Document:

Exhibit 10.4

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         This Consulting Agreement ("Agreement") is made effective as of August
1, 2004, by and between SonomaWest Holdings, Inc. of 2064 Highway 116 North,
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2662, and Thomas R. Eakin d.b.a. Eakin Consulting, of 4612
Morris Court E, Santa Rosa, California 95405.

         In this Agreement, the party who is contracting to receive services
shall be referred to as "SWH", and the party who will be providing the services
shall be referred to as "Eakin". Eakin has a background in Financial Management
and is willing to provide consulting services to SWH based on this background.

         SWH desires to have services provided by Eakin.

         Now therefore, the parties agree as follows:

         1.  DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES. Beginning on August 1, 2004, Eakin will
provide consulting services (collectively, the "Services") in the area of
financial management and related management matters, specifically Eakin will
perform the duties generally undertaken by a chief financial officer treasurer
of a corporation; provided however, that Eakin shall report directly to Roger S.
Mertz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SWH. The Board of Directors of SWH
shall elect Eakin Chief Financial Officer and Eakin shall have the authority to
act for or on behalf of the corporation, which is usually held by a person
holding the office of Chief Financial Officer. Should Eakin reasonably determine
that any project or projects Eakin is requested to work on fall outside the
scope of the duties generally undertaken by a chief financial officer of a
corporation, Eakin shall notify Mr. Mertz of such determination and Eakin may
reject that project or projects without breaching this Agreement. Mr. Mertz and
Eakin shall use their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to resolve
any disagreement with respect to whether or not the specific project or projects
fall within the scope of the services to be performed by Eakin.

         2.  PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES. The manner in which the Services are to be
performed and the specific hours to be worked by Eakin shall be determined by
Eakin. SWH will rely on Eakin to work as many hours as may be reasonably
necessary to fulfill Eakin's obligations under this Agreement.

         3.  PAYMENT. SWH will pay a fee to Eakin for the Services as set forth
in Schedule A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference. SWH will reimburse Eakin for any out of pocket expenses incurred in
the provision of Services hereunder. Eakin will invoice SWH approximately every
two weeks for consulting and expenses performed and/or incurred in the fourteen
(14) day period prior to or through the date of invoice, or for such longer
period as may have passed since the date of the last invoice. Each invoice shall
be due upon receipt: provided however, that payment shall be considered timely
if paid within five (5) days of the date of invoice.

<PAGE>

         4.  SUPPORT SERVICES. SWH will provide sufficient office space at its
executive offices in 2064 Highway 116 North, Sebastopol, CA (or at such future
Sonoma County, California executive offices as SWH may occupy) for use by Eakin
in performing the Services hereunder. SWH shall direct its employees to
cooperate with and render assistance to Eakin in furtherance of the completion
of the Services.

         5.  TERM/TERMINATION. This Agreement shall continue in effect until
July 31, 2005 unless terminated sooner pursuant to the following provision of
this Paragraph 5. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon thirty
(30) days prior written notice to the other party. A termination of this
agreement shall automatically terminate Eakin as Chief Financial Officer of SWH.

         6.  RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES. It is understood by the parties that Eakin
is an independent contractor with respect to SWH, and not an employee of SWH.
SWH will not provide fringe benefits, including health insurance benefits, paid
vacation, or any other employee benefit, for the benefit of Eakin; provided
however that Eakin shall be entitled to receive such grants of options as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, SWH agrees to provide Eakin with a certified copy of the minutes of
the Board of Directors meeting at which Eakin is elected Chief Financial Officer
and of any subsequent meeting in which he is again so elected. In addition, as
material consideration to Eakin for his performance of the Services hereunder
SWH agrees that at all times during the term of this Agreement, SWH will have
and maintain a policy of Directors & Officers insurance which provides coverage
for Eakin in an amount reasonably satisfactory to Eakin. Upon request SWH shall
provide Eakin with proof of such coverage.

