Nearly two centuries apart, two women made the same decision on the same piece of California ground—to hold on.
Because of these choices, the Spanish Ranch remains one of the last intact pieces of the 22,000-acre historic Rancho de Cuyama No. 1 and is now permanently protected through a conservation easement.
Mary Vail’s story begins in the hills of West Hollywood, where her upbringing was shaped by both education and ranching traditions. Her mother, Christine, was a schoolteacher, and her father, Granville, worked for Vail & Vickers Cattle Company—what Mary simply remembers as “the family company.” She can still picture walking into his office as a young girl and seeing the mounted animals decorating the room.
More often than not, conversations about land focus on what it provides: clean air, fresh water, local food, wildlife habitat, and more. These benefits are visible, measurable, and essential to the health and resilience of communities—a large part of why land conservation exists. Yet when ranchers are asked why they protect their land, their answers often go beyond environmental benefits.
For Starr Reimer, life has always moved at a joyful, full pace. From training horses to caring for rescue dogs, all while staying deeply connected to her church, it’s no wonder she laughs and says, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”
At the end of February, the California Rangeland Trust joined fellow members of the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts (PORT) in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and federal agency leaders about policies that help keep working lands intact.
The things you care about most can shift as you journey through life. As you grow and change, you can use our road map to help you make smart choices—no matter your season of life!
My name is Jazmin Rodriguez, and I recently graduated from the University of California, Davis, where I majored in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. I grew up in California’s Central Valley, though I did not have a strong personal connection to agriculture beyond living near dairies and almond orchards. My passion for agriculture began in high school when I joined FFA and discovered a bright future for myself within the industry. To continue nurturing this passion, I pursued experiences at UC Davis, including serving as an Aggie Ambassador, working at the Student Farm, and seeking opportunities to expand my understanding of the agricultural landscape.
Tom Galli grew up on a piece of land where he didn’t need to cross any roads. “As a kid, I could just walk out into my backyard…and keep going.”
A few generations ago, if you asked someone on the street whether they or their family worked in agriculture, chances are the answer would have been yes. Today, that connection has largely faded. Many people are now generations removed from the land, feeling increasingly disconnected from where their food comes from and from the people who produce it.
The Jackson family has deep roots in Santa Barbara County. Charles Hervey “Pete” Jackson, Jr. was an entrepreneur, horseman, and polo player who had ventured west from New York to Santa Barbara and fell in love with the West coast lifestyle. In 1944 he bought the Alisal Ranch at auction. Along with his wife, Ann Gavit Jackson, they built the Alisal into a successful cattle operation and luxury dude ranch. But they didn’t stop there. The couple was involved in a variety of other pursuits in Santa Barbara including horse breeding and racing as well as real estate investments. Pete and Ann were also passionate about philanthropy and supporting nonprofits in their community.
California Rangeland Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 31-1631453) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.
© 2020 California Rangeland Trust. All Rights Reserved.
Developed by Go West Marketing.
