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It was an awards ceremony 100 years in the making.
Six Nevada ranches, all family-owned for a century or more, were honored at the Centennial Ranch and Farm awards ceremony recently hosted at the Governor's Mansion … and three of the ranches are in Churchill County.
End of the Rainbow Ranch
The oldest of the ranches honored at the ceremony was the 136-year-old End of the Rainbow Ranch located south of Caliente in Lincoln County. Established by James and Jane Bradshaw in 1873, the 320-acre ranch grew fruits and vegetables for workers at nearby mining camps. The Bradshaws enjoyed a friendly relationship with the Paiute people of the area, and Jane — being able to speak their language — even provided rudimentary medical care and midwifery services for the Native Americans.
The Bradshaw's son, Ruben, built the family ranch house in 1920, which still stands today, and the family donated land and built the local schoolhouse. Ruben's son, Don, expanded the ranch with his brother-in-law, Joe Foley, to 550 acres and added a cattle and alfalfa operation to the business.
Today, the End of the Rainbow Ranch boasts two small lakes for irrigation and is planted with 140 acres of organic apples. A pistachio tree, well over 100 years old and imported from Sicily, marks the spot of the original home.
Bailey Ranch
The Bailey Ranch purchased in 1875 by Robert and Marietta Bailey is located in Diamond Valley in Eureka County near the White Pine county line and in the shadow of the Sulphur Spring Mountain Ranch.
The original 300-acre ranch was purchased 134 years ago for $20 in gold coin, and an old barn and the wash house built in the late 1800s are still in use on the remote ranch. The Bailey's grandson and his wife, Wilfred and Barbara, now run a cow/calf operation and raise alfalfa. Barbara proudly noted that four generations of the Bailey family attended the awards ceremony in Carson City.
Testolin Ranch
Antonio Testolin emigrated from Italy in 1901 and homesteaded 120 acres in Churchill County in 1907, diligently clearing acres of sagebrush to stake his ranch. Along with his wife, Italia, Antonio raised fancy vegetables like celery, eggplant and cardone along with poultry. The family delivered their produce and food to mining camps by truck for many years. Italia continued growing vegetables in the family's expanded garden, and the couple raised seven children — all born in the two-room cabin that still stands today.
Antonio Jr. and his wife, Beulah, took control of the ranch in 1949 after Antonio Sr. died. The younger Testolin leased out the Churchill County ranch and bought and operated the Tierney Creek Ranch in the Reese River Valley in northern Nye County until 1991. Today the Testolin Ranch is leased to a custom farmer, raising alfalfa and corn, but Antonio Jr.'s wife, Beulah, still raises vegetables in the garden.
While elderly, the two remaining Testolin children, Gilbert and Grace, were able to attend the awards ceremony with Beulah — along with two dozen descendants.
Ranch No. 1 – Trimmer/Giovacchini Ranch
Staked in 1864 in downtown Genoa, Ranch No. 1 was purchased by Robert and Sarah Trimmer in 1909. The house, which dates from the 1850s, has witnessed Genoa's history and has served as a stage depot, butcher shop, law office and Trimmer family home.
Trimmer's great-granddaughters — Lisa Lekumberry, Terri Billman and Sheri Walters –— transformed the family ranch from a cow/calf operation into a modern operation with direct sales of natural beef. The sisters have capitalized on the rich history of the original ranch house, renovating it into the Trimmer Outpost featuring artwork, gifts and sundries made by Nevada artisans, and of course, Trimmer beef.
Perfecta Vista Ranches/Mathewson Ranch
Originally a 120-acre ranch in the Union District of Churchill County, Perfecta Vista Ranches is better known as the Newcomb-Mathewson-Washburn Ranch which the family has expanded into 480 acres of farmland. Churchill County Commissioner Gwen Mathewson Washburn and her husband, Bill, are the proud owners of the ranch that was first deeded to her great-grandmother in 1909.
The original ranch house — built with adobe blocks cast from the mud of the Carson River — had two rooms and an attic. As the family grew generation after generation, more rooms were added and the milk separator room was even converted into a bathroom. Today, however, the only structure on the ranch is the adobe ice house built around 1887.
Six generations have lived on the ranch, which today houses a cattle and alfalfa operation.
Kallenbach-Ormachea-Sherman Ranch
George Casper and Margaret Kallenbach purchased the large ranch in Churchill County in 1908, and the ranch is now operated by Kallenbach's spry granddaughter, Marie Sherman. Although the ranch was passed down to Kallenbach's daughter, Marguerite Kallenbach, it was purchased by her husband, Spanish immigrant Thomas Ormachea, after he and Marguerite split up.
Sherman spent her life working alongside her father, Thomas, at the family ranch and at the Clan Alpine Ranch. When he passed away in 1986, the Kallenbach Ranch became hers and today looks like a snapshot of life 100 years ago because Sherman's home – and even the outbuildings – are decorated with antiques.
The Kallenbach Ranch was inducted as a Centennial Ranch in 2008, but was formally recognized at this year's ceremony.
All ranches recognized at the ceremony received a sign designating them as Centennial Ranches, and recipients were also honored with certificates of recognition from Congressman Dean Heller's office. Assemblyman James Settelmeyer also presented them certificates of recognition from Gov. Jim Gibbons' office.
The Nevada Centennial Ranch and Farm Program was established by the Nevada State Historical Preservation Office in 2004 and has recognized more than 30 ranches. To qualify for the award, the ranch or farm must have belonged to the same family for at least 100 years and must be a working ranch with a minimum of 160 acres, or if less than 160 acres, must have gross yearly sales of at least $1,000.
While state funding for the program was cut due to budgetary constraints, the program today is sponsored by the Agricultural Council of Nevada with assistance from the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the Nevada Farm Bureau and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service.
