Thread: Our family ranch

Let me begin by explaining the situation,

When grandfather was alive he owned over 30,000 acres of both farming fields and “The Sierra”

Before he passed he sold several farming fields and the actual “Sierra” was already in a trust for all owners to share and enjoy equally.

Upon his death and per his estates decree the farming fields were divided up among the family and so although all the farming fields today have different owners listed, it’s all the same family, (aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, spouses, etc.) and all equally share and enjoy the “Sierra”

Today the total amount of land that is family owned is about 25,000
acres

Our “Sierra” is actually about 15,000 acres of pristine undeveloped raw natural land. The neighbors who own another large tract of “Sierra” next door are also “family” related by marriage and we have access to that land as well for camping, hiking or just having a day out in nature, which we often do.

The farming fields produce corn, wheat, rye, alfalfa, peppers, and various types of beans. We also have a vast variety of live stock among the family including, dairy cows, ducks, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, horses, and 500+ head of beef cattle (mostly Charlois)

The family and all owners collectively were offered almost 80 million dollars for all the land but turned it down. Land is by far the best long term investment and since this land has now been in the family for three generations it’s not going anywhere soon and only increases in value.

Notice what looks like a nipple on the mountain in the first picture; use this nipple as a reference because it will be seen in many pictures throughout this thread to give you a reference point. These pictures were taken on the front side of the Sierra where some of the open fields are located

This next series of pictures is on the outer ridge of the sierra

We live in a very rural area and I often say it is as rural as it gets. Just to give you an idea of how rural it is what I did with this series of pictures was stand in one place and begin taking pictures in a circular pattern so that the pictures could be patched together into one large panoramic picture.

I tried to make the pictures overlap just enough to have a reference from the previous picture. Enjoy!

This is one of two dirt roads that go into the “Sierra”



Some sheep grazing just inside the “Sierra”



Just inside the Sierra and looking down the hill from the dirt road to one of the natural ponds. There are four of these ponds that fill when it rains


Another views or angle of the same pond


I parked the truck in front of the pond to give an idea of the size of the pond in reference to the suburban




Leaving the first pond and driving further into the sierra it almost looks like a golf course with the manicured grass. This is because the grass is kept short by the animals that graze here



Up through some tress there are some horses grazing and keeping the place manicured



Another view of the area just past the first pond



Although you might not see it too clearly you can just barely make out the Nipple on the hill in the background on the upper left of it.



A much clearer view of the nipple

Cattle out in the sierra



These are well fed and fatted beef cattle that are kept in the sierra, note they look much different than the dairy cows that often look bony or skinny



Another angle or perspective picture of the nipple and this angle is further down the dirt road



This is the second pond inside the sierra from this particular dirt road



Yet another angle of the second pond and notice the nipple on the hill in the background Can you say erosion



Here is another picture of the second pond with several horsed drinking. Notice the nipple on the mountain in the background; this is the same nipple I have been pointing out in the other pictures

This picture is from the other side of the pond with my zoom lens out



A close up of the horses because everyone loves horses and if you notice just behind the rear quarter of the horses that is the farthest out in the water, there is a tree with two trunks in the water. Use this as a reference for the next picture



This is with the camera zoomed in and if you notice in the center of the truck just above it in the distance you can just barely make out the tree with the two trunks were the horses were drinking



Believe it or not this is still the second pond but with the camera lens zoomed all the way in to get everything in the picture including the truck. This is with the camera and a slightly different angle and if you notice the pile of cow dung near the back tire it will prove the truck in actually in the same spot as the previous picture

Notice again the nipple in the distance. This puts into perspective the distance and the size of the second pond

I have a 20X optical zoom lens on my camera with an 8 gig memory car so I can take a few thousand pictures each time I go out.

Again at the second pond with the cattle that arrived to get a drink of water. Whenever they see a truck they come to you as they are conditioned to think you are bringing a block of saltlick





A new calf with its mother



Here is a pony posing for the camera in a stance that is just too cute



Here are two hoses behind the truck; this is just after leaving the second pond and heading deeper into the sierra. Notice again the nipple on the hill behind and to the right



I think this is a very pretty horse, although it had a small branch tangled in its tail and couldn’t shake it lose. It was funny to watch it try to though

Once you continue down this path it’s not long before you enter the rougher more rugged inner Sierra



This is where the terrain changes drastically and this is because the higher concentration of rock and less soil as well as elevation. This is literally just a few thousand feet inside the trees in the last picture. The road becomes so rough and overgrown that you have to park your vehicle and go by foot.



The end of even the rough road and here it is foot trails begin inside to the Sierra to the third pond

Then right before you think you really have nothing else to see you come to a clearing and you realize you are looking down into a canyon where the third pond is located. You stand there amazed that you’re able to see all over in every direction at the high vantage point and look way down below with the huge difference in terrain in such a short distance you have traveled



Another angle of the third pond from a vantage point high above





Looking down the canyon away from the pond

This is great Hiking County and very rough terrain

WOw, Incredible land. Do you lease it out or do you own the working cattle portion of it? How could you not want to build a house out there? lol I would LOVE the seclusion!

Thanks for the post, its beautiful!

As I mentioned the reason the grass looks so manicured is the number of sheep and other animals that graze there. Here are a few sheep and goats.



They even trim the bushes and keep the landscaping looking ship shape!



Another cow with her calf



Wide shot of the two again to give you an idea of the expanse of land

This is the road leaving the sierra going back to the farm



Another view



Then half way home I spotted this fellow on a fence post and stopped and took a picture





He got spooked and took to flight and this is one of those rare pictures that just turns out really good and I can’t take any credit for it, just a neat looking picture at the right time the shutter worked its magic and the bird was in the right position



Then within in seconds he was working his way towards the clouds

Here is the large pond and in the back you can clearly see the nipple now up close



If you look at this satellite picture of the large pond you can see down in the bottom right corner a little yin yang loop like canal



This is the same yin yang loop canal but at ground level and the large pond. There is some fishing in here but I have never really cared for fish



Another angle