Memorandum
Date: June 11, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Board of Supervisors
Subject: Presentation of Proclamation Commending John Harper for 32 Years of Service and Dedication to the Agricultural Community
Executive Summary:
COMMENDING JOHN HARPER FOR 32 YEARS OF SERVICE AND
DEDICATION TO THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, following 32 years of dedicated service in his role as University of California Cooperative Extension, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor and County of Lake Director, John Harper officially retired on July 1, 2023, but continued to serve as interim director of UCCE to ensure the successful transition of his County Director successor; and
WHEREAS, John Harper, known as the "Ed Sheeran of sheep shearing" has run California's only five-day sheep shearing school for over 27 years at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center and various private ranches. This program is internationally acclaimed with a waiting list of over 1,000; and
WHEREAS, his other contributions include learning how to write code in 1991 to create the university's first websites for livestock and natural resources and was an early adopter social media, which earned him a Silver Award in 2011 from the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals; and
WHEREAS, his contributions to water quality research have been significant, including the development of the first rangeland water-quality ranch plan in California and the Rangeland Water Quality Planning Short Course; and
WHEREAS, he has been recognized with multiple awards for his outstanding contributions to rangeland management, water quality, and agricultural education, including the Western Extension Directors Association Award of Excellence and the Society for Range Management's Outstanding Achievement Award-Stewardship; and
WHEREAS, John Harper continues to contribute to the community through his emeritus status with UC Agr...
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