Baker Ranch
In 1896, most pioneers were traveling west to find their fortunes, but Rex’s great-grandfather Jesse came east from Australia, sailed to California, and then eventually made his way to the mountains of southern Idaho, where he homesteaded in Lava Hot Springs. Rex’s grandfather Alfred started rearing sheep on the ranch, and it wasn’t until Rex’s father Harold took over the farm in the 1945, that cattle were introduced and began to replace the sheep operation by the 1960’s. Potatoes were also a staple crop grown on the property in the past.
The Baker Ranch today is a multi-generational operation that not only incorporates traditional ranching, but also a diversified offering of other services to the public. There are horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing trails and other special events for the traveling public. There is also a successful raspberry and elderberry plantation on the grounds. Cattle still graze the acreage that is rented out as pasture to local cattlemen. Sheep have returned to the Baker Ranch in recent years. The Old English Babydoll Southdown and Royal White are the two breeds of lovable, grass trimmers for the expanding orchards.
The Baker Ranch has always been a snapshot in time and has reflected the ranching strategies of the managing generation since its foundation. From a sheep to a cattle ranch and a return to specialty breeds of sheep, it has also evolved into an innovative tourism paradise. The key is ingenuity, which Rex, Peggy Ann, and their children Autumn and Jesse Baker share. Their success lies in open communication, which allows Baker Ranch to be more than just a business or just a family, but an example of a successful family business. - Susan Slocum, Assistant Professor, George Mason University
In 1896, most pioneers were traveling west to find their fortunes, but Rex’s great-grandfather Jesse came east from Australia, sailed to California, and then eventually made his way to the mountains of southern Idaho, where he homesteaded in Lava Hot Springs. Rex’s grandfather Alfred started rearing sheep on the ranch, and it wasn’t until Rex’s father Harold took over the farm in the 1945, that cattle were introduced and began to replace the sheep operation by the 1960’s. Potatoes were also a staple crop grown on the property in the past.
The Baker Ranch today is a multi-generational operation that not only incorporates traditional ranching, but also a diversified offering of other services to the public. There are horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing trails and other special events for the traveling public. There is also a successful raspberry and elderberry plantation on the grounds. Cattle still graze the acreage that is rented out as pasture to local cattlemen. Sheep have returned to the Baker Ranch in recent years. The Old English Babydoll Southdown and Royal White are the two breeds of lovable, grass trimmers for the expanding orchards.
The Baker Ranch has always been a snapshot in time and has reflected the ranching strategies of the managing generation since its foundation. From a sheep to a cattle ranch and a return to specialty breeds of sheep, it has also evolved into an innovative tourism paradise. The key is ingenuity, which Rex, Peggy Ann, and their children Autumn and Jesse Baker share. Their success lies in open communication, which allows Baker Ranch to be more than just a business or just a family, but an example of a successful family business. - Susan Slocum, Assistant Professor, George Mason University
