The quarter section in Lafayette owned and farmed by the Waneka family was originally part of a larger farm purchased by Henry Adolph Waneka in 1883. He bought the land from the Union Pacific Railroad. The house, chicken house, milking barn, silo and bunkhouse on the farm are all over 50 years old. A horse barn built in 1939 was converted to the first milking parlor in the area in 1953. Wheat, barley, corn and alfalfa are raised on the farm.

Leadville is the site of the Smith Ranch which was acquired by Henry and Margaret Smith in 1881. The ranch house was originally constructed in the town of Leadville in 1874 and was moved to its present site on the ranch prior to 1895. A large log barn on the property was built in 1905. Beef cattle and native hay are produced today by  heirs Bernard and James Smith.

The 2000 acre San Isabel Ranch in Westcliffe dates back to 1872 when William Kettle, an English immigrant, homesteaded the original 160 acres. He grew native hay and oats which he sold to the mines for horse and mule feed. The mining era faded and cattle became the main product. In 1916 the registered horned hereford operation, which is still going today was begun. William Kettles grandson Benjamin now maintains the ranch which at one time consisted of over 30,000 acres.

The Wadlin-Goetzel Farm in Greeley dates back to 1870 when John Moultin Goodwin Wadlin came with Union Colony to settle in Weld County. The first crops were potatoes, hay and grains. Two large potato dugouts were built. One still remains today. At the present time, John Wadlin's great grandson Richard Goetzel, grows beets, corn, beans, hay and grains on the farm.

The Shaw Ranch in Joes originated in 1887 when Scottish immigrants David and Margaret Shaw filed their homestead.Their three sons added to the family holdings by filing claims on adjoining quarters. One son Alex later acquired all of the original holdings which are now owned by his son John.  Ranch operations are carried on today by John and his son Dana who raise dryland wheat and native grass for cow/calf operation.

1873 was the founding date of the 31,000 acre Schafer Ranch located in Boyero. Conrad Schafer was the original owner. Today Erma Schafer and her sons operate the ranch as grazing land. The oldest building is in an 1888 adobe house which is still in use.

On July 3rd, 1874, Nathan Russell acquired 240 acres in Saguache which is now part of Russell's N Lazy R Ranch. In Saguache County this ranch has the honor of being in the same family for the longest period of time. Nathan's grandson Alexander now owns the property. Hay and cattle are raised now.

The Roland Dean Rusher Ranch was established in 1870 when Roland's great grandfather Ab Enyart purchased the property in Olney Springs. He trailed his first cattle herds from Texas. The original adobe hut, built in 1879, still stands today. Other historic buildings on the ranch include the main house built in 1920, a bunk house, milk house and smoke house.

The Rooney Ranch in Golden dates back to 1859 when Alexander Rooney came west to seek his fortune. Through numerous acquisitions, the ranch eventually covered an area that was probably the largest ranching area for cattle and horses in Jefferson County. A collection of fine stone buildings distinguishes the ranch. Alexander Rooney was a stonemason and he passed his trade down in his family. The ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

John Claus Off, a young German immigrant, established the Off Island Ranch in about 1872. His sister, Augusta, came later and homesteaded the boarding quarter. The ranch prospered and grew over the years as additional lands were purchased. One unique feature of the original homestead is that it lies mostly on a large island, bordered by the Rio Grande River, thus the name Off "Island Ranch."  Hay and cattle are raised on the ranch.