         7.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION. Eakin will not be
liable to SWH, or to anyone who may claim any right due to a relationship with
SWH, for any injuries due to any act(s) or omission(s) arising from or related
to this Agreement and/or the performance of the Services hereunder or on the
part of the employees or agents of Eakin unless the act(s) and/or omission(s)
are due to Eakin's gross negligence or willful misconduct. SWH will indemnify
and hold Eakin harmless from any obligations, costs, claims, judgments,
attorneys' fees, and attachments arising from, growing out of, or in any way
connected with the Services rendered to SWH under the terms of this Agreement,
unless Eakin is judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed or
be guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         8.  INDEMNIFICATION. Eakin agrees to indemnify, defend and hold SWH
free and harmless from any obligations, costs, claims, judgments, attorneys'
fees, and attachments arising from, growing out of, or in any way connected with
the Services rendered to SWH the terms of this Agreement, in any and all cases
in which Eakin has been judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
committed or be guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         9.  ASSIGNMENT. Eakin's obligations under this Agreement may not be
assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, or corporation without the
prior written consent of SWH. SWH obligations under this Agreement may not be
assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, or corporation without the
prior written consent of Eakin.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         10. CONFIDENTIALITY. SWH recognizes that Eakin will have the following
information: future plans, business affairs, financial data and projections and
other proprietary information (collectively, "Information") which are valuable,
special and unique assets of SWH and need to be protected from improper
disclosure. In consideration for the disclosure of the Information, Eakin agrees
that Eakin will not at any time or in any manner, either directly or indirectly,
use any Information for Eakin's own benefit, or divulge, disclose, or
communicate in any manner any Information to any third party without the prior
written consent of SWH. The confidentiality and limited use obligations set
forth above shall not apply to information, which Eakin can demonstrate:

             (a)  Was already in Eakin's possession prior to receipt of the same
from the SWH without an obligation to maintain its confidentiality; or

             (b)  Is now or becomes public information or otherwise generally
known to the public without violation of this Agreement; or

             (c)  Was received by Eakin without restriction from a third party
which was lawfully in possession of such information and was not in breach of
any agreement or any confidential relationship with SWH.

Disclosure of SWH Information is not prohibited if such disclosure is compelled
pursuant to legal proceeding or otherwise required by law and prior written
notice is given to SWH.

             Eakin will protect the Information and treat it as strictly
confidential. A violation of this paragraph shall be a material breach of this
Agreement.

         11. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. If it appears that Eakin
has disclosed (or has threatened to disclose) Information in violation of this
Agreement, SWH shall be entitled to an injunction to restrain Eakin from
disclosing, in whole or in part, such Information, or from providing any
services to any party to whom such Information has been disclosed or may be
disclosed. SWH shall not be prohibited by this provision from pursuing other
remedies, including a claim for losses and damages except as is otherwise
provided in this Agreement.

         12. CONFIDENTIALITY AFTER TERMINATION. The confidentiality provisions
of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect after the termination of
this Agreement for a period of five (5) years from the date of such termination

         13. RETURN OF RECORDS. Upon termination of this Agreement, Eakin shall
deliver all records, notes, data, memoranda, models, and equipment of any nature
that are in Eakin's possession or under Eakin's control and that are SWH
property or relate to SWH business.

         14. NOTICES. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered when delivered in person or
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  If for SWH:       Roger S. Mertz
                                    Chairman of the Board
                                    SonomaWest Holdings, Inc.
                                    2064 Highway 116
                                    North Sebastopol, CA 95472-2662

                  If for Eakin:     Thomas R. Eakin
                                    Eakin Consulting
                                    PO Box 2725
                                    4612 Morris Court, E
                                    Santa Rosa, California 95405-0725

Such address may be changed from time to time by either party by providing
written notice to the other in the manner set forth above.

         15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of
the parties and there are no other promises or conditions in any other agreement
whether oral or written. This Agreement supersedes any prior written or oral
agreements between the parties.

         16. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by an
amendment in writing signed by both parties.

         17. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to
be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall
continue to be valid and enforceable. If a court finds that any provision of
this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision
it would become valid and enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be
written, construed, and enforced as so limited.

         18. WAIVER. The failure of either party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that party's
right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision
of this Agreement.

         19. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of California.

         20. ATTORNEYS' FEES. If any legal action is brought to enforce or
interpret the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party will be
entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, in addition to any other relief to which
that party may be entitled.

         Executed at Santa Rosa, California, on July 28, 2004.

                                     "SWH":

                                     SonomaWest Holdings, Inc.

                                     By:      /s/ ROGER S. MERTZ
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                              Roger S. Mertz
                                              Chairman of the Board of Directors

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                                     "Eakin"

                                      Thomas R. Eakin, d.b.a.  Eakin Consulting

                                      By:      /s/ THOMAS R. EAKIN
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                               Thomas R. Eakin

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A
                  TO CONSULTING AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 1, 2004

                                EAKIN CONSULTING
                        FINANCIAL & MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
                                  P.O. Box 2725
                            SANTA ROSA, CA 95405-0725
                          PHONE AND FAX: (707) 539-5627
                              CELL: (707) 483-1672
                         E-MAIL: tom@eakinconsulting.com

                             CONSULTING FEE SCHEDULE

                                 August 1, 2004

HOURLY FEES

o    Financial or management consulting $115.00/hour.

o    Use of outside consultants billed at cost plus 10%, provided that any use
     of an outside consultant must first be approved by SWH.

o    Legal proceedings (testimony in deposition, trials and
     arbitration/mediation hearings) are billable at 1.5 times the standard rate
     per hour.

