to $100 range. holmes says the high prices have enabled him to try and find more oil. >> when the oil prices are small or low, you know, we had to have pretty good returns now to go after oil that's -- you know, we have passed over before. so we are back getting what you would call the hard stuff out of the oil field. we have got the food already and after the hard to get now. >