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2 CapitalPress.com April 8, 2016 People & Places Ranchers combine old and new Jim and Mary Rickert use time- tested methods, latest technology Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer Western Innovator By TIM HEARDEN Capital Press ANDERSON, Calif. — In their award-winning organic beef operation, Jim and Mary Rickert combine the best of the old with the best of the new. Jim Rickert, whose fam- ily has been farming in the United States since the Revo- lutionary War, uses time-test- ed methods for minimizing stress in his animals and finishing them to produce top-quality meat. At the same time, comput- er-based, detailed records are kept on each animal through- out its lifespan and he uses the latest in DNA technology in the breeding program. “A lot of this is genera- tional,” Jim Rickert said of the care that goes into the cow-calf operation, which he and his wife have run for 37 years. “When your fami- ly’s been in the business for at least 100 years, and when you’re standing around cutting up meat on a table, you have plenty of time” to discuss ways to refine tech- niques, he said. For their attention to food quality — they use no growth-stimulating hor- mones, feed antibiotics or animal-sourced proteins — and for their environmental stewardship, the Rickerts have won many awards over the years. Among them was the 2015 Leopold Conservation Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation and two other organizations, which recognized Prather Ranch for collaborating with diverse partners to enhance the land on the operation’s several owned and leased properties in Shasta and Sis- kiyou counties. Among the projects the Leopold Award recognized was the Rickerts’ approach to managing the wild rice fields on their land near Mt. Capital Press Jim and Mary Rickert Residence: McArthur, Calif. Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Ages: 67 and 63 Occupation: Majority own- ers and general managers, Prather Ranch in Northern California Family: Children Jon Rick- ert, Eileen Rickert-Ehn and James Rickert Website: http://www.prather- ranch.com Shasta. After the harvest, they began tilling the stub- ble into the soil and keeping their fields covered in water year-round to benefit water- fowl and attract shore birds. On April 7, the Rickerts were to accept the 2016 Distinguished California Agriculturalist Award at a Visalia, Calif., event hosted by the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, a group that Jim Rickert led in the 1980s. The group credits the Rickerts for increasing the Prather Ranch operation over time from a 3,000- acre pasture, hay and timber ranch to over 35,000 acres consisting of a vertically integrated cow-calf beef op- eration, feed yard, slaugh- terhouse, retail meat outlets and haying operation, all while preserving wetlands and wildlife habitat on their properties. “This one was out of the blue,” Mary Rickert said. “This one means a lot to us because it’s our peer group.” The Rickerts both come from history-making fami- lies. Jim’s ancestor, Heinrich Rickert, was a German mer- cenary soldier fighting for the British in the American Revolution until he was cap- tured by George Washing- ton, who offered him land if he switched sides. The fam- ily has farmed in America ever since, gradually moving West and settling in North- ern California. A Hanford, Calif., native, Mary’s grandfather, Julian McPhee, was a longtime president of California Poly- technic University-San Luis Obispo, once saving it from closure, and opened Cal Poly-Pomona. Her father, Emilio LaSalle, was a key early proponent of ag educa- tion in California. The Rickerts’ main busi- ness was appraising farm- land. But in the late 1970s, Walter Ralphs — an execu- tive in his family’s Los An- geles-based Ralphs grocery store chain — asked the cou- ple to help manage his orig- inal Prather Ranch in Siski- you County. They began to acquire an interest in the in- corporated ranch over time, gaining majority ownership when Ralphs died in 2010. Over the years, the Fall River Mills, Calif.-based company has gained a rep- utation for the impeccable quality of its meat. Much care goes into every facet of the operation, from how the animals are treated to how they’re slaughtered and how the meat is processed, Jim Rickert said. The Rickerts have a closed herd, meaning they don’t buy in bulls or share grazing land or facilities with other ranches’ cattle, although they do use arti- ficial insemination to keep the herd going. A herds- man takes an “artisanal ap- proach” in watching each cow or calf closely for signs of illness, Mary Rickert said. The cattle are raised on grass and finished on a mix- ture of barley, rice bran and hay, Rickert said. At slaugh- ter, the environment is kept quiet and gentle so no stress hormones affect the quali- ty of the meat, Jim Rickert said. The meat is dry-aged for two