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4A Daily News – Saturday, June 18, 2011 Agriculture & farm Student earns ag award Francis Ocampo of Los Molinos High School was recently presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award, spon- sored by Monsanto Company. Ocampo, the daughter of Abelina and Alejandro Ocam- po, received the award for excellence in academics, leader- ship and agricultural work experience. Ocampo’s signifi- cant experiences and accomplishments have included FFA chapter parliamentarian, treasurer and current president, four years of market hog enterprises and admission into CalPoly San Luis Obispo to study landscape design. Bonnie Baxter is Ocampo’s agricultural education instructor at Los Molinos High School. This year the award celebrates its 64th anniversary. Over these 64 years more than 166,000 high school seniors from across me country have received the Award, which has become a symbol for excellence and the school’s highest agricultural honor. Ocampo’s name will be recorded on a permanent plaque displayed at Los Molinos High School. Ranchers and farmers are used to fixing a prob- lem, but the government feels they aren’t capable. An example are the flood- ed, washed out Bureau of Land Management roads in Montana and the ranchers cannot make repairs. Instead the BLM will inventory the damage; pri- oritize the needs and start looking for funds to pay for repairs. BLM: Some damaged roads may affect livestock permittees The Billings Gazette | Posted: Friday, June 10. “The ripple effect from the flooding and saturated ground in central Montana is now affecting landown- ers and livestock grazing permittees whose access to Bureau of Land Manage- ment grazing allotments or their private property depends upon using BLM roads. “‘We know the recent rains and runoff throughout central Montana have dam- aged a number of BLM roads, but like most land managing agencies, we just haven't yet been able to get staff out across the district to deter- mine how much and where,’ said Stan Benes, the BLM's Central Montana district manager. “The BLM has been gather- ing reports from adjacent landowners and grazing permit- tees who have discovered dam- aged BLM FREE CONCERT Air National Guard Band of the West Concert/Marching Band Jean roads. In some cases, the roads are no longer pass- able. “‘As quickly as condi- tions allow, we'll send folks Barton out to inventory the dam- age; we'll prioritize the needs, and start looking for the funds to pay for repairs. In the interim, we've had a couple of folks ask about using their own equipment to repair BLM roads. However, unless an individ- ual has a right-of- way agreement for the BLM road segment in ques- tion, he or she cannot make road repairs,’ Benes said. “‘If the road or culvert damage is severe enough to prevent a permit- tee from using a BLM graz- ing allotment, that individ- ual should contact his or her ranch Ranchers kept from solving roads issues cattle on nearly 1,000 acres just outside town. “John Wieggel, 63, recently discovered some- body had stolen seven of his 64 Angus cows off a farm his grandfather started near Beecher, he had a completely different reac- tion to what nowadays is an unusual crime. Courtesy photo Tehama Angus Ranch cows at the Fox Mt. ranch near Adin, with Mt. Shasta in the background. BLM rangeland manage- ment specialist to discuss management options,’ Benes said.” All grazing permittees know how long that will take, since it is turnout time now, not later. *** Speaking of roads, the Letter to Editor and the comments of Richard Maz- zucchi about the horrible condition of the bridges on Highway 99-E between Salt Creek at the junction of Highway 36-E and Los Molinos are true. I don’t understand why they had to tear the asphalt off every bridge at one time, and not finish the job of repaving each bridge. Our son-in-law said at night- time they can hear the trucks crossing the Salt Creek bridges as they thump, shake and rattle across each one and then hit the bump or depression on each end. Imagine how peaceful it must be, living in McHie Subdivision or west of the bridges. Perhaps they were trying to save money by scraping each bridge to concrete and then planning to pave them all at the same time, but it has been hard on my tires, vehicle suspension and patience. *** A cattle rustling story in the Chicago Tribune, March 17 by Steve Schmadeke. Cattle Rustling: 7 head reported stolen near Beech- er The State Theatre 333 Oak Street, Red Bluff Thursday, June 30 7:00 PM Co-sponsored by The Daily News and The State Theatre for the Arts Ticket required for Admission Tickets available starting June 20 at: Red Bluff Daily News – The Copy Center The Human Bean -- Wink – Sky River Music and at the State Theatre box office on The night of the performance. We advise to get your tickets early as Only 700 will be available. For further information, call The State Theatre for the Arts: (530) 529-ARTS (2787) “See you at the State!” Published through a co-sponsorship agreement with D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY LIC #808524 Call For Free Information Toll-Free (800) 464-1403 or (530) 365-1403 6183 MEISTER WAY ANDERSON, CA 96007 (530) 365-1403 (800) 464-1403 “The far south suburb of Beecher was laid out in 1870 by a cattle rancher who, according to a history of Will County, pioneered in the breeding of Hereford “In those early years, those caught or rumored to be stealing cattle, like Reuben ‘Old Put’ Putnam (also thought to have ‘an underground stable in which he concealed his ill- gotten gains,’ according to the county history) were tarred and feathered. “‘I was always thinking of putting security cameras out there,’ said Wieggel, who says he hasn’t had a cow disappear in 20 years. ‘If I wasn’t crazy I’d proba- bly just say to hell with it and quit.’ “The cows weigh about 750 pounds and are worth $1,000 apiece, he said. Wieggel discovered the theft, which was reported recently to Will County police, when a worker noticed a gate wasn’t latched properly. The cattle were not marked and police have no suspects. “Today there are 75 fam- ilies raising cattle in the county estimates Will County Farm Bureau Director Mark Schnei- dewind, and thefts are rare. “‘Unfortunately you hear or see this when you start to see some tough eco- nomic times,’ he said. “Wieggel caters to those looking for locally raised, corn-fed beef — he said his most famous customer was Chicago blues legend Willie Dixson — and plans to keep the farm business going.” Here in Tehama County, the TCCA Cattlemen, John Owens, California Cattle- men and Lee Loverin are offering $12,000 for infor- mation leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the theft of the Owenses’ cattle. Anonymity guaranteed, tip-line 1-800-671-4327, or 530-527-6332 or 530-520- 9399. Since June 1, two more cows have turned up, with- out their calves for John and Candace Owens. This makes 20 first calf heifers this spring, whose calves have been stolen from the Owens family. Tarred and feathered is not strong enough punish- ment for a cattle rustler. This is stealing from a ranchers bank account. Jean Barton can be reached at jbarton@theskybeam.com. Happy Fathers Day Fruit Trees for All fruit trees 15% off June 18 & 19 Garden Center Red Bluff 766 Antelope Blvd. (Next to the Fairground) 527-0886