Six Nevada ranches, all family-owned for a century or more, were honored at the Centennial Ranch and Farm awards ceremony recently hosted at the Governor's Mansion … and three of the ranches are in Churchill County.
End of the Rainbow Ranch
The oldest of the ranches honored at the ceremony was the 136-year-old End of the Rainbow Ranch located south of Caliente in Lincoln County. Established by James and Jane Bradshaw in 1873, the 320-acre ranch grew fruits and vegetables for workers at nearby mining camps. The Bradshaws enjoyed a friendly relationship with the Paiute people of the area, and Jane — being able to speak their language — even provided rudimentary medical care and midwifery services for the Native Americans.
The Bradshaw's son, Ruben, built the family ranch house in 1920, which still stands today, and the family donated land and built the local schoolhouse. Ruben's son, Don, expanded the ranch with his brother-in-law, Joe Foley, to 550 acres and added a cattle and alfalfa operation to the business.
Today, the End of the Rainbow Ranch boasts two small lakes for irrigation and is planted with 140 acres of organic apples. A pistachio tree, well over 100 years old and imported from Sicily, marks the spot of the original home.
Bailey Ranch
The Bailey Ranch purchased in 1875 by Robert and Marietta Bailey is located in Diamond Valley in Eureka County near the White Pine county line and in the shadow of the Sulphur Spring Mountain Ranch.
The original 300-acre ranch was purchased 134 years ago for $20 in gold coin, and an old barn and the wash house built in the late 1800s are still in use on the remote ranch. The Bailey's grandson and his wife, Wilfred and Barbara, now run a cow/calf operation and raise alfalfa. Barbara proudly noted that four generations of the Bailey family attended the awards ceremony in Carson City.
Testolin Ranch
Antonio Testolin emigrated from Italy in 1901 and homesteaded 120 acres in Churchill County in 1907, diligently clearing acres of sagebrush to stake his ranch. Along with his wife, Italia, Antonio raised fancy vegetables like celery, eggplant and cardone along with poultry. The family delivered their produce and food to mining camps by truck for many years. Italia continued growing vegetables in the family's expanded garden, and the couple raised seven children — all born in the two-room cabin that still stands today.
Antonio Jr. and his wife, Beulah, took control of the ranch in 1949 after Antonio Sr. died. The younger Testolin leased out the Churchill County ranch and bought and operated the Tierney Creek Ranch in the Reese River Valley in northern Nye County until 1991. Today the Testolin Ranch is leased to a custom farmer, raising alfalfa and corn, but Antonio Jr.'s wife, Beulah, still raises vegetables in the garden.
While elderly, the two remaining Testolin children, Gilbert and Grace, were able to attend the awards ceremony with Beulah — along with two dozen descendants.
Ranch No. 1 – Trimmer/Giovacchini Ranch
Staked in 1864 in downtown Genoa, Ranch No. 1 was purchased by Robert and Sarah Trimmer in 1909. The house, which dates from the 1850s, has witnessed Genoa's history and has served as a stage depot, butcher shop, law office and Trimmer family home.
Trimmer's great-granddaughters — Lisa Lekumberry, Terri Billman and Sheri Walters –— transformed the family ranch from a cow/calf operation into a modern operation with direct sales of natural beef. The sisters have capitalized on the rich history of the original ranch house, renovating it into the Trimmer Outpost featuring artwork, gifts and sundries made by Nevada artisans, and of course, Trimmer beef.
Perfecta Vista Ranches/Mathewson Ranch
Originally a 120-acre ranch in the Union District of Churchill County, Perfecta Vista Ranches is better known as the Newcomb-Mathewson-Washburn Ranch which the family has expanded into 480 acres of farmland. Churchill County Commissioner Gwen Mathewson Washburn and her husband, Bill, are the proud owners of the ranch that was first deeded to her great-grandmother in 1909.
The original ranch house — built with adobe blocks cast from the mud of the Carson River — had two rooms and an attic. As the family grew generation after generation, more rooms were added and the milk separator room was even converted into a bathroom. Today, however, the only structure on the ranch is the adobe ice house built around 1887.
Six generations have lived on the ranch, which today houses a cattle and alfalfa operation.
Kallenbach-Ormachea-Sherman Ranch
George Casper and Margaret Kallenbach purchased the large ranch in Churchill County in 1908, and the ranch is now operated by Kallenbach's spry granddaughter, Marie Sherman. Although the ranch was passed down to Kallenbach's daughter, Marguerite Kallenbach, it was purchased by her husband, Spanish immigrant Thomas Ormachea, after he and Marguerite split up.
Sherman spent her life working alongside her father, Thomas, at the family ranch and at the Clan Alpine Ranch. When he passed away in 1986, the Kallenbach Ranch became hers and today looks like a snapshot of life 100 years ago because Sherman's home – and even the outbuildings – are decorated with antiques.
The Kallenbach Ranch was inducted as a Centennial Ranch in 2008, but was formally recognized at this year's ceremony.
All ranches recognized at the ceremony received a sign designating them as Centennial Ranches, and recipients were also honored with certificates of recognition from Congressman Dean Heller's office. Assemblyman James Settelmeyer also presented them certificates of recognition from Gov. Jim Gibbons' office.
The Nevada Centennial Ranch and Farm Program was established by the Nevada State Historical Preservation Office in 2004 and has recognized more than 30 ranches. To qualify for the award, the ranch or farm must have belonged to the same family for at least 100 years and must be a working ranch with a minimum of 160 acres, or if less than 160 acres, must have gross yearly sales of at least $1,000.
While state funding for the program was cut due to budgetary constraints, the program today is sponsored by the Agricultural Council of Nevada with assistance from the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the Nevada Farm Bureau and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service.
