The Wheat and Cattle Country
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MORROW COUNTY
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Growing wheat and barley, interspersed with
fallow soil, cover a large part of Morrow county's
tillable land and bring color of ever-changing hue,
ranging from the dark green of the growing crops
in the spring to the golden color of earlv summer.
As the wheat ripens, it turns to a rich dark brown.
Irregular shapes of fields and strip cropping thus
present interesting designs in color that a person
may view from higher vantage points for as far as
he can see.
Harvest time is a thrilling time in Morrow county
for visitors and natives alike. Those who come to
the county should not miss the opportunity of seeing
the big combines in action. Income from grain
crops in the county in 1962 was more than $8 million.
More than 100,000 acres was seeded to winter wheat
and 45,000 acres to barley. Morrow county has more
strip cropping than the rest of the state combined.
Average size of ranches in the county is 2,875 acres.
WHEAT HARVEST on the Wm. F. Doherry place near
Lexington shows a combine and truck in action.
Some of the romantic flavor of the Old West
lingers in Morrow county with its livestock indus
try, second largest source of farm income. The
cowboy remains a reality here, and cattle drives
at the approach of winter bringing stock from
the mountains to winter quarters is a stirring
spectacle for the visitor.
It is an interesting sight, too, to see prime
cattle and sheep dotting the range at summer
grazing. Of Morrow county's total of 1,317,760
acres of land, 590,497 are in pasture. Income
from livestock in 1962 was $1,718,300. About 30,000
head of cattle were in the county and 23,000 head
of sheep.
Morrow county's fine livestock has won many
championships at stock shows and awards.
Visitors are invited to stop and view herds. Most
ranchers will be happy to visit with strangers
and tell them about their livestock. Table place
mats, showing all the cattle brands of the county,
have been made by the Morrow County CowBelles
and are available in some local stores, a good
souvenir of a visit here.
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HAROLD WRIGHT, 1961 Uvestockman of the Year, stands
beside his big Hereford herd bulL
Suggested Tours In Morrow
County
Morrow County Is a vast land that offers a wide range of spectacular scenery, ranging
from the Columbia River In the north to the cool green forests of the Blue Mountains in the
south. The "sands" of the Navy bombing range and the Boeing missile testing site in the
north, rich croplands, and picturesque rolling hills lie between. Hundreds of miles of roads
cross the county and open it to the visitor. In traveling forest roads in the mountains,
however, the newcomer is advised to stay on main roads unless he is accompanied by
someone who knows the country. For those who wish to "discover" the county on their own,
a few suggested tours are listed below on well-marked roads:
TOUR NO. 1
Leaving Highway 30 (Interstate 80) at Heppner Junction, 11 miles east of Arlington, go
south on the Willow Creek highway 74 via lone and Lexington to Heppner. On the return
take hifihway 207 from Lexington 10 miles to the North Lexington elevator. At the elevator,
turn north on the Bomb Range road 25 miles back to highway 30. This route will show the
irrigated farms of the Willow Creek basin, the wheat lands north of Lexington, and take
the traveler along the east side of the Navy bombing range. Should low-flying let planes
happen to be crossing the range road, red lights will warn the motorist to stop. Visits to
Morrow's northern towns of Irrigon and Boardman, melon growing centers, also will be en
joyed. These growing communities are on the Columbia River and Boardman will be
moved within a few years as the present site will be covered by waters of the John Day
Dam reservoir.
TOUR NO. 2
Turn south at lone on the county road that goes up the hill back of the new high school
and goes by big grain farms and the historic Valby Lutheran church to the Eightmile dis
trict on the Condon highway (206). Go east to Ruggs and return to lone via the lower Rhea
Creek road, going north from 206. More fine farms will be seen here.
TOUR NO. 3
From Heppner, take the Condon highway (207) to Rurrs. Turn south (still on 207) via the
historic old stage conch town of Hardman to Bull Prairie reservoir, a beautiful spot for
camping, fishing and picnicking, a distance of 39 miles from Heppner. Rock Creek, canyon,
Kinzua Corporation tree farm, and wildlife will be observed on this route. For those who do
not mind a gravel road, the Ridgo Road, running west from Hardman back to the Condon
highway will add a pleasant diversion with mountain peaks of Cascade range forming a
glorious backdrop for the grain fields that cover the landscape.
TOUR NO. 4
Follow the Willow Creek highway southeast from Heppner for 26 miles into the mountains
to Cutsforth park, the most popular spot for picnics and outings In the county. There are
many, many other fine tours that may be taken. When you come to the county ask at any
service station or talk to any "old-timer" who will help you in pointing out scenic routes.
Logging, Lumbering
Though the traveler passing to the north of
Morrow county on Highway 30 may never suspect
it, lumbering and logging compose one of the prime
industries of the county. Timberlands cover about
233,500 acres in the county, of which 202,000 are
in the Umatilla National Forest.
Kinzua Corporation sawmill at Heppner is- the
largest in the county, and with its logging oper
ations, employs to 110 men. Heppner Lumber com
pany is also located at Heppner, and several logging
firms operate in the county.
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THIS IS the Kinzua Corp. sawmill operation at Heppner.
Future Development
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Boardman Project
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THIS AERIAL VIEW of Heppner shows markings of the pro
posed Willow Creek dam.
Development of the Boardman Industrial
park by the State of Oregon and its negot
iations with the Boeing Company have fo
cused attention on Morrow countv for more
than two years. The lease with Boeing for
approximately 100,000 acres in Morrow
county was completed in the summer of 1963.
The Seattle firm expects to use the land for
testing purposes and other uses in connection
with its space-age program.
What this will mean to the county is un
certain at this time but prospects appear good
for industrial development of the area with a
proportionate increase in population.
Willow Creek Dam
Feasibility survey on a Willow Creek dam,
to be located just above Heppner. has been
completed by the Corps of Army Engineers
but is yet to be considered by Congress. The
multipurpose dam, which would be designed
for flood control, irrigation, recreation, indus
trial water supply and other uses, would cost
about S6 million. The rockfill dam would
be 145 feet high and store 11,500 acre feet
of water with a normal maximum surface
pool of 220 acres.