James Harris leaves Santa Fe airport for Texas position
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San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hawk missing from California zoo shows up 15 months later
A hawk missing from a California zoo showed up 15 months later in a backyard just 25 miles from where he was lost. Ripley, a male Harris's hawk, flew away from the Fresno Chafee Zoo during a bird show last April and had been missing ever since. He was driven out by local red-tailed hawks during the show, and then could not be located despite widespread news coverage and dozens of reported sightings, the zoo reported on its website this week. That was until late last month, when a neighbor saw an unusual hawk in her backyard in Prather (Fresno County) about 25 miles from Fresno, and contacted the zoo after seeing reports about the missing bird of prey. Zoo staff arrived at the home, coaxed him onto a falconer's glove and brought him back to the zoo, where a veterinarian found him in good health, the zoo's bird show animal manager told CBS News. 'It was truly a massive effort from everyone in the Fresno community, and we are endlessly grateful to everyone who shared his story, sent in sightings and supported the search to bring Ripley back where he belongs,' said Ronnie Kerestus, curator of outreach at the zoo, in the zoo blog post. Harris's hawks are mostly dark brown, with chestnut brown coloring on their wings and legs and some white markings. The birds are native to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, as well as Mexico, Central America and South America. Male and female adults are about the size of a crow and tend to weigh 18 to 31 ounces, whereas red-tailed hawks are much larger, with females weighing up to 52 ounces, according to Merlin, a bird identification and education resource from Cornell University.
Epoch Times
13-08-2025
- Epoch Times
The Death of the Small Farm Is the Death of Rural America
Modern farming is destroying small communities as we move more and more toward the 'go big or go home' model—thousands of acres of the same monocrop, managed by one or two people on a tractor spraying chemicals. What used to be 20 or 30 small farms—each with a household and family that supported the local restaurant, gas station, feed store, and the veterinarian who served a few counties—is now replaced by a single sprawling operation with no animals, no neighbors, and no community. Over the past decade, roughly 140,000 U.S. farms have vanished, and it's not just those farms that have collapsed—but the entire ecosystem they supported: diners, auction barns, schools, vets, and feed stores have all felt the blow. The economic destruction radiates outward—every boarded-up business is a ripple from a missing farm. Despite this, small farms are often treated as quaint, inefficient, and economically irrelevant in the modern food system. But the numbers tell a different story. Globally, farms under 2 hectares (about 5 acres) produce around 30 to 34 percent of the world's food, while using only about 24 percent of agricultural land. That's not inefficiency—that's productivity. If you expand that to farms under 5 hectares, they produce more than half of the world's food. These farms grow a diverse range of crops and raise animals in ways that serve local and regional markets—feeding people directly, not just supplying commodity markets or overseas exports. Small farms matter because they produce food where it's eaten, keeping supply chains short and resilient. They're often the ones growing the vegetables at your farmers market, the eggs from down the road, the beef from a rancher you know by name. They support biodiversity, employ more people per acre, and keep profits circulating locally. Dismissing them as outdated isn't just wrong—it's dangerous to our food security. While most of the farms we've lost were small family operations, the fight to save rural America isn't just about acreage—it's about approach. It's not the size of the farm that determines its value to a community, but the farming practices it uses and the relationships it sustains. A larger farm can still operate in a way that regenerates the soil, employs local people, and feeds its neighbors—if it's run with vision and courage. That's exactly what Will Harris has done at White Oak Pastures, his 1,250-acre family farm in Bluffton, Georgia (held by his family since 1866). In the mid-1990s, Harris made a radical break from industrial agriculture. He replaced chemical inputs and confinement feeding with rotational grazing, diversified livestock, and on-site, USDA-inspected processing facilities. White Oaks Pastures is now one of the only farms in the country with separate abattoirs for red meat and poultry. To make this transformation, Harris took an extraordinary risk—borrowing $7.5 million against the family land to build these processing plants in 2008. It was a gamble most would never dare, but it paid off. His farm now operates as a zero-waste, closed-loop agricultural ecosystem, where nothing goes to waste, and grass-fed meats, eggs, organic vegetables, and byproducts like hides are turned into artisanal goods and compost. His regenerative practices have rebuilt topsoil, captured carbon, and sparked a local economic revival. Today, White Oak Pastures employs up to 180 people, making it Clay County's largest private employer. What was once a dying ghost town now has a general store, a restaurant, lodging, and an event center—because one man chose to bet everything on a different way forward. His example proves it's not the scale that matters—it's the soil health, the humane treatment of animals, the jobs created, and the way the farm integrates into the life of the town. The wake-up call is already ringing: boarded-up Main Streets, closed auction barns, veterinarians relocated to cities, feed stores shuttered, schools shrinking. And make no mistake—this is not just an economic issue. It's a matter of national security. If we lose the ability to feed ourselves, we lose the ability to protect ourselves. Food has been a weapon in almost every war in history. Without control over our food supply, we surrender control over our future. When we allow small and mid-size farms to fail, we don't just lose their food production—we lose the skills, the infrastructure, and the intergenerational knowledge that comes with them. We also lose the community glue they provide. Farmers don't just grow food—they buy feed, fix equipment locally, hire the local vet, and send their kids to the local school. Multiply that by dozens of farms in a county, and you see why their disappearance hollows out whole regions. That's why I am thrilled that Will Harris will be joining us at Sovereignty Ranch at the end of September for our Food is Medicine retreat—a gathering dedicated to restoring health, community, and resilience through the way we grow, cook, and share food. We'll be talking about soil, nutrition, farm economics, and the urgent need to rebuild regional food systems—because the fight for our farms is the fight for our future. If you care about your country, your health, and your freedom, start now: support small farmers. Buy from them directly. Demand that your grocery stores and restaurants source from them. And most importantly—eat the small farm diet. This means real food from real farms, grown in a way that nourishes the soil and the people. Every purchase is a vote for the kind of America we want to live in. The survival of rural America—and perhaps the survival of America itself—depends on it.
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Desiree Harris named new District Principal of Indigenous Learning for SD46
The Sunshine Coast School District (SD46) has appointed Desiree Harris as its new District Principal of Indigenous Learning, effective Aug. 1. Her appointment follows the retirement of longtime leader Kerry Mahlman. According to a district release, Harris was selected after a national search led by Leaders International and a selection committee that included representatives from the shíshálh Nation and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. The district credited the committee's 'insights and unique perspectives' in helping choose a leader aligned with Indigenous values and vision. Harris, who is Michif, Red River Métis, brings over a decade of classroom experience and years in leadership roles focused on Indigenous education, equity, and curriculum development. She holds a master's degree in Indigenous studies, with a thesis that used Indigenous research methodologies to explore student experiences and supports that foster respect and wellbeing. 'I am grateful to live and work as a guest on the traditional, unceded lands and waters of shíshálh Nation and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw,' Harris said in the release. 'I carry a deep sense of responsibility to walk alongside shíshálh, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, families, and communities to ensure their voices, cultures, and rights are valued and upheld in our schools.' Superintendent Kate Kerr welcomed Harris to the role, praising her 'dedication, authenticity, and vision,' and thanked Mahlman for her 'extraordinary leadership and commitment to Indigenous learning over the years.' Jordan Copp is Coast Reporter's civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
