Summer Newsletter

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S U M M E R N E WS F R O M T H E M I L L E R FA M I LY ✩ J U LY 1 , 2 0 1 6
DEAR FRIENDS
Headline news changes fast, even at Elkhorn. As we polish the summer newsletter, helicopters ferry giant water buckets up to steep
country around the base of Fresnal to subdue the “Brown Fire”. Over Father’s Day weekend, an exceptional fire team has been working
to keep crews safe in 105+ degree heat and minimize loss of ranch forage. This plot has a few more wiggles before we reach the last page,
but we are in capable hands and remain optimistic.
You are probably wondering what things will be like next year after this event? In 2009, we had a large wildfire burn in similar country.
After that fire, the progression from black ground to fresh green following the monsoon was miraculous. We expect that the pink stain on
the rock outcroppings of Gobler’s Knob from the fire retardant will be a conversation piece, but we can live with it and bet you can too.
The country is resilient and so are we!
Unexpected events urge us to pause and take stock — to appreciate good friends like all of you! Events like this fire, where hard working
dedicated people make all the difference, inspire us to dedicate front page news space to our outstanding Elkhorn 2015/16 season crew.
Each did his or her share to make the ranch feel like home as well as a place ripe for adventure. We wish them happy trails, as they seek
their own adventures this summer: Hailey in Thailand then joining Sonya, Stephanie and Hunter in Montana … Ryon in Brazil … Cara
in Chicago and Oregon … Justin in Yellowstone Park … Lisa in Wyoming … Grace and Craig in Alaska … Paula and Jerry at home in
Tucson. Our summer crew adventured far afield too — Diane to Hawaii, Dave fishing in Canada, and Bayley and Jerome to Ireland.
© Curt Gerston
27000 W. Elkhorn Ranch Road, Tucson, AZ 85736 520.822.1040 www.elkhornranch.com
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ranch and family news
An ever-present topic in Arizona ranching is rain, or the
absence thereof. This El Niño year was supposed to be a doozy.
We conjured up hill slopes blanketed with spring wildflowers,
weeks of running water in the mountains and rising water levels
in the wells. Alas, spring was ever so dry. Wildflowers bravely
appeared anyway with amazing diversity if not abundance.
But the real stars of the spring were the early cactus flowers.
Usually they bloom in late April or early summer, but we
had an early show this year. We think that our prickly pear
cacti blooms could have competed with any prize rose garden
this spring!
© Mary Miller
We are missing an important hand, as Clara is working at the
Bar Lazy J Ranch in Colorado. She’s a proud recipient of the
Dude Ranchers’ Association Educational Trust Scholarship
which encourages its recipients to work at another ranch. She
finished her first year of college at University of Arizona and
we’re immensely proud of her. Alicia finished her junior year
of high school with outstanding grades and an Ambassador’s
Club trip to Italy over spring break. She’s helping out with
ranch summer projects, exploring college possibilities, and
spending most summer Saturday nights at the Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum interpreting as a Junior Docent. With Clara
and Alicia all grown up, there’s no doubt that visits with our
1-year old neighbor Evelyn bring on mischief and cheer!
The summer crew of Diane, Bayley, Jerome, David, Tom,
Anne, Mary and Charley keep busy with projects in the cabins,
around the grounds, in the office, out on the trail, and with the
horses. Jan lives in Tucson. Charley and Tom’s sister Linda and
partner Dick spent much of the winter nearby in Tucson. The
wedding of brother Don (below with Jan) and Ruby provided
a great excuse for a family gathering at beautiful Jekyll Island,
GA last fall. We all enjoyed our traditional between (Arizona
and Montana) seasons family reunion in Tucson in early May.
Keep in touch and spread the word
ElkhornRanchAZ
elkhornranchaz
@ElkhornRanch
Elkhornranch1946
#elkhornranchaz
© Mary Miller
© Sarah King
27000 W. Elkhorn Ranch Road, Tucson, AZ 85736 520.822.1040 www.elkhornranch.com
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horse news
The main saddle horse herd began its summer holiday roaming
the huge mountain pasture. They have their own buddy system
and spread out through the country, tucked into the canyons and
high on the mountain slopes – when you see where they take
themselves, it becomes clear as to how they learn to navigate
our rocky trails so gracefully. We check fences, gates and water
sources often and ride through the country to take stock of their
condition and check for injuries. As the summer progresses,
Charley will rotate them through other pastures to enable the
plants to grow and sustain good range condition, no small feat
given climate trends. Our horses graze on different grass species
and also browse on forbs and shrubs. This plant diversity, plus
moving through the country constantly, contributes to their
health and good condition.
