LOVE OF LAND & LIFESTYLE OAK RIDGE FAMILY CONTINUES LEGACY by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande In the northwestern coastal range of the state lies Zone 2, one of the nine zones identified by the California Cattlemen’s Association. Zones are broken down throughout the state and include four to eight local associations and have a zone director to help communicate any information from the Association to its zone members. Zone 2’s director is Jason Hunt, McKinleyville. This zone reaches all the way to the northwest corner of the state down to the Bay Area. Humboldt-Del Norte, Mendocino, Sonoma-Marin and Napa-Solano local cattlemen’s associations are all a part of this zone. Ranchers throughout the state work day in and day out on their operations to continue their family legacy and provide beef to the world. At the southern end of Zone 2 lies Sonoma County, an area known for its wine, local produce, and beautiful scenery. Follow along below, as Sonoma County rancher, Cheryl LaFranchi shares her ranching story. Located in Knights Valley, near Calistoga, is the Oak Ridge Angus Ranch, run by Cheryl LaFranchi and her husband, Frank Mongini, DVM. The ranch was first purchased by LaFranchi’s grandfather in 1912 and at the time served as the typical family farm with beef cows, dairy cows, pigs and chickens. As time passed, nearby towns and resources were more accessible, and her grandfather started up an Ayrshire dairy cattle operation. Having the ranch located in the hills, LaFranchi shared how the location was not the most ideal for a dairy due to coastal rains, the runoff and the climate and highway splitting between the ranch made it difficult to move the animals. With the challenges of maintaining a dairy, the LaFranchis transitioned their operation from dairy cattle to a purebred Angus cow-calf operation in the early 1970s. Since then, the family has continued to raise and sell their purebred Angus cattle through live auctions and private treaty for the last 50 years.
30 California Cattleman September 2024
After receiving her degree from the University of California, Fresno, in economics in 1983, LaFranchi moved back home to run the ranch as the third generation alongside her father Henry and his brother Al. Today, LaFranchi, her husband, other family members and a few employees manage the day-to-day operations of the ranch. While the majority of the family's bulls are sold via private treaty, Oak Ridge Angus Bulls have also been sold at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale for over the last 50 years. LaFranchi shared that when the family first got into the cattle business there were not a lot of Angus cattle around, but fast forward to today, they are one of the most sought out breeds for their genetics and other strong traits. When marketing their animals, LaFranchi shares that buyers come to her based off of word of mouth or if someone views their website. Many of the LaFranchi’s bull buyers have been longtime repeat customers, many of whom are on to the third generation and are now their friends. LaFranchi credits these relationships, which have been developed over the years through good business and staying in contact with one another. Aside from selling their bulls via private treaty and at Red Bluff, the family also has the branded Oak Ridge Angus Beef Program through the Sonoma County Meat Company. All the animals in the program are grass-raised and brewers’ grainfinished. Once butchered and processed, the Sonoma County Meat Company sells the meat at various farmer’s markets in the Bay Area. LaFranchi’s favorite part of being a rancher is walking through her cows and calves outside and helping to raise animals that feed the local and growing population. “It’s a wonderful way of life, I seriously am a cowgirl at heart,” said LaFranchi. ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 32