BABBITT TIMES REVIEW BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
Babbitt Ranches Marks 140th Year With Major Clean Energy Milestone Traditions continues
on historic ranchlands
as
new opportunities
unfold
power evaluations. In 2010, the land company signed agreements with NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s
This month, February 2026, Clenera is breaking ground on a 1,000-megawatt solar complex and a 500-megawatt battery energy
conservation projects, ranching,
the New World. “Did it matter that
is driven by similar
Construction Begins on Babbitt Ranch Energy Center North of Flagstaff
solar farms and battery storage projects in the nation.
land, the environment and the future as we work together to generate renewable energy for generations to come,” said Cordasco.
we feel when you truly spend time on the land, are aware of its rhythms and character and understand that you are deeply connected, that you belong, and are accountable for its health.”
Wind power collaboration creating a new renewable energy resource for Arizona’s future
With a passion to move the state forward with renewable energy while protecting open space, creating jobs, boosting the Northern Arizona economy and planning for generations of Arizonans to come, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, SRP, Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona State Land Department have announced that construction is underway for the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center. The
140 years in operation, this milestone in clean energy also signals a pioneering venture for the land company, forged and inspired by the same values, principles and character that have fueled Babbitt family enterprises for nearly 400 years in
161-megawatt (MW) wind project, featuring 50 wind turbines across 669 acres on the CO Bar Ranch about 25 miles north of Flagstaff, is expected to begin delivering clean energy by December. “In our efforts to support the delivery of renewable energy, we acknowledge the terrific and wonderful participation of so many businesses and government entities involved in the process
Absolutely,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “This project is a 40-year commitment, from approvals and power purchase agreements to the generation of electricity and eventually its decommissioning. It would have been impossible to take on such a massive and meaningful endeavor without the full support and trust we have with Clenera. What makes this even more wonderful is that this company is committed to the stewardship of the land.
A Special Place in the Heart of Cl-enera
to make this happen,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “We appreciate the valuable input from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona State Land Department, Coconino County and everyone involved in the Western CO Bar Legacy Conservation Community for the benefit of future generations.”
Clenera CEO Jared Mckee has an empty space on the wall in his Boise, Idaho, office reserved for the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex logo. “This wall is emblematic of who we are,” he said. “I have logos here of every Clenera project, along with artwork from my two boys.”
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will build, own and operate the project.
The Babbitt Ranch Energy Center is expected to create up to 250 jobs during the construction phase and generate enough power to support about 40,000 average-
The CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex has been in the works for 10 years — as old as Mckee’s oldest child, he noted. It has weathered the global pandemic, inflation, supply chain challenges, regulatory changes at the state and federal levels, and multiple renegotiated contracts to create one of the largest
sized residential homes during the next 30 years. In addition, the energy center is expected to bring about $9.5 million in additional tax revenue to the region.
Through the process, Mckee cites relationships, shared values and the important work Clenera and its partners — Babbitt Ranches, Salt River Project and APS — are doing to build a world-class solar and storage project in northern Arizona that make the journey worthwhile and necessary.
“It has not been the easiest road,” he said. “We are the first in the state of Arizona to build a solar and storage project of this size.”
Breaking Ground, Making History
With the Phoenix metropolitan area growing three times the national average, SRP officials say the utility must continue to build new generation resources that help meet the increasing energy demand from customers while also supporting SRP in its longterm decarbonization goals.
Babbitt Ranches, one of the West’s longest running land companies, has been exploring renewable energy viability in Northern Arizona since 2005, measuring wind speeds and conducting solar
A celebratory groundbreaking ceremony for the landmark CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex is expected later this year. When completed, the project will occupy 2,400 acres on Babbitt Ranches, spanning 10 square miles and producing
Cle¯nera Solar Farm to Produce Energy on Babbitt Ranches Next Year
Arizona’s energy reliability, reduces dependence on fossil fuels and supports a more resilient electrical grid as population growth and energy demand continue to rise.”