TRAVEL

o    Travel inside Sonoma County - Non-chargeable.

o    Travel outside Sonoma County - Travel time billed at one-half the
     consulting rate. Over-night travel - Daily rate to be mutually agreed upon
     in advance.

o    Mileage outside Sonoma County is billed at the mileage rate established by
     the Internal Revenue Service.

o    Out of pocket expenses billed at cost.

BILLINGS

o    Invoices will be issued every two weeks.

o    Minimum billing of four hours (in addition to travel time) for all required
     on-site visits or meetings outside Sonoma County.

o    Terms - Net five days from receipt.

                                   Schedule A
                                      -1-Exhibit 10.5

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         This Agreement ("Agreement") is made and effective as of July 1, 2004
("Effective Date") by and between SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS, INC. a California
corporation ("Client") and BUGATTO INVESTMENT COMPANY ("Consultant").

         1.  SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES. Consultant will perform the services
described in Consultant's proposal to Client dated June 28, 2004 and such other
services as Client and Consultant shall agree upon ("Services"). Consultant will
determine the method, details and means of performing the Services. This
Agreement supercedes the agreement dated July 17, 2001, as amended, between
Client and Consultant's principal, David J. Bugatto, and is intended by the
parties to govern all services provided and to be provided by Consultant to
Client on and after July 1, 2004.

         2.  FEES AND PAYMENT. In consideration for the Services to be performed
by Consultant, Client will pay to Consultant an hourly fee of $225.00 per hour
for all hours rendered on behalf of Client. In addition, in the event either of
the Company's Sonoma County properties are sold during the term hereof, upon
closing Consultant will be paid a fee of 2% of the gross sales price regardless
of whether or not a broker is involved. Client will pay Consultant for its
services within fifteen (15) days of receiving a monthly invoice.

         3.  INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT STATUS. It is the express intention of the
parties that Consultant is an independent consultant and not an employee, agent,
joint venturer or partner of Client. Nothing in this Agreement will be
interpreted or construed as creating or establishing the relationship of
employer and employee between Client and Consultant, or any employee or agent of
Consultant.

         4.  ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF CONSULTANT.

             a.   Consultant will supply all tools and instrumentalities
required to perform the services under this Agreement. Consultant is not
required to purchase or rent any tools, equipment or services from Client.

             b.   Consultant is responsible for all costs and expenses incident
to performing services hereunder, including but not limited to costs of
equipment provided by Consultant, fees, fines, licenses, bonds, or taxes
required of or imposed against Consultant and its assistants, if any, as costs
of doing business. Client is not responsible for any expenses incurred by
Consultant in performing services for Client, except for those reasonable
out-of-pocket travel expenses and miscellaneous expenses incurred by Consultant
in performing the services under this Agreement.

             c.   Consultant may, at its option and at its own expense, employ
such assistants as Consultant deems necessary to perform the Services.
Consultant assumes full and sole responsibility for the payment of all
compensation and expenses of these assistants and for any state and federal
income tax, unemployment insurance, Social Security, disability insurance and
other applicable withholdings of such assistants. Consultant will provide
workers'

<PAGE>

compensation insurance coverage for its employees and agents, and agrees to hold
harmless and indemnify Client for any and all claims arising out of any injury,
disability, or death of any of Consultant's employees or agents. Consultant will
indemnify and hold Client harmless against any and all liability imposed or
claimed, including attorneys' fees and other legal expenses, arising directly or
indirectly from any act or failure to act of Consultant or Consultant's
assistants, employees or agents, including all claims relating to injury or
death of any person or damage to property.

             d.   Consultant specifically agrees to abide by Client's standards
and rules of conduct and general operating procedures while on Client's premises
or otherwise while performing services pursuant to this Agreement.

             e.   Consultant may not assign any duties or obligations under this
Agreement without Client's express written consent.

             f.   Consultant acknowledges that, as he is an independent
Consultant and not an employee, he is responsible for paying all required state
and federal taxes. In particular, Client will not: (i) withhold FICA (Social
Security) from Consultant's payments; (ii) make state or federal unemployment
insurance contributions on Consultant's behalf; (iii) withhold state or federal
income tax from payment to Consultant; (iv) make disability insurance
contributions on behalf of Consultant; (v) obtain workers' compensation
insurance on behalf of Consultant.

             g.   Consultant further acknowledges that he is not eligible for
participation in any benefit plan or program available to Consultant's
employees, and that the fee for services has been established in recognition of
Consultant being responsible for maintaining such benefit coverage as it deems
appropriate.

