For Immediate Release
April 28, 2004

Media Contact:
Jeannette E. Warnert
Sr. Public Information Representative
UC Ag and Natural Resources
(559) 241-7514, cell (559) 240-9850
jwarnert@uckac.edu

Merced County farm advisor and Cooperative Extension Director retires May 1

Fresno – Jim Farley, the director of UC Cooperative Extension in Merced County who spent 35 years advising 4-H members and livestock producers, will retire May 1.  He has led the Merced County office as county director since December 1991.
 
Farley began his successful affiliation with UC Cooperative Extension in Merced County as a 12-year-old 4-H member.  He raised champion sheep and cattle, participated in public speaking and community service activities and served as a club officer and junior leader. He received recognition for excellence in his 4-H projects at the regional and state levels.  Farley was named a Merced County 4-H All Star.  He would later marry a 4-H All Star and raise two children who also received the county organizations highest honor.
 
Farley earned a bachelors degree in animal husbandry in 1967 from UC Davis.  After graduation, he served in the US Army in Germany with a top secret clearance. Returning to Merced County, he accepted a position as a 4-H farm advisor.   In 1974, Farley became the livestock farm advisor.  In 1978, Farley received a masters degree in agriculture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
 
Over the years, Farley has researched alfalfa production, animal nutrition and livestock diseases.  He worked with the Merced-Mariposa Cattlemen Association to develop Merced County Beef Cattle Days and with the pork industry to create PorkPlanner, a computerized record management program.  He wrote numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, including an article on sheep production that was published in a magazine in New Zealand.  During his tenure, livestock producers and other groups interest in animal welfare grew significantly. 
 
I think that livestock producers have always been concerned about animal welfare, Farley said.  If the animals arent well taken care of, they wont be nearly as productive as those that are.
 
Farley joined with other UC advisors and specialists to produce a series of animal welfare publications addressing swine, beef, sheep and poultry production. He discussed the successful acceptance of the swine publication at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md., in 1993.  The publication, co-authored by Farley, Handbook for the Small-Scale Pork Producer, is listed in the Library of Congress.
 
We have learned a lot and producers have become more conscious of how they treat the animals, Farley said.  I believe that our focus on animal welfare has had a positive influence on the industry.
 
Farley used his knowledge of swine production to lead the McSwain 4-H Club swine project group during the years his children were members.  He also served as a Merced County 4-H Camp fishing instructor. Farley and his wife, Louise, have been active in the McSwain community participating in a number of programs benefiting youth.  He was a McSwain Elementary School District board member for two terms, serving as president of the board twice.
 
Farley received numerous awards, including the Tak Date Award for Meritorious Service to the Merced County 4-H Program in 2003; Outstanding Individual in Agri-Education from the Merced City and County Chambers of Commerce in 1994; Search for Excellence, Farm Income Animal Agriculture by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1993; Distinguished Service Citation, California Pork Producers Association in 1993; Distinguished Service Award, California Association of Farm Advisors and Specialists and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1988; and the Norman Ross Excellence in Extension Education Award, presented by the California Association of Farm Advisors and Specialists in 1983.
 
During retirement, Farley and his wife plan to visit their children in the San Diego area and do home improvement projects.  He will spend time supporting an effort to build the Riverside Motorsports Park north of the Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center in Atwater.

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