The John and Ann Acott family homesteaded prior to 1898, as they established their primary crop as wheat.  They were able to expand over time to raise cattle, corn, and milo in addition to wheat.  Currently the farm is owned and operated by John and Ann’s great-great granddaughter and husband, and their children, who represent the 7th generation on the farm.

In 1906, Edward Elmer Beeson acquired homestead rights for property in Kit Carson County. The land was barren prairie land, so they planted trees on the property and carried water to them, even the dish and bath water. Through five generations, the family has continued to live and ranch on the property, managing a cow/calf operation and grassland and grazing for regenerative practices.

Henry Paul Sonnenberg moved to Northeast Colorado in 1907 with his wife Caroline. They purchased a 160 acre farm that was later sold to one of their sons, Ernest and his wife Luella. They started their family on this property with their youngest son, Gordon, being born at home in 1936. Gordon and his wife Donna eventually owned and continued to farm that land raising mostly wheat until their son Jerry took the reins. He continues to farm the property with his sons Josh and Ryan raising wheat, corn, milo, millet and hay as part of their rotation.

From the first historic gathering and appointment of president W.G. Jamison in 1919 to the current president, Carlyle Currier, the Colorado Farm Bureau Federation has always been led by farmers and ranchers. Charged with representing all agricultural producers across the state of Colorado, the organization is a way for farm and ranch families to network, collaborate, and broadly represent the agrarian community in the state.

In the early 1900's, the Peterson family moved to Morgan County from Morocco, Indiana. Christian Peterson purchased 240 acres along Beaver Creek, in 1907. In 1914, two of his sons homesteaded adjoining half-sections, just west of the original purchase on Beaver Creek. Max Peterson married Cora Clark in 1913 and began running the ranch.

Tatsunosuke Hirakata was born on June 3, 1870 in Fukushima, Japan and his son Keiji was born in 1887.  In 1913, Tatsunosuke immigrated to the United States, arriving in Seattle. Initially he worked for the railroad before making his way to Rocky Ford. In 1915 he began farming in the Newdale area south of Rocky Ford. Two years later Keiji traveled to Rocky Ford to join his father in farming.

The Johnson Reaphook Ranch was originally purchased in 1900. The original farm had 160 acres where sheep and cattle were raised. The main crops were hay, oats, and apples. The farmhouse was an 1882 log schoolhouse that was disassembled and moved to the farm.

Born in Illinois, Joseph Dorenkamp moved from Kansas to north of Cheyenne Wells where he proved up on a relinquished homestead in 1920. Wanting better access to livestock feed and more protection from the brutal winters, he bought 160 acres eight miles southwest of Holly on Butte Creek.  In the fall of 1921 he moved, bringing 25 head of cattle and 6 head of horses.  Amy Boerner and Joe married in 1924.  The family grew to seven children.

In 1910, William and Anna Schmeeckle boarded the Prairie Dog Express in Nebraska and stopped in New Raymer, Colorado to homestead on the Great Plains.  They grew dry land wheat.  From the times of the Great Depression, two World Wars, changes in farming technology, and a never-ending cycle of favorable and unfavorable weather, the Schmeeckle Farm continues to produce agricultural products.  Dale and Edith Schmeeckle were the next guardians of the farm, and during their time the farm expanded and became even more successful.  Today the owners of th

The Blake Ranch was a dairy farm from 1906 to 1971, and the crop then as now is Timothy Hay and Alfalfa Hay.  The farm includes approximately one mile of Yampa River frontage and the small original house built in 1895 is still in use. The fifth generation is currently residing on the property, managing the ranch while raising the sixth generation.