North State Rocks

North State Rocks with West BioFuels & Momentum on the Hat Creek Bioenergy Project

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 thinning and wildfire mitigation operations. But the breakthrough is what happens on the other end: the plant produces biochar, a soil amendment with superior water- and nutrient-holding properties that sequesters carbon for 100+ years, creating an additional revenue stream for the operation. The conversation explores why this matters beyond power generation. With several projects in the pipeline, West Biofuels is proving that community-scale bioenergy can scale. Perry and the team also discuss the role of private investors in taking on risk when institutional capital wouldn't, the EU-sourced technology that eliminates water use and wastewater, and how forest management actually becomes economically viable when there's a market for the cleared material. This is a working proof of concept, and it's expanding. LEARN MORE: northstaterocks.com, westbiofuels.com, and buildmomentum.io.

North State Rocks with Weston Hutchings, Hat Creek Construction

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 in February 2009 with one goal: to raise his family where he grew up. The conversation explores the company's near-death experiences, including their worst year financially ($22M revenue in 2007 that left them near bankruptcy), their pivot into the paving business (losing $100K in three days on their first job), and the aggressive risks they took to survive and eventually thrive. Weston reveals how acquiring Jim Miller's asphalt plant, building the Susanville operation, and establishing plants in Lookout and Eagle Peak helped transform Hat Creek into a $100M operation.  But the heart of this episode is about more than business success. Weston and Perry discuss the partnership model that keeps them grounded: how having a trusted co-owner makes the lonely weight of leadership manageable. They explore the role supportive spouses played in enabling them to pursue big dreams, the importance of core values in hiring and culture, and why attracting and retaining elite operational talent has been their greatest competitive advantage. This is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it means to build something meaningful in the North State. Learn more at northstaterocks.com [http://northstaterocks.com].  Listen to the podcast at northstaterocks.com [http://northstaterocks.com/] or on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/north-state-rocks/id1796467503], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/03cqoYpyHM0hAQQT3Actyl?si=1d35a34b045048d7], Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/570c09fe-5f3f-433a-828c-ee32313995e6], IHeartRadio [https://iheart.com/podcast/268614723/], and Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/north-state-rocks/PC:1001098710].

North State Rocks with Bailey Small, PRCA Professional Saddle Bronc Rider

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 University in Stephenville, Texas… and ultimately competing on the national rodeo circuit. Bailey opens up about the moment he nearly quit his freshman year of college, the friendship that pulled him back on course, and the goal-setting habit that has guided every step of his career. He also details his return from a serious knee injury sustained in Pueblo, Colorado, and shares the visualization routine he uses before every single ride. Listeners will hear what it actually takes to build a pro rodeo career from the North State, why small-town coaches and community support matter more than most people realize, and what it means to compete at 100 rodeos a year with the National Finals Rodeo in your sights. Follow Bailey on Facebook and catch his rides on the Cowboy Channel. Listen at northstaterocks.com or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, IHeartRadio, and Pandora.

North State Rocks: Panel on Wolves and Ranchers

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. While sheriffs can issue public safety directives for mountain lions and bears, wolves are "double protected" by state and federal law, leaving communities vulnerable as wolves become increasingly habituated to human presence and exhibit aggressive behavior that runs counter to official wildlife narratives. Listeners will gain insight into the policy handcuffs strangling law enforcement and ranchers alike, discover why misinformation about wolves persists, and hear urgent calls for lethal control tools and delisted zones as necessary management strategies. This episode represents a turning point in the North State wolf conversation, raising voices that official channels have been designed to silence. Learn more at northstaterocks.com [http://northstaterocks.com].

North State Rocks with Jessica Vigil, Elwood Ranch

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 California and neighboring states like Oregon and Washington. Jessica reveals the challenges federal trappers face in confirming kills, the wolves' increasing habituation to human presence, and why these packs pose a different threat than California's original wolf population. Learn more at northstaterocks.com.