Calling Cle¯nera’s 1,500 megawatt solar farm, scheduled to be operating on the CO Bar Ranch in 2024, the company’s “crown jewel,” Project Lead Tom Fitzgerald joined representatives from Babbitt Ranches, Arizona state agencies, Coconino County, Arizona Public Service and three other renewable energy developers in the Babbitt Brothers Conference Room in downtown Flagstaff on June 2, 2022. They were there to celebrate and participate in the Western CO Bar Legacy Conservation Community. See related story on p. 3.
cattle ranges. “It does a man good to get out under
cruised at a top speed of eight miles per hour on Babbitt Ranches near Black Point Lava Flow last fall. It was here at a mobile space camp of sorts that astronauts from NASA and JAXA (Japan’s space program) worked with U.S. Geological Survey scientists,
Throughout each year, the entire Babbitt Ranches Community works toward that day in November when hundreds of healthy Hereford steers and heifers are rounded up at a central location and trucked to buyers in the Midwest.
“We have
A Good Day
On that day in 2025, 16 semis rolled away from Spider Web Camp’s shipping pens, each loaded with 100 calves bound for Iowa. The shipment included 600 heifers averaging around 500 pounds each and 900 steers, weighing about 620 pounds per animal.
investigate rover concept of operations and capabilities for future Artemis exploration missions on the surface of the Moon and onto Mars.”
“Focused, deliberate efforts – from the office manager to the ranch manager to the veterinarian to the livestock inspector to truck drivers, cowboys, conservationists from state and federal agencies to professional consultants and the folks at RoundUp Internet Livestock Marketing – all play into the joy, pride and satisfaction felt by the Babbitt Ranches Community at the end of Shipping Day,” said President and General Manager Billy Cordasco.
Shipping Day conditions were far from ideal as rain turned the Spider Web pens to mud, slowing the process and requiring extra patience, but it didn’t affect the mood from those moving the cattle to those working the scales to those driving the trucks.
The letter, signed by Desert RATS Mission Manager Barbara Janoiko, who was at the site, states, “We leveraged the lessons we learned in 2021 to continue conducting Extravehicular Activities (EVAs, or spacewalks) at night with low-angle lighting representing lighting conditions on the Lunar south pole with support from a mission control room at the Johnson Space Center, which is an important step towards more flight-like operational scenario testing on Earth to prepare for Artemis missions.” Janoiko concludes, “We look forward to our continued partnership with the Babbitt Ranches and conducting future testing in the Flagstaff area to further the goals of human exploration of the Moon and eventually Mars!”
Babbitt property that we maintain and then we’re going to carry that forward as we explore future destinations in our solar system,” said NASA
A land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain
“The conversations about land stewardship that we’ve had with NASA and USGS have been wonderful and inspirational,” said the idea that a land-use ethic can be extended to form our ideals in space. It’s about being aware, responsible and accountable for our actions.”
Unlike Tin House Camp, where Shipping Day occurs most years, Spider Web presents some logistical challenges. “It takes a little longer here,” Rodgers said. “You can’t weigh cattle and load trucks at the same time, and there’s not as much room to move cattle fast. You have to wait.”
Local USGS geologist Jim Skinner is one of the key forces behind developing a statement that honors the use of land wherever humans travel. “It’s a way to have everyone understand that we are taking care of the land, whether we are on private
Even so, the job was completed efficiently and professionally because of the skill and experience of the Babbitt Ranches team, from the office to the ranches, said Rodgers. Cowboys started early and wrapped up around midafternoon, sending all 16 trucks on their way by 3 p.m.
