[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF RAFAEL ``FEYNNER'' ARIAS GODINEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of a 
special friend, Rafael ``Feynner'' Arias Godinez, on this occasion of 
his 20th anniversary as a steward of the UC Landels-Hill Big Creek 
Reserve in Big Sur, California. The Big Creek Reserve is operated by 
the University of California's Santa Cruz campus. The land was part of 
the Circle M Ranch until the ranch was broken up and sold; private 
owners, including my father, the late Senator Fred Farr, later granted 
the land to the university's Natural Reserve System.
  Feynner Arias came to the United States from his native Costa Rica. 
He was born near the town of Parrita, Costa Rica. His family was very 
poor by American standards. Feynner's life in the jungles of Costa Rica 
is full of stories that books and movies are made from; learning to 
hunt and fish from his grandmother, his abuela, Elijia; battling school 
bullies who abandoned him in a well; overcoming deadly snake bites in 
the jungle; learning to survive with just a machete and his wits; and, 
as a sawmill child laborer having to remove saw dust from a fast moving 
sawmill blade. Through hard work and out of necessity, he developed a 
jungle reputation as a person who could track down anything; he could 
hunt and capture it for food or money to support his mother and seven 
siblings.
  Feynner's vast knowledge of the land and animals drew wildlife 
scientists from around the world to hire him as a guide; his work 
helped to establish the Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Feynner 
often traded his guiding services for food. One of his clients was a 
woman PhD candidate at UC Berkeley. Together they lived in the rain 
forest studying ants. After she returned to California he received a 
letter asking him to come for a visit. He traded the gold that he had 
panned for in Panama for an airline ticket to the U.S., going from the 
rain forest of Cost Rica to the San Francisco Bay area. Soon married, 
he landed a job at the Big Creek Reserve. By a stroke of luck, the 
resident reserve manager at Big Creek had, many years prior, benefited 
from Feynner's guide services in Costa Rica and was well familiar with 
Feynner's wilderness experience and helped to guide Feynner through the 
bureaucracy of the university's hiring practices.
  Today, the entire Big Sur coast and the UC Natural Reserve System 
have come to love and respect Feynner's knowledge of natural flora and 
fauna and the coast range. His stories of sleeping near the mountain 
lions, killing a wild boar with a small knife, rescuing lost and 
injured hikers, and leading fire crews to the best areas to fight 
raging fires are well known on the coast. Whether working with world-
renowned academics or nondegreed people like himself, he is sought 
after like a celebrity. He is known locally as the person who can fix 
anything, build anything, or find anything. He is able to grow Costa 
Rican bushes in his home, spot wildlife and whales that others can't 
find, and to understand the natural world around him in ways that the 
more formally educated often can't. His understanding and appreciation 
of the world around him and us is unsurpassed.
  Feynner is now celebrating 20 years with the Big Creek Reserve. Those 
who know and love him celebrate this uncommon immigrant who has 
captured their hearts and minds. We congratulate and celebrate his 
service to the people of California and especially to his friends and 
neighbors in Big Sur.
  Madam Speaker, Speaker, I for one, will always treasure the Farr 
family good fortune to have known, laughed and learned from Rafael 
Arias. Gracias Amigo por todo!




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