Sagehorn-Russell Ranch

Mendocino County, California

Marilyn and Jerry Russell carry on the unique legacy of the Sagehorn-Russell Ranch.

The Sagehorn-Russell Ranch is nestled among the hills and mountains of Mendocino County and is rich in trees, plants, and wildlife. The 5,241-acre ranch has an important place in history as it is where Memorial Rock is found. The inscribed rock has served as a sacred landmark for Native Americans and later by the Sagehorns in 1948 when they acquired the property.


Marilyn Russell is the third generation of ranchers to experience the scenic beauty of her family’s ranch, which showed her why it needed to be protected. She was entrusted by her parents, the Sagehorns, to ensure the land would be forever cared for. Marilyn and her husband Jerry donated the land’s conservation agreement to California Rangeland Trust in 2017 to honor her responsibility.


The Russell’s have also opened their land to be used as a primary research center for the UC Berkeley Eel River Critical Zone Observatory project. Through this and their donation to the Rangeland Trust, Marilyn is creating a unique legacy for the Sagehorn-Russell Ranch. She has always called it home and thanks to the stewardship choices made by the Russells, the ranch will have an important impact in the future of coastal ranches.