“Anytime you finish your
“It was muddy and messy, but it was a good day,” said Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers. “Everybody felt like it was a good day. Sure enough, it rained quite a bit, but we were pretty thankful. The cattle looked good, the buyer was here and he looked really happy with them.” Through our efforts of learning and understanding, Babbitt
livestock,
A 140-Year Tradition Continues
land, like Babbitt Ranches, or on the moon or other worlds,” he said. “We want to always be respectful and that goes beyond the ground itself, it includes the critters and the biota. That’s something we will be working on over the next year.”
A draft statement suggests a personal and professional commitment “to help maintain the integrity of the land as we take this next step off of our Article V A Land Ethic Section 2.
Shipping Day, it’s a good day,” Rodgers said. “Everybody did their job right and that makes it easy.”
Shipping Day at Babbitt Ranches is done on horseback, rounding up cattle from across the vast open lands of northern Arizona and continuing a tradition that dates back to the ranch’s founding in 1886. Rodgers said that connection to the past is part of what makes the work so rewarding.
“Keeping the tradition going means a lot to me and everybody else,” he said. “That’s how we were raised. There’s a lot
matter how much people want to change things. Most of us were raised on ranches, and Shipping Day is something people really like being part of.”
Historic high cattle prices
Through our efforts of learning and understanding, Babbitt Ranches, a family business and pioneering land company, raises livestock,
Fifteen hundred heifers and steers were gathered, weighed and loaded into trucks bound for Iowa.
Cowboys brand cattle at Aso Ranch Camp, tucked in among rolling hills, north of the San Francisco Peaks.
Babbitt Ranches Community Prayer
We thank you Lord, for this place in which we live; for the love and friendships that unite us and for the peace accorded to us this day: for the hope with which we expect tomorrow— for the health, food and the bright skies that make our lives happy—for our friends everywhere.
Let peace abound in our families. Purge out of our hearts the hidden grudge. Give us the grace and strength to practice self-control. Give us the will to accept and to forgive each other. Give us brave, joyous and peaceful minds. Bless us in all our honest and sincere endeavors.
If it may be, give us the courage to face that which is to come—that we may be brave in risk, constant in difficulty— temperate in anger—and in all changes of fortune; loyal, true and loving one another.
A Yellow Rose
The presentation of a single yellow rose is a tradition of Babbitt Ranches. This tradition allows us to reflect and to embrace our passed loved ones and to share this embrace with their families. Our thoughts are with those lives lived well, who will forever stay in our hearts.
A Yellow Rose
Its gentle beauty reminds us of the love our family and friends have for us… Its soft yellow hue symbolizes the hope and joy that comes with tomorrow’s sunrise… Its loveliness lives on in our hearts and reminds us of those who have wonderfully graced our lives and who will always remain in our thoughts and prayers.
David A. Lee • (1949 – 2024)
David A. Lee died at his Flagstaff home on Nov. 5, 2024, embraced by his wife, Rayma Sharber Lee, after battling lung disease. He loved photography and playing guitar. Mr. Lee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and grew up along Snowbird Creek in North Carolina. He worked as a psychometrist and guidance counselor and managed the Interstate Texaco in Flagstaff.
Julie Bryant • (1968 – 2025)
Julie Ann Bryant, 57, passed away Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Olton, Texas. Mrs. Bryant was born Oct. 23, 1968, in McNary, to Robert and Margie Elvey. She and her husband Jimmy Bryant moved to Olton in 2020. Known for her kind heart and joyful spirit, she loved photography, tending her garden and caring for animals. She proudly carried the title “World’s Greatest Grandma.”
Helen Joan Scott • (1940 – 2025)
Helen Joan Scott passed away Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at the age of 85. Mrs. Scott was born in Dodge City, Kansas, Sept. 11, 1940, to Charlie Ralph and Ada (Ihloff) Mack, the youngest of three daughters. She and her husband Richard Dean Scott married in Mesa and moved to Flagstaff, where she served as an executive secretary for the Arizona Babbitt family.