         5.  TERM AND TERMINATION.

             a.   This Agreement begins on the Effective Date and continues
until the earlier of (i) written notice of termination by either party; (ii)
termination in accordance with the provisions set forth below; or (iii) June 30,
2005.

             b.   This Agreement will terminate automatically on any of the
following events: (i) bankruptcy or insolvency of either party; (ii) sale or
discontinuance of the business of either party; (iii) death of either party.

             c.   If Consultant defaults in the performance of the Agreement or
materially breaches any of the provisions, Client at its sole option may
terminate the Agreement at any time on written notice to Consultant. For
purposes of this section, material breach includes, but is not limited to: (i)
failure or refusal to perform the Services when and as contemplated; (ii)
failure to provide timely invoices with appropriate descriptions and approved
expenses as provided herein; (iii) negligence, misconduct, an act of dishonesty,
or taking an action or conducting itself in a manner contrary or inimical to
Client's best business interests or reputation.

             d.   If Client fails to pay Consultant fees or payment as provided
herein, Consultant at its option may terminate the Agreement.

<PAGE>

         6.  CONFIDENTIALITY, TRADE SECRETS, WORK FOR HIRE AND NON-COMPETITION.

             a.   Consultant recognizes that during the term of this Agreement,
and in preparation therefore, he will be privy to many of Client's trade secrets
or proprietary or other confidential or privileged information. Consultant
agrees to keep all such information in strictest confidence and not to disclose
it except for legitimate purposes of Client and with Client's express written
consent, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter.

             b.   On termination of this Agreement, Consultant will promptly
deliver to Client all equipment belonging to Client, all code and computer
programs of whatever nature, as well as all manuals, letters, reports, price
lists, customer lists, sales information, analyses, recommendations, and all
copies thereof, and all other materials of a confidential nature regarding
Client's business that are in its possession or control. Consultant agrees that
the remedy at law for any breach of the foregoing will be inadequate, and that
Client is entitled to seek appropriate injunctive relief in addition to any
remedy at law in case of any such breach.

             c.   Consultant agrees that all work he performs pursuant to this
Agreement, and all work which relates at the time of conception or reduction to
Client's business, and all work which results from work he performs for Client,
whenever performed during the term of this Agreement, and whether or not
utilizing Client's equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information,
is considered work made for hire for Client as such term is defined in section
101 of the Copyright Act of 1976 and belongs to Client. Consultant further
agrees that in the event that this Agreement is determined not to be a work for
hire agreement, Consultant will assign to Client any and all rights retained by
Consultant.

         7.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

             a.   Any notices given by either party may be effected by personal
delivery in writing or by mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid, or by
facsimile transmission or by electronic submission, if receipt is confirmed in a
commercially acceptable manner. Mailed notices are to be addressed to the
parties at the addresses below:

         If to Client:       SonomaWest Holdings, Inc.
                             2064 Highway 116, North
                             Sebastopol, CA 95472-2662
                             Attn: Roger S. Mertz, Chairman

         If to Consultant:   Bugatto Investment Company
                             c/o David J. Bugatto
                             3904 El Ricon Way
                             Sacramento, CA 95864

         Notices delivered personally are deemed communicated as of actual
receipt; mailed notices are deemed communicated as of two days after mailing.

         b. This agreement supersedes any and all agreements, oral or written,
between the parties with respect to rendering services by Consultant for Client,
and contains all

<PAGE>

agreements between the parties. Any modification of this Agreement is effective
only if in writing signed by the party to be charged.

             c.   If any provisions in this Agreement are held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions will continue in full force provided that the essential purposes of
the Agreement can be achieved without the invalid provision.

             d.   This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the state of California.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been entered into as of the date
and year first above written.

                                            Consultant:

                                                  BUGATTO INVESTMENT COMPANY

                                                  By: /s/ David J. Bugatto
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     David J. Bugatto, President

                                            Client:

                                                  SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS, INC.

                                                  By: /s/ Roger S. Mertz
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Roger S. Mertz, Chairman

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