altar valley
conservation news
The wide open Altar Valley country that surrounds Elkhorn
is critical to our ranching operation and we never take it for
granted. For the past 20 years, the Altar Valley Conservation
Alliance has been our means of encouraging conservation
of this working landscape and we are ever so grateful for
your ongoing support of this non-profit organization. This
past year, watershed restoration projects were completed at
several valley ranches. Elkhorn hosted a retreat in December
to tackle larger scale Altar Wash restoration goals, and the
Alliance hired its first full-time staff, a Conservation and
Science Coordinator. Elkhorn was poised to do the longplanned Pig Mountain prescribed fire early this summer, but
The mares and stud, What a Dude, are out on the desert for the
summer. We are still not sure whether What a Dude is a dude or
a dud, but he’s enjoying another chance at fatherhood this summer – and if he fails, we figure he’ll make a nice saddle horse.
Meanwhile, another young stallion Playboy is coming along.
© Steven Kessel
it was canceled due to the minimal winter rains. The Alliance
continues to work collaboratively with many partners. The
work is challenging and time consuming, but we remain
stubborn and optimistic. The breadth and possibility of this
valley and the thought of future generations having the chance
to continue rural agriculture ways of life and to continue the
Elkhorn traditions sustains us! Thank you for your generous
financial and creative support – it makes a huge difference!
www.altarvalleyconservation.org
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27000 W. Elkhorn Ranch Road, Tucson, AZ 85736 520.822.1040 www.elkhornranch.com
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Unfortunately, not all the mares were bred last summer and
those that were are due to foal throughout the summer (hence
What a Dude’s possible new job!). We’ve got one filly on the
ground so far – hopefully more soon!
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© Heather Dawe | YDuckie Imaging
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Please Join us During our 71st Season!
plan your elkhorn ranch visit
confirm your reservation
We look forward to hearing from you to arrange a visit for
next season – call or email to check availability. We are happy
to hold a spot while you check in with friends or family
or arrange travel. If we are already holding a spot for you,
you’ll see a note below. The 2016/2017 season rates and a
registration form are enclosed or you may find them online at
www.elkhornranch.com/reservations.
Please do us the favor of
returning your registration
form, along with a 25%
deposit by check or credit
card (MC or VISA only), to
confirm your reservation.
Your prompt response helps
us assure that you enjoy your
desired dates and cabin. For
some particularly popular
weeks (primarily holiday
and school vacation weeks),
we may be in touch with
you to informally check © Micheal Ewing | Elkhorn Ranch 2016
your plans prior to the deposit deadline. If by chance you
must cancel or change your dates, please let us know as
soon as possible so that we may open space to others.
As you plan your Elkhorn
vacation, remember that
Sunday, the horses’ day
off, is the usual arrival and
departure day. We continue
to strongly encourage week
(6 or 7 nights) or longer stays,
and the minimum length of
stay remains 4 nights. Kids
of all ages are welcome, but
must be 6 to ride; and there is
a 250 pound weight limit for
all riders. You will also find
© Mary Miller
travel packing tips and more
at the website, and of course we are here to help with details
along the way. We are happy to provide for dietary requests,
celebration cakes, or other particular needs with advance
notice. Be in touch any time by phone or email to Diane at
[email protected] or Mary at [email protected].
RAFFLE TICKETS
Purchase your Ranch Vacation Raffle Tickets
to support the Dude Ranchers’ Association
Educational Trust Scholarship Fund.
WIN
THE DUDE RANCHERS’
EDUCATIONAL TRUST
PRICE
Week Stay Giveaway
$20 each or 6 for
for Two at
$100, available from
Elkhorn Ranch.
Elkhorn Ranch
between July 1,
2016 and
April 1, 2017.
The drawing for winners will take place
April 15th, 2017.
You are the heart of the Elkhorn brand of friendship!
With love, All the Millers and Elkhorn crew
please send your deposit by
August 1st for fall 2016 and holiday reservations
September 1st for arrival dates
after January 7, 2017
creative credits
Thanks to all for sharing fresh photos from last season!
We appreciate design, printing, and marketing services
from: Julie Ray Creative, Betts Printing, TEMPO Strategic,
one5studio.com, Anniesomnium.com, eyelikedesign.com, and
jennalynnefoster.weebly.com.
27000 W. Elkhorn Ranch Road, Tucson, AZ 85736 520.822.1040 www.elkhornranch.com