Valentine Ranch LLC
Las Animas County
Giovanni Leopoldo Valentini was born in Rollo Austria in 1869. He came to Colorado in 1887 and worked at the Engleville Mine. He decided to change his name to John Lee Valentine. After he convinced Rachale Conter to move from Austria to be his wife in 1893, the couple had six children.
Valentine Ranch family.
John had many talents and interests including being a baker and saloon keeper, but in 1907 he bought a ranch in Las Animas County near Gulnare where he would spend the rest of his life. John passed away in 1947 and Rachale in 1950. Gus and June continued to live on and work the land while raising three sons; Daniel, Kenneth and Ronald. Though Gus passed away in 1987, June still lives on the ranch as do Dan and his wife Sandi. Today the family raises Black Angus cattle and horses, plant crops and bale grass and alfalfa. Several historic buildings, such as the 1911 barn, 1913 rock house and 1916 garage are still in place and in use.