Pat Button • (1940 – 2025)
Pat Button of Sun Lakes passed away peacefully at her home last fall, surrounded by family and her husband, Robert, of 62 years. Her beloved twin sister passed away earlier in the year. She is survived by her five brothers, five children, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She enjoyed tennis, swimming, playing cards, walking her dogs and volunteering at Hidden Treasures.
Jim Lytle • (1949 – 2025)
Veterinarian Jim Lytle was born April 7, 1949, in Prescott. As a youngster, he was an Eagle Scout, involved in sports and outdoor activities and spent summers on the family ranch near Tombstone. At Colorado State University, he met his wife, Chris Painter. Doc Lytle was the longtime veterinarian for Babbitt Ranches. He died Oct. 28, 2025, in Flagstaff, following a brief illness.
The
Guided by Values from Sea to Sagebrush
From a perilous Atlantic crossing from England to the rugged journey across the wildlands of the American West, the Babbitt Ranches Community can trace nearly 400 years of adventure and discovery. Through hills and valleys, fortunes and losses, one thread has remained unbroken: the values, principles and character qualities that guided the family through every challenge, condition and season. Join host Billy Cordasco on Discovery with Babbitt Ranches for stories and leadership lessons from the past that continue to inspire the future at www.BabbittRanches.com/podcast.
Babbitt Ranches is a Community within a Community integrated with broadly diverse groups of individuals with varying thoughts, interests, skills and history. With yourself, with family and friends, with the community and with the environment, one way or another and in the end, relationships are all there is. Thus, it’s simply not just about things and doing things, but about the meaning of things. With a genuine consideration for others, LifeScapes provides a venue through which Babbitt Ranches participates with the community.
Carhartt Embraces Babbitt Ranches Community and
Cowboy Essence
The Carhartt brand is known for rugged jackets, overalls and jeans that can withstand hard work, harsh conditions and the test of time. So, when the functional outerwear company began its search for real people in tough environments to showcase the latest clothing line, production scouts landed on Babbitt Ranches.
On Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, Babbitt Ranches cowboys and cowgirls were deep into a cattle drive, moving about 1,500 heifers and steers to Spider Web Camp in preparation for Shipping Day. Cattle drives are common, but on this one, the well-dressed wranglers were outfitted in Carhartt’s 2026 fall collection.
The durable fabric didn’t disappoint as high-action cowboying was captured by stateof-the-art cameras and powerful lenses focused on details and movement in the cold, dusty high country.
“We never use hired talent for Carhartt promotional shoots. We always feature real people doing
authentic work,” said Working Class Film Co. co-founder and Executive Producer Drake Harthun. “Our role is to tell the story as authentically as possible.
Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco described the meaning of Cowboy Essence. “It’s a way of being, a lived expectation that every day, no matter the weather, the work or the circumstance, we show up at our best. It’s
Article IV Cowboy Essence Character Qualities Section 6. Reliability
The consistency and trustworthiness that create respect.
Location scout James ‘Q’ Martin suggested Babbitt Ranches. We started researching the company and learned that the culture and the history around Babbitt Ranches fit the Carhartt brand. It was a good match.”
Much like the 140-year-old family business of Babbitt Ranches, the family-owned Carhartt company, founded in 1889, honors the shared values of hard work: dependability, honesty and trust. “We believe our actions must always speak louder than our words, because we are worn by the hardestworking people of them all,” states the company’s website.
peaceful moment before the storm. And then it was stunning to see the landscape explode into action as ranch family members rounded up and moved the cattle. Seeing it all come together in a systematic way was just incredible.”
“We had a lot of work to get done that day,” reflected Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers. “The Carhartt folks and the production crew were really nice people.” Still images as well as video assets and interviews from the production shoot are expected to be used in a multimedia campaign, beginning in late summer.
“Babbitt Ranches was such a pleasure to work with,” said Harthun. “They were so accommodating and excited to let us into their world and show us what their day-to-day looks like. And their Cowboy Essence – well, nothing I’ve come across has matched the
brand.”
