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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2018)
A10 Ag Day Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 14, 2018 The John Day cattle drives Two thousand head came through town By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle It’s been more than a decade since the big cattle drives came through down- town John Day. Ranchers with divided property, such as the Holliday family, brought their cattle north from pasture land in Bear Valley to the John Day Val- ley for calving, Darrel Holl- iday said. When the drives start- ed around 1958, five ranches moved their cattle cross-country west of High- way 395, entering the val- ley west of town at Screech Alley Loop. The growth of subdivisions put an end to that route, Holliday said. The 38-mile trip from Bear Valley to John Day took three days. Cows were put up in 40-acre holding pastures first at Izee Road and again about 9 miles south of Can- yon City. Drovers guided the cattle down South Canyon Boulevard to Main Street where they took a right-hand turn and headed to the Holli- day ranch east of town. “They didn’t much like it heading to Starr Ridge the first day — they kept turning around,” Darrel said. “Then the second day, they were scared by barking dogs and cars.” The Hollidays typi- cally chose a weekend in mid-February — driving the cattle through town on Sun- day and separating cows at the ranch on Monday. See CATTLE, Page A11 Celebrating agriculture Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo The Holliday Ranch cattle drives used to travel through the streets of John Day once a year. Here the Holliday crew is lined up headed east on Main Street in John Day. Grant County ag through the years Grant County Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize the hard work our local ranchers and farmers do for our county this Ag Day. Thank you for everything! Each American farm- er feeds more than 144 people — a dramatic in- crease from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more — and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States. National Ag Day rec- ognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by American agriculture. Every spring, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universi- ties, government agen- cies and others across the country join together in recognition — and ap- preciation — of agricul- ture in our country. Did you know? • Honeybee work- ers must visit 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey. • Each worker honey bee makes 1/12th tea- spoon of honey in its lifetime. • An acre of trees Contributed photo See AG, Page A11 Grant County 4-H’ers get a briefing on Grant County agriculture in 1964. John Day Polaris Licensed in the State of Oregon is a proud sponsor of Ag Day 42713 Lori Hickerson, Principal Broker, GRI • Office: 541-575-2617 • ljh@ortelco.net Sally Knowles, Broker, GRI • Office: 541-932-4493 • sknowles@ortelco.net Babette Larson, Broker, GRI • Office: 541-987-2363 • ddwr@ortelco.net rmls.com • eastoregonrealestate.com • farmseller.com • centraloregonrealtors.com • oregonreanchandhomes.com/dukewarner W e c arry everything you ne ed t o get the job done. Helping Grant County’s Farmers & Ranchers Hold it Together for 22 Years Boyd Britton Welding, Inc. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon-Fri • 841 W Hwy. 26. John Day • 541-575-0763 • Repair & Fabrication • Steel & Aluminum Inventory • Complete Machine Shop • Welding Supplies • Gases 821 W Hwy. 26, John Day • www.jdpolaris.com ly p p u S ing d l i u B Mills ll t For A s e B e ith Th s Build W ultural Need ic r g Your A Horse Barns • Storage Buildings • Hay Barns • Sheds & Building Supplies Metal Roofing & Siding 751 W Main St. • John Day 541-575-1021 551 W Main St • John Day • 541-575-1346