FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2007

Nevada Ag Department Director Resigns After Audit and Investigation are Made Public

(RENO, NV) Don Henderson, Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, resigned earlier this week after public disclosure of $720,000 of Department accounting adjustments, on-the-job drinking, and personal misconduct. “This may be a positive step towards restructuring the Department to work for, instead of against Nevada agriculture,” stated Wayne Hage, NLSA Director. In a recent letter to Governor Gibbons the Nevada Live Stock Association (NLSA) wrote that, “The current Board [of Agriculture] has failed repeatedly to meaningfully address the gross mismanagement problems within the Department, as revealed in both the Legislative Audit and Department of Personnel investigation involving the complaints of 20 percent of the Department’s personnel.” “We are very hopeful with this news. Unfortunately, before this matter became public, the Board’s solution in its December meeting was to tell Don to quit drinking on the job and vote to give him a “Vote of Confidence”. I question whether the current Board, which has full oversight responsibilities for the Department, is capable of taking seriously matters that have possible criminal implications,” said Cliven Bundy, NLSA Director. In his letter of resignation, Henderson designated his deputy Rick Gimlin, the Department’s bookkeeper, to serve as acting Director until the Board and Governor appoint a new Director. “That’s a little bit like asking the fox to watch the hen house,” remarked Ramona Morrison of the NLSA. “Mr. Gimlin has been in charge of the Department’s finances during Henderson’s entire tenure. There are several very competent administrators in the Department who could take over temporarily without all the baggage Mr. Gimlin has. I hope the Board addresses this matter.”
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9732 State Route 445, #305 Sparks, Nevada 89436 775.424.0570 Fax 775.424.0571 www.nevadalivestock.org
“The object of this association is to advance the interests of stock growers of all kinds, protection of the same against frauds and swindlers, and to prevent the stealing, taking and driving away of any live stock from the rightful owners thereof, and to enforce the stock laws of Nevada (1884).”

David Holmgren, NLSA Chairman, 775.312.0019
Wayne Hage, NLSA Director, 775.482.4637
Cliven Bundy, NLSA Director, 702.346.5564
Ramona Morrison, NLSA Direct, 775.722.2517

Email copies of Letter to Governor, previous related NLSA press releases, Grand Jury Report, and Second Judicial District Court ruling involving Department’s brand inspection practices are available upon request.