“Cowboy Essence is how you carry yourself. Carhartt builds what carries with you,” said Cordasco. “And that’s the shared ethic that connects Babbitt Ranches, Carhartt and the men and women who live with this kind of heart every day.”
Celebrity Cowboy Cook Kent Rollins Serves Breakfast During Spring Works
The winds whipped through Aso Ranch Camp north of the San Francisco Peaks at more than 40 miles an hour during Springs Works as cowboys were driving in cattle from the surrounding hills for branding. It was the kind of wind that would steal hats and threaten anything not nailed down.
Cowboy Cook
Kent Rollins took a moment on this on this busy Monday morning, May 12, 2025, to step away from his stove and drive the long stakes of the fly –the canvas covering over the camp kitchen – deeper into the ground.
cowboy wisdom, Western history, life lessons from the range, leadership advice and rules to live by that he is happy to share through the internet and in person, including camp kitchen etiquette. “We will not have foul language in camp. We will not talk politics.”
“We feed cowboys and we’re gonna make sure they get fed well no matter the conditions in which we’re cooking.”
Those familiar with the YouTube sensation know he’s as authentically folksy and sincere as they come. He grew up ranching in Oklahoma, spent time guiding and feeding hunters in New Mexico and has been cooking for ranches all over the country from his famous Studebaker chuckwagon since 1993. “You can’t get full on fancy,” reads the back of his trailer.
Rollins has no shortage of
This fiercely patriotic and faith-driven cowboy is a straight shooter with a gift for storytelling and a penchant for manners. “I don’t tolerate rudeness. My mother said, ‘I gave you manners for free. If you don’t use them, they’re costly.’” As is his tradition, he asks the cowboys to gather outside the camp kitchen, remove their hats and join him for a moment to bless the food. Today’s gratitude was about the bacon, corn grits and gravy simmering nearby in cast iron frying pans.
Time-honored rules, he says, remain the Code of the West today. “You don’t ride too close to the kitchen – you don’t dust the cook,” he said, adding that the camp cook or “Cookie” held an important position, always second in command.
“He was the cook. He was the doctor. He was the dentist. Cookie’s job was to make sure them boys was fed. This old chuckwagon was more than just a kitchen sittin’ out there in the
Coconino Plateau Forecast
The long-range forecast for the Coconino Plateau of Northern Arizona is projected to favor drier conditions, say the experts at the National Weather Service.
“Even though we picked up some good rainfall last fall, this winter has been on the dry side, especially when it comes to snowfall,” said NWS
lantern hanging from the camp kitchen was a beacon for cowboys arriving after sundown. “They knew where they could come – if they’d been out on an old cold night shivering –to get out there by Cookie’s’ fire.”
Camp rules, including pitching in
“We sure enjoyed his camp etiquette and fun stories,” said Babbitt Ranches General Manager Billy Cordasco. “Kent has a lot of fans in northern
Arizona including cowboys, hunters and campers who tune in to his YouTube channel for Dutch oven cooking tips and ideas. It was a special and meaningful visit.”
“When Kent reached out to us, we knew Spring Works would be the perfect time for the cowboys to be treated to a wonderful hot meal out on the range,” said Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers. “We all enjoyed his cooking and he sure knows how to fill up cowboys who are working hard and need a lot of energy for the day.” Rollins talks about “riding for the brand,” as still important today. “When you’re working for somebody and you’re branding cattle, you have to put that brand on there right. You want to make a mark. You want to make sure that it’s correct because you’re representing that person. You’re riding for that brand.” So, whatever you’re riding for, he explains, “Do it with pride and do it with honor. You have your name and your word. My mother would always tell me, ‘Be sure and not tarnish either one.’ And when you talk about deals that were made, the only contract we had back then was a handshake. You knew when you got a hold of it, it was full of pride and it was full of honesty.”
Kent Rollins and his production crew recorded their visit to Aso Ranch Camp last spring. It is expected to be featured on his YouTube channel this year.
