Pam Giacomini, 66, of Hat Creek, California, died Dec. 29, 2024 at home.
Pamela Ann Thompson was born Oct. 21, 1958, in Redding to her parents, Robert and Lois Opdyke Thompson. She grew up with her older brother and sister on the family ranch originally settled by her great-grandparents in 1903. Pam was active in 4-H and FFA and showed livestock at the local, regional and state levels. She graduated from Fall River High School in 1976.
In the summer of 1975, while attending a statewide Regional FFA Officer Leadership Conference, Pam first kindled a relationship with Henry Giacomini from Ferndale, who at that time was state FFA president. They dated for three years while never living near each other. Pam attended Chico State from 1976-1978. She and Henry were married on Aug. 12, 1978 at the ranch in Hat Creek and celebrated their 46th anniversary this year. Their devotion to each other has always been apparent to everyone who has known them.
Following their graduation from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 1980, she with a degree in agricultural journalism, Pam and Henry moved to Humboldt County and took over Henry’s family dairy business. Pam taught agriculture at Ferndale High School and College of the Redwoods while actively partnering with Henry on the dairy. Their son, Wade, arrived in 1985. During their time in Ferndale, Pam actively engaged in the local community and they made significant improvements on the dairy, receiving the first Humboldt County Dairy of the Year Award in 1984. Pam was also recognized by the Humboldt-Del Norte Cattlemen’s Association and the Ferndale Boosters for her contributions to those organizations.
After eight years in Ferndale, the young family shifted from dairy cows on the coast to beef in the mountains, acquiring the cattle business at Hat Creek Hereford Ranch from Pam’s parents. They established HP Livestock and proceeded to grow their cattle numbers and added leased properties to support them, eventually reaching 60,000 acres. It was a true partnership, and they became known in the community as the “dynamic duo.” Henry and Pam were the first to introduce innovative pasture management systems that have now been widely adopted in the area. In 2007, they introduced Hat Creek Grown which they operated as a consumer direct beef sales business. In 2024, they were named one of three finalists for the California Leopold Conservation Award, which is annually presented nationwide to “landowners who demonstrate exemplary dedication to land, water and wildlife management on private, working lands.”
Pam held many interests and never engaged in anything at which she was not determined to excel. Her pursuits included time as an FFA advisor and judging team coach, professional photographer and as partner with her sister, Kathy, at Century 21 Big Pines Real Estate. She was a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Class XXI in 1993, and obtained her master’s degree in agriculture from Cal Poly in 2003.
Pam’s interest in agricultural advocacy and politics led her to rewarding work with the California Farm Bureau Federation; nine years as a regional field representative and four as director of governmental affairs in Sacramento focusing on livestock, public lands and associated environmental issues. She also engaged in leadership and service including the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Pam was elected to represent District 3 on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors from 2013 to 2016. In 2016, she received the prestigious Common Threads North Award, “presented to a Northern California woman in agriculture who has made a difference in their communities and our world through service.”
Pam is survived by her husband Henry, son Wade, sister Kathy (Howard) Lakey, mother-in-law Elsie Giacomini, sisters- and brothers-in-law Alice Thompson, Pete (Libby) Giacomini, and Dan (Pat) Giacomini, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robert Thompson, Jr. and her father-in-law, Donald Giacomini.
A celebration of Pam’s life will be held at 111100 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at George Ingram Hall, Intermountain Fairgrounds, McArthur, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Pam’s memory be directed to Mayers Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Fall River Mills, CA 96028.
This article appears in The Battle Over Bear River.