WINNEMUCCA -A longtime Humboldt County farmer and rancher has been chosen to lead this year's Labor Day Parade.
Richard "Dick" Williams will be the 2013 Grand Marshal, leading the annual procession that kicks off each year's Tri-County Fair and Stampede.
The parade, which will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, is sponsored by the Agricultural District No. 3, or rodeo board.
Williams served on the Rodeo Board for several years, one of his many contributions to this community-both in terms of livestock stewardship and education.
Ag District 3 President Kent Maher said that's one reason Williams was chosen for this year's honor. "Whoever is chosen represents the best that Humboldt County has to offer in terms of selfless service, volunteerism, sacrifice and prioritizing for the good of the community."
Maher continued, "When Dick's name came up, it was such a great fit. We all agreed that we wanted to honor him for his life and his legacy."
Williams hit the ground running in 1939 at Filer, Idaho. Living on a farm with his folks, he was insulated with 4-H, FFA, livestock and farming. When he could get away, he worked on Three Creek area ranches for the Brackett and Patrick families. Then it was off to the University of Idaho to earn a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry in 1963.
After college, Williams soon married and had three living children: John, Jody and Mary. In 1965, Dick, Sandra, two children and Dick's brother, Sam, took off for Australia on immigrant visas. They were there seven years living the outback life in the Northern Territory. Dick worked many jobs on the land, contract farming, catching wild cattle and living life full throttle on Good Parla Station.
When the family arrived back in the United States in 1972, Williams worked at a ranch in the Lost River Basin before farming in Castleford, Idaho. When that fell through, he went back to the University of Idaho to get his master's degree in reproductive physiology.
When Williams graduated, there was an opening for a Livestock Extension Specialist in Winnemucca-a job he held for seven years. He made many friends in the county and saw many of the ranches here as he traveled around helping his friend Dr. Bernard Cannon with fall work.
He mugged a lot of heifers around the county for Doc as he vaccinated, tagged and tattooed them. He served on the Ag District 3 Board and kept the 4-H show and livestock judging teams lined out. In 1984 he married Jean Mink.
Williams rejoined the private livestock industry in November 1987 when he went to work for the TS as cow boss in Battle Mountain. In July 1988, Doc called that a job opened up at the Keystone Ranch in Paradise Valley for the Schwartz family. Hard work, good times, good friends marked Dick and Jean's time during their seven years there. Then the opportunity arrived for Dick and Jean to buy a small farm in Orovada.
For the last 18 years, they have been raising hay, Gelbvieh cattle and selling registered bulls. Dick served seven years on the Humboldt County FSA Board and is still a member of the Orovada Volunteer Fire Department. He also brand inspects for the State of Nevada in the Orovada area. Each day starts at about 4:30 a.m. and ends anywhere from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Williams never misses a branding opportunity very often as that is his "playtime." He has enjoyed this wide open country and the friends and opportunities presented to him.
The 2012 Labor Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Model T Resort Casino. The procession will travel down Winnemucca Boulevard before coming to rest in the parking lot at the Winnemucca Events Complex.
For more information on the 2013 Tri-County Fair & Stampede or its related events, please call the Tri-County Fair & Stampede at (775) 623-5071, ext. 102, or toll free at (800) 962-2638, ext. 102. Or log onto www.LaborDayFair.com for a full schedule of events.
A complete schedule of events is included in the 2013 Fair Guide Book. Copies are available at the Winnemucca Convention Center; the Humboldt County Extension Office; the Humboldt County Chamber of Commerce; the Humboldt County Library; the Winnemucca Events Complex office; the Paradise, Orovada and McDermitt post offices; the Battle Mountain Chamber of Commerce; the Lovelock Chamber of Commerce; or online at www.LaborDayFair.com.
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