Meteorologist in Charge Brian Klimowski, Ph.D. “Most of the Coconino Plateau is running close to or above average for total moisture since October, but snowpack is lagging well behind where we’d normally be.” February 2026 brought more active conditions, but the broader outlook for
late winter and spring currently shows less precipitation than normal. “That could mean increasing drought stress again if those trends hold,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of uncertainty, and these patterns can shift, but at this point we’re expecting summer conditions, including the monsoon season, to be near normal.”
Community of Babbitt Ranches fondly remembers beloved family and friends.
Babbitt Ranches wranglers outfitted in Carhartt jackets ride in style on a busy day, moving 1,500 heifers and steers across the high desert north of Flagstaff to the Babbitt Ranches outpost of Spider Web Camp.
Kent Rollins is famous for his cast iron and Dutch oven cooking. His latest cookbook, “Comfort Food the Cowboy Way,”
Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco (left) and Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers (right) welcome
YouTube sensation Kent Rollins to Aso Ranch Camp.
Digital editors sort and edit images in a mobile booth, set up at Spider Web Camp.
Arizona Nordic Village Courts Wedding Couples
With the goal of topping its record-setting 50 weddings in 2025, Arizona Nordic Village began the new year taking its rustic, woodsy, nature vibe to Phoenix for the Arizona Wedding Show, the largest bridal expo in the Southwest that connects couples to more than 200
wedding professionals. “About 2,000 people attended, which gave us really good exposure,” said General Manager Sydney Nieminen of the Jan. 10-11, 2026, event at the Phoenix Convention Center. “Couples were certainly intrigued by the outdoor venue in the Coconino National Forest. They liked the DIY flexibility
that Nordic Village offers for a personalized wedding in the pines.”
Amid aspen stumps, glowing lanterns and bouquets of roses and wildflowers, Nieminen shared photo books with bridal parties to illustrate possibilities and inspire creativity. A wallsized banner featuring a bride and groom in the meadow helped set the tone for a forested destination wedding.
Online reviews from recent weddings rave about the setting, calling it beautiful, peaceful, scenic and unique. One bride
said the stunning meadow ceremony “made my wedding perfect,” noting that friends and family could not stop talking about the location.
Arizona Nordic Village’s popularity as a wedding venue surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Events range from three-hour elopement packages to multiday celebrations that utilize the bridal suite in the lodge, four cabins, seven yurts and eight RV campsites.
The Arizona Nordic Village wedding season runs from May through October.
‘Belong’ Captures Spirit of Babbitt Ranches
As Babbitt Ranches continues to define its unique style of leadership, its way of being and participating with nature’s rhythms, cycles and seasons, the word “Belong.” continues to arise as landowners, wildlife managers, clean energy developers, recreationists and scientists articulate the way they connect with the land and embrace their own personal sense of stewardship.
Belong. is an important component of the Babbitt Ranches Community. It is the integrator that allows all elements to work together. And it has become a solidifying description of how those who live, work and visit feel when they are immersed in the natural beauty and essence of the Coconino Plateau. Belong. has become
particularly evident in discussions around
Babbitt Ranches' Hashknife Colts Support Champions, Build Ranches
Babbitts had sold the property in 1960; however, the buyer subsequently defaulted on the note that the company carried back and Babbitt Ranches resumed ownership,” said attorney Earl Hagström, who has been representing Babbitt Ranches through the process.
mining was widespread in the area. A preliminary 2012 EPA assessment of Section 9 states, “The Site was mined for uranium at several intervals from 1957 until 1962. Low-grade uranium waste rock is present at the Site.”
“Despite never having conducted mining operations on the site, Babbitt Ranches, as the current landowner, took on the responsibility for the cleanup.
