In this episode of North State Rocks, host Perry Thompson sits down with Richard Egan, who recently retired as Lassen County's Executive Officer after 30 years of public service. What makes Richard's story particularly compelling is his parallel life as a cattle rancher, which offers him a unique perspective on government administration and agricultural entrepreneurship in Northern California.
Richard's journey in cattle ranching began with humble origins.
"Holly and I started with eight cows back in 1994," he recalled, describing how he bought his first cattle at the Modoc auction yard. "I remember buying them and I looked back at my friend Ron and he said, 'That's plenty to fill my trailer.'"
From this modest beginning, Richard and his wife Holly steadily built their operation to approximately 600 mother cows today.
His ranching operation spans multiple counties and takes a sophisticated approach to cattle management: "We've acquired a lot of federal grazing permits up in Plumas County... We graze cattle in, I think, seven different counties now."
Their business model involves retaining ownership of cattle throughout their lifecycle, from calving in the Sacramento Valley to summer grazing on forest permits and finally to finishing at feedlots in Colorado.
Richard's entry into county government was initially viewed as temporary.
"I kind of took the job thinking, 'I need to make a living and make some money so that I can afford to buy some cows,'" he explained. However, his analytical skills and straightforward approach to problem-solving quickly caught attention.
His first position as a Development Specialist in 1994 gave him a crash course in government grant management.
"They had indiscriminately applied for any free money out there... hadn't really put a lot of thought into administering the grant," Richard noted about his early days addressing problematic county projects.
This experience shaped his cautious approach to economic development throughout his career.
"I've become, over the years, very cautious about those sorts of things," he reflected, highlighting his practical philosophy that would later benefit the county's financial management.
Perhaps surprisingly, Richard considered his 15 years as Treasurer-Tax Collector the "best job in the county, bar none." Despite the assumption that collecting taxes would make him unpopular, Richard found purpose in this role.
"When you're a public servant, you've got the people that say, 'I pay your salary and you work for me.' And categorically... you get to see who actually pays the big tax bills and who doesn't. It's very often the ones that are not paying that are the most vocal."
He took particular pride in aggressive tax sales of delinquent properties, seeing it as genuine economic development: "You would have a dilapidated home in a neighborhood... we'd conduct a tax sale, and you would have the neighbors or entrepreneurs come and buy that property, put a bunch of sweat equity into it. You drive by those homes maybe a year or two after you sold this fallen-down thing and there's a nice home."
Throughout his career, Richard maintained the parallel tracks of public service and ranching, each informing the other. His county experience gave him skills to navigate complex grazing permits with government agencies, while his agricultural background provided practical wisdom for county budget management.
"When you're in that business, you're always trying to make something out of nothing," Richard observed about ranching, a principle that served him well in government.
Richard reflected on what makes the North State special as he transitions to full-time ranch life in retirement.
"My perfect time is to go out and socialize with friends and neighbors that I work with or know or their families," he said, emphasizing the community connections that define rural life.
Richard particularly credited the Rotary Club for providing guidance and social connections: "Every week, you get to visit with the leaders of the community, who become your really close friends and people that you can rely on and support."
For those contemplating rural life or public service, Richard offers perspective gained from both worlds – appreciating the natural beauty and community connections of the North State while understanding the practical challenges of building sustainable enterprises in a rural setting. His story demonstrates how dedication to private enterprise and public service can create a legacy of positive impact that extends well beyond retirement.
Listen to the podcast at northstaterocks.com or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, IHeartRadio, and Pandora.
and bring energy, experience and expertise to complete the simplest jobs efficiently, and overcome the largest obstacles with enthusiasm.
