North State Rocks

On this episode of North State Rocks, Perry Thompson hosts leaders from West Biofuels and Momentum to discuss the Hat Creek Bioenergy Project: California's first 100% forest-fuel-powered community-scale bioenergy plant, now operational and generating real impact. The plant consumes approximately 30,000 bone-dry tons of biomass annually, receiving 5-6 truckloads of wood chips daily from forest thin...

On this episode of North State Rocks, Perry Thompson sits down with his cousin and co-owner, Weston Hutchings, to tell the remarkable story of Hat Creek Construction: from survival mode during the 2008 recession to becoming a regional powerhouse in construction and materials.  Weston shares his journey from working at Granite Construction and Sierra Nevada Construction in Reno to joining Hat Creek...

From Fall River to the PRCA: How Bailey Small Turned Small-Town Roots into a Pro Rodeo Career In this episode of North State Rocks, host Perry Thompson sits down with Bailey Small, a Fall River High School graduate and second-year PRCA professional saddle bronc rider. Bailey traces his path from juggling six sports in high school to earning a 4.0 GPA in his master's program at Tarleton State Unive...

On this episode of North State Rocks, host Perry Thompson brings together three distinct perspectives on the wolf crisis devastating Lassen County: Wyatt Hanson (rancher at Willow Creek Ranch, facing 10 confirmed wolf kills), Richard Egan (rancher and former Lassen County Administrator), and John McGarva (current Lassen County Sheriff). The conversation exposes a critical gap in law enforcement. W...

On this episode of North State Rocks, we sit down with Jessica Vigil, a North State native who grew up on Dixie Valley Ranch and now works for Elwood Ranch, to discuss the devastating impact of wolves on northeastern California ranchers. Jessica shares firsthand accounts of livestock predation, the emotional and financial toll on ranching families, and the stark policy differences between Californ...

On this episode of the North State Rocks podcast, we sit down with Angela Reed, Executive Director, and Brett Lindsey, Housing Coordinator of Lassen Family Services, the region’s leading nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and other traumas across rural Northern California. The conversation dives into the organization’s 45-year history: from its grassr...

In this North State Rocks episode, host Perry Thompson, President/CEO of Hat Creek Construction, connected with Paul Reuter, President of Pace Engineering, to explore impactful leadership and community resilience. Paul shared how Pace navigated economic challenges since 2008, thriving as a 100% employee-owned firm through a “teamwork-oriented culture” and shared success. Listeners will gain insigh...

In this episode of North State Rocks, listeners will discover how Bruce Dean and his partner transformed a $40,000 investment into Black Bear Diner's 166-location restaurant empire spanning 14 states. Dean shares the unvarnished truth about entrepreneurship, including the company's near-collapse in 1998 when rapid expansion nearly led to bankruptcy, his hard-learned lessons about cutting losses de...

In this episode of North State Rocks, listeners will discover how Elizabeth Ammon has built one of California's premier Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs at Lassen High School, achieving record participation with 60 students at the recent fair and over $430,000 in auction proceeds. Liz shares her journey from a Sacramento-area teenager who didn't know what "ag" meant to becoming California'...

On this episode of North State Rocks, Dawn Egan shares her remarkable journey from owning a successful computer store in Fallon, Nevada, to becoming the leader of Lassen High School's technology and business education program over the last three decades. She discusses how a chance encounter led to writing the school's first major technology grant, transforming it from having virtually no computers...

In this episode of North State Rocks, discover BJ Hubbard's journey to becoming a flight instructor at Susanville Aviation. BJ shares how his childhood fascination with aviation at age 14 led to a mid-career pivot, selling his home to finance his flight training before returning to serve northeastern California as an instructor. The conversation explores the unique advantages of learning to fly in...

On this episode of the North State Rocks podcast, local rancher and public servant Richard Egan shares his family's agricultural roots, details of his diverse 30-year career in county government (from Development Specialist to County Executive Officer), and insights into modern cattle operations across Northern California. The conversation explores how Richard's practical ranching background infor...

This episode of North State Rocks features Michael Kirack, founder of Kirack Construction, discussing his 30-year journey from being California's youngest licensed contractor to building a successful diversified construction business in Susanville. Through economic ups and downs, Kirack shares insights about business sustainability, family involvement, community engagement, and the unique advantag...

This episode of North State Rocks features Travis Corder, a fourth-generation farmer (Corder Farms) who manages over 7,000 acres across Shasta and Lassen counties – and Perry’s best friend since high school. From succession planning to water rights, and from vertical integration to community values, this episode explores the unique challenges and rewards of running a multi-generational family busi...

This episode of North State Rocks features a candid conversation with Carie Camacho, Superintendent and President of Lassen Community College, exploring the institution's role in workforce development, new programs, student success stories, and the value of community college education in creating career pathways without substantial student debt.

Discover the hidden gems and extraordinary people of California’s North State region. Join Perry Thompson, CEO of Hat Creek Construction & Materials, as he explores the vibrant communities and interesting neighbors that make our region a great place to live, work, and play. Each episode brings you face-to-face with local heroes, hard-working entrepreneurs, and passionate community leaders who are...