
Rana Ranch: Taking a Leap in Land Conservation
Calaveras County, as known as “Frogtown, USA”, was made famous by jumping frogs, so it only seems fitting that frogs are helping a local ranching couple take the leap to conserve their beloved ranch.
Calaveras County, as known as “Frogtown, USA”, was made famous by jumping frogs, so it only seems fitting that frogs are helping a local ranching couple take the leap to conserve their beloved ranch.
25 years ago, the California Rangeland Trust was born out of need— a need to keep ranchers on the land and a need to keep working lands productive in California.
The year was 1997— land prices were rising, taxes were becoming more burdensome, and the threat of development loomed over California’s rangelands. Feeling the pressures, some ranchers got out of the business altogether, while others moved across state lines to continue their operations. It seemed like the sustainability of California’s ranching industry was in jeopardy.
Richard and Sharon Kline, current owners of Rancho San Lorenzo, were “city folk” by circumstance, but they are ranchers by choice.
Despite their urban upbringings, each held an appreciation for agriculture and the western way of life, and it was this shared appreciation that brought them together over 38 years ago.
It is often joked that the signing of a conservation easement is like a wedding—forever uniting a landowner and land trust in an ongoing collaborative partnership. Ranching is unique and complex, with highs and lows as cyclical as the weather. So, it makes sense that ranchers pursuing conservation want assurance that the organization they are signing a perpetual contract with understands these challenges and supports their efforts to steward the land while also making a living off it. The Silva family is no exception.
When George Goodwin bought the Goodwin Ranch in 1987, he was seeking to reconnect to the land and his agricultural upbringing. George grew up in Southern California and together with his wife, Martha, they raised their six children in San Bernardino County. But deep down, George knew he wanted to one day return to the place he spent many childhood summers—Northern California’s scenic Sierra Valley.
Today, the California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent conservation of 117 acres of the Mendenhall Ranch on top of Palomar Mountain in San Diego, County. The conservation agreement, held by the Rangeland Trust, will prevent the sale of smaller parcels from the ranch and protect the grassy mountain meadow valley at the top of the Palomar Mountain.
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.