“As a steward of the land, Babbitt Ranches stepped up and told the EPA, ‘We’re going to take care of this.’ The land company’s cooperative approach throughout the decade-long process has earned high praise from the EPA,” he added. For more than a dozen years, the EPA has been tasked with cleaning up 523 AUMs on or near the Navajo Nation. Hagström said the EPA, working with Babbitt
she would raise, train and ride. “Number 18 is the one I have my eye on,” she said, before the auction began. Taylor was not alone, she learned. When number 18, a stunning blue roan bay filly, ran into the arena with her mama, buyers took notice. Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers described her lineage and noted that the filly was part of the late Ranch Manager Vic Howell’s personal line of horses. Auctioneer Reed Flake described the mare as “a transformer—she rides like a sports car but can be a tank when you need it.” That’s when Taylor’s dad, Jeff, entered the bidding competition on his daughter’s behalf. But when Flake said, “I have 18, do I hear 18-5?” The Goin family waved him on. The final bid, $19,000,
Ranches, has proposed an area-wide solution to remove and consolidate the material in a secure location being created on the western edge of Section 9, away from the Little Colorado River. The overall project, including the location, is referred to as the Secure Earth Initiative.
“Babbitt Ranches, in conjunction with the EPA, has not only proposed a viable solution for AUMs on its property, but also a way to clean up and reduce risk in the region from uranium mining,” said Hagström. “This is indeed a rare position. Not only finding the solution, but being the solution is the Babbitt way. Once again, Babbitt Ranches is leading by example and demonstrating what ‘doing the right thing’ looks like.”
set a record at the Colt Sale. The blue roan was sold to Jordan Diehl of Ohio. He and his cousins, Caleb and Marcus, bought three Babbitt Ranches colts that day, one last year and one the year before for their ranch in Ohio, where they raise horses largely for rodeo competition.
“The Babbitt horses have a lot better bone,” said Diehl in 2024. Meanwhile, Taylor remained stoic. The family jumped back into action with horse number 20 and successfully bid on the brown filly. “The first one we bid on was a really nice filly. She was my dad’s pick. But I felt better about the second one. She was my pick and she is going to become a mounted shooting horse and a team roping horse.”
A few colts later, the Goin
family was successful again. “I would like to make the sorrel filly, number 23, a range cow horse,” said Taylor. “We decided after a long time of working with horses, fillies and mares have more heart than geldings do.”
The Goins first heard about Babbitt Ranches and the horse program from cowboy Will Vest, a family friend from Texas who has been working for Babbitt Ranches for more than a decade. “And then we started seeing some of the horses,” said Taylor. “We could see that they were really nice—big-boned,
Babbitt Ranches is a Family Business, as such, the work of business and the complexity of relationships have had a significant impact on each other. Through the years, Babbitt ventures have included cattle, sheep, trading posts, grocery stores, department stores, lumber companies, a livery stable, an automobile dealership, mining operations, farms, an ice plant, a funeral parlor and many others. As
Members of the Babbitt Ranches Community pose for a group photo. “Everyone out here does a really good job to make the Colt Sale such an enjoyable community event,” said Ranch Manager Clay Rodgers, standing in the third row, far left.
Taylor Goin plans to welcome this sorrel filly, shown here with the mare, as a working cow horse.
Babbitt
Bridal expo display welcomes wedding parties to Arizona Nordic Village where they can connect with nature and know that they ‘Belong.’
140 Years Community
Years of and Business
Wyoming and Arizona Babbitts Trace Parallel Paths West
Rayma Sharber Lee shares her journey into another branch of the Ed Bobet family tree
Two brothers ventured west in the 1880s in search of adventure and opportunity, building family legacies that began with a ranch and a dream and continue today, as generations remain bound to the land and the family. Sound familiar?
Such is the story of the Wyoming Babbitts. These frontiersmen and women may have crossed paths with their Arizona cousins a few times since their ancestor Edward Bobet arrived in what is now Massachusetts, nearly 400 years ago. For Arizona Babbitts, the Wyoming tribe’s story began to reveal itