Raymond G. Lyon was born on a sheep and pear ranch in Lake County in 1933. After being active as a youth in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, Lyon aspired to be a farm advisor or agriculture teacher. Lyon received degrees in animal husbandry and education from California Polytechnic State University. After teaching high school agriculture in Orland, Lyons took a position as 4-H and Farm Advisor with UC extension in 1958, a position he held for thirty-seven years. During those years, Lyon was active in 4-H fundraising and program development, including personally running over a dozen summer-long cross-country trips for 4-H participants to visit other regions of the US. Interview topics include: ethnicity and changing agricultural communities; 4-H in Glenn and Colusa Counties; gender in 4-H; program fundraising; relationship between growers and extension; the goals of 4-H.