Buckeye Ranch, Tracy, CAThe pic just doesn't do justice to show how steep this country is !
Porter Lynn Willis, Larryann Willis, Laurie Kemp, Ansel and myself at the Buckeye Ranch
Dancer with day old filly born May 23, 2008May 22, 2008
For the past 10 years I have been making an annual Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage to the Buckeye Ranch south of Tracy, CA to help them gather yearlings. My longtime friends, Port and Larryann Willis manage this unique ranch operation for Greg Kent, a former NFL Oakland Raider linebacker. Most year’s my friends Cindi and Laurie have gone along with me for a girls vacation riding and gathering cattle, with good food and visiting.
This year Laurie and I drove down and Ansel went along with us since they didn’t have any cattle to gather due to the drought and not having any grass. We still rode some each day, and on Sat. we helped the neighbor gather their cattle.
For the past 10 years I have been making an annual Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage to the Buckeye Ranch south of Tracy, CA to help them gather yearlings. My longtime friends, Port and Larryann Willis manage this unique ranch operation for Greg Kent, a former NFL Oakland Raider linebacker. Most year’s my friends Cindi and Laurie have gone along with me for a girls vacation riding and gathering cattle, with good food and visiting.
This year Laurie and I drove down and Ansel went along with us since they didn’t have any cattle to gather due to the drought and not having any grass. We still rode some each day, and on Sat. we helped the neighbor gather their cattle.
Some things just work out the way they are supposed to… Big Port, Porter Lynn’s Dad is 87 and is in failing health. He had quadruple bypass surgery a few days before we arrived, so it was nice to be able to see him, and pray with him and just be there at this time of uncertainty. Had there been cattle to gather, we likely wouldn’t have had the time to visit Port Sr. in the hospital. My own parents passed away several years ago. Big Port and Averyel adopted my boys and I into their family long ago. I credit him with teaching me the basics about working cattle and riding a cow-horse when I worked for them at their feedlot in Payette, Id.
Laurie and I with Big Port at the Buckeye (May 2006)The ranch is very remote, no electricity, everything powered by propane, solar, or diesel generator. They don’t have cell phone reception or a landline. However they do have a hot tub heated by propane and normally we ride our butts off in the incredibly steep rough country in 90 to 100 degree weather and earn our hearty meals and evening soaks in the hot tub . 
Port headed to the generator house
Ansel says he has never in his 93 years seen cattle country as steep and rough as this is. It makes me smile to hear him describe it to others… cause no explanation or amount of pictures truly shows how steep this country is. Ansel says he doesn’t understand how the cattle stand up on the hillsides to graze. We told him about a few known instances of “cow bowling” that has taken place. Where one steer fell and rolled down hill into another steer and knocked others down and they all went tumbling !!!
Port headed to the generator houseAnsel says he has never in his 93 years seen cattle country as steep and rough as this is. It makes me smile to hear him describe it to others… cause no explanation or amount of pictures truly shows how steep this country is. Ansel says he doesn’t understand how the cattle stand up on the hillsides to graze. We told him about a few known instances of “cow bowling” that has taken place. Where one steer fell and rolled down hill into another steer and knocked others down and they all went tumbling !!!
Friend Maureen, "Mo", helps Larryann with the foal imprinting
Son Russel Willis, Laurie and baby Averyil look on while Larryann gets Shelby the pony ready for a ride.
Now they can't get her off...
Larryann is determined to show me how gentle her Tango colt is... (we were catching horses to ride) she's going to ride Tango bareback with just a rope looped over his nose and lead my horse back to the barn.
Just an interesting tree that mysteriously grows out of this rock
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