Back in 1874, Hiram Ritter homesteaded 160 acres northwest of what is now Cortez. That parcel became the nucleus of a sheep ranch which at one time encompassed 3600 acres of deeded land and over 1500 acres of leased land. It had the reputation of being one of the best sheep ranches in the Montezuma Valley. Sheep continued to be raised on the ranch until 1976. Today cattle and grass hay are grown.