weeks and cut most- ly with knives rather than saws to avoid having bone dust sour the meat, he said. With making hamburger, “there’s a real art to it,” he said. “You have to have the right fat content. The fat has to come from the right part of the body. … The fat on the back of the loins is the best.” The meat is refrigerated to just above freezing so that cuts are clean and bac- An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. Tim Hearden/Capital Press Jim and Mary Rickert stand on the deck of their ranch near Anderson, Calif. The couple has won numerous awards for their organic beef and other agricultural products. Entire contents copyright © 2016 EO Media Group dba Capital Press teria doesn’t spread, he said. The Rickerts have main- tained a natural approach to production from the be- ginning, encouraged by the Ralphs stores, but they didn’t always find a big market for organically pro- duced beef. “People like to buy lo- cal, and they like to connect with producers,” Jim Rick- ert said. “But we went to farmers’ markets when we were starting, and we’d go to San Rafael (in the San Francisco Bay area) and stand in the rain all morn- ing and sell $100 worth of meat.” But their prospects changed on Dec. 23, 2003, when bovine spongiform encephalopathy — called mad cow disease — was discovered in the United States. “We’ve had a waiting list ever since,” Mary Rickert said. To calve twice a year, slaughter once a week and maintain a consistent level of quality is “a challenge,” Jim Rickert said. But after nearly four decades in the business, the couple is still getting better at it, they said. “If we could have anoth- er two or three careers,” Jim Rickert said, “we’d proba- bly get it dialed in.” POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Toll free ............................. 800-882-6789 Main line ........................... 503-364-4431 Fax ................................... 503-370-4383 Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692 News Staff N. 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That includes seven com- missions looking for public members, according to an ODA press release. Public members cannot be directly associated with Calendar the production or handling of the commodity a commis- sion addresses. ODA Director Katy Coba appoints commissioners and is expected to begin mak- ing appointments as early as next month. Successful public mem- ber candidates will join producers and handlers — those who are first purchas- Sponsored by: To submit an event go to the Community Events calendar on the home page of our website at www. capitalpress.com and click on “Sub- mit an Event.” Calendar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. tion, FEXPO Agricola Central, Talca, Chile Saturday, April 9 Friday, April 15 96th Annual California Ram Sale. Viewing starts at 8 a.m. Over 400 range rams from California, Or- egon, Idaho and Utah. Crossbred, Hampshire, Suffolk and White- Faced (Columbia, Rambouillet) rams will be auctioned off in the sale. In addition three purebred ewes will also be sold. Also, ultrasound car- cass measurements and a range ram index will be provided on all sale rams, Porterville Fairgrounds, 2700 W. Teapot Dome Ave., Porterville, Calif. http://cawoolgrowers.org/sale/ ramsale.html Idaho FFA State Leadership Conference, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls. idahoffa.org/ Tuesday, April 12 Oregon Cranberry Growers Twi- light Meeting, 4 p.m., Robinson Farm, Bandon, Ore. www.oregoncranber- rygrowers.com Wednesday, April 13 International Fair of Agricultural Technologies Conference and Exhibi- Thursday, April 14 International Fair of Agricultural Technologies Conference and Exhibi- tion, FEXPO Agricola Central, Talca, Chile International Fair of Agricultural Technologies Conference and Exhibi- tion, FEXPO Agricola Central, Talca, Chile Saturday, April 16 Oregon Women for Agriculture Auction & Dinner, 5-9 p.m. The or- ganization’s 29th annual fundraiser, themed “Oregon Agriculture A to Z,” will take place at the Linn Coun- ty Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E in Albany, Ore. Cost: $40 per person. http://owaonline.org/ owa-auction-2016/ Goat healthcare and nutrition and packgoat seminar, 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Edelweiss Acres, Olympia, Wash. $25 per person; $7.50 for 4-H members. Go to the website, http:// edelweissacresobers.com/, or call 360-742-8310. Holistic Land Planning, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Create the ideal land plan for your ranch. What is the ideal layout of your fences? Where should infra- structure be located to facilitate ani- mal handling and movement? Kittitas er of the commodity — to make up each of the com- missions. Commission activities are funded through self-assess- ments. While those activities and accomplishments vary from commission to com- mission, each have the same general mission — to