A 1966 graduate of West Linn High School, John Dimick has become an icon in the world of high school agriculture education in Oregon and in the world of Future Farmers of America throughout the United States.

Following his high school graduation, John attended Oregon State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a teaching degree.   His first job in 1970 was teaching agriculture at Phoenix High School.  In 1978-79 John worked on the Crawford Ranches in Burns, Oregon.  In 1979 John accepted a teaching position at Crater High School teaching agriculture and becoming the advisor of the FFA program.  John spent the next 24 years at Crater High where he developed the agriculture program into a state and nationally recognized program.  Today, John and his wife, Aleta own and operate the Bar Five Ranch in Eagle Point.

Community involvement: Jackson Co Stockmen’s Association, Jackson Co. Fair Board, Oregon County Fair Commission, Oregon FFA Foundation, Jackson Co. 4H and FFA Junior Livestock Auctions, Inc., Jackson Co. Friends of the Fair Foundation, Grange Co-op Board of Directors, Crater Foundation Board of Directors, Jackson Co. Fire District 3 Board of Directors and Central Point Rotary.

Honors/awards/recognition: Honorary Oregon State FFA Degree, 1982, Honorary American FFA Degree, 1988, Oregon Agriculture Teacher of the Year, 1984 and 2001, coached four National Champion FFA Livestock Teams and twelve State Champion Teams, three State Champion Horse Teams and an Agricultural Sales Team, Oregon Fairs Assn. Distinguished Service Award, 2010, Crater Foundation Hall of Fame for 1995 National Champion Livestock Team Coach, Oregon Agriculture Teachers Association Lifetime Professional Service Award, 2017 and Friends of the Fair Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019.

George Washington said that “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man.” John tells, “I was indeed fortunate to spend my career teaching students about that agriculture industry, but also as important was to give them the skills they need to be successful in life and in their chosen careers. Serving as a teacher, mentor and role model is a major responsibility with life-changing power, and I’m indeed proud of the many students, now friends, that are involved in their communities, with their families, making an impact for the better.  One of the accomplishments of which I am most proud is knowing that seventeen of my former students chose to follow my career path of teaching agriculture and that fourteen of them, in six different states are still in the field of education.”