fund projects for research, promotion or education. Commission members meet four to seven times a year. It’s a volunteer posi- tion with reimbursement for travel and meals associated with meetings. Sometimes, public mem- bers have an opportunity to travel as part of a trade mis- sion involving the commod- ity. For information on all commodity commission openings, including pub- lic member openings, go to http://www.oregon.gov/ ODA/programs/MarketAc- c e s s / P a g e s / O r e g o n C o m- modityCommissions.aspx or contact Commodity Com- mission Program Manager Kris Anderson at 503-872- 6600. GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE 20 Northwest Locations Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., Ellensburg, Wash. Cost: $227 until April 2. www.rootsofresilience. org International Fair of Agricultural Technologies Conference and Exhibi- tion, FEXPO Agricola Central, Talca, Chile Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest, noon-7 p.m., 3315 Stadelman Drive, Hood River, Ore. http://hoodriv- er.org/cider-fest/ Sunday, April 17 Holistic Land Planning, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. This is the continuation of a workshop that began Saturday. Cre- ate the ideal land plan for your ranch. Kittitas Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., Ellensburg, Wash. Cost: $227 until April 2. www.rootsof- resilience.org Tuesday, April 19 Idaho Range Livestock Sym- posium. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. American Legion Hall, Marsing, 208-896-4104. A one-day traveling program and net- working event packed with information on industry relevant topics, for produc- ers and rangeland managers. Thursday, April 21 Idaho Range Livestock Sympo- sium. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Challis Com- munity Events Center, Challis, (208) 879-2344. A one-day traveling pro- gram and networking event packed with information on industry relevant topics, for producers and rangeland managers. Saturday, April 23 Oregon Ag Fest, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. We strive to bridge the gap between urban and rural life, and to share the wonder and abundance of Oregon’s bountiful and diverse harvest. Most importantly, we do this in a family-friendly way, where kids 12 and under receive free ad- mission, and virtually all activities are free of charge. Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem. http://oragfest. com/ California FFA State Convention, Selland Arena, Fresno. www.calaged. org/stateconvention Soil Test Interpretation for Commercial Growers. 4-6 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center-Library. Soil scientist Elizabeth Murphy will present strategies and practical approaches to integrate knowl- edge about the chemical, physical, and ecological properties of the soil to refine nutrient manage- ment, improve soil health, and maximize production. $20 fee. Pre-class questions and soil test report submittal are encouraged. 541-776-7371, ext. 208, http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/ small-farms-2016-classes Sunday, April 24 Oregon Ag Fest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. We strive to bridge the gap be- tween urban and rural life, and to share the wonder and abundance of Oregon’s bountiful and diverse harvest. Most importantly, we do this in a family-friendly way, where kids 12 and under receive free ad- mission, and virtually all activities are free of charge. Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem. http://oragfest. com/ California FFA State Conven- tion, Selland Arena, Fresno. www. calaged.org/stateconvention Monday, April 25 California FFA State Conven- tion, Selland Arena, Fresno. www. calaged.org/stateconvention Tuesday, April 26 California FFA State Conven- tion, Selland Arena, Fresno. www. calaged.org/stateconvention Thursday, May 5 2016 Animal Agriculture Alli- ance Stakeholders Summit, 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, Va. www.animalagalli- ance.org/summit Friday, May 6 2016 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit, 7 a.m.-noon. Westin Arlington Gateway, Arling- ton, Va. www.animalagalliance.org/ summit 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only .......................$49.99 1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the in- formation to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media www.capitalpress.com www.FarmSeller.com www.AgDirectoryWest.com www.OnlyAg.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller www.facebook.com/onlyAGdotcom twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo www.blogriculture.com Index Dairy .....................................11 Livestock ..............................11 Markets ............................... 13 Opinion .................................. 6 Water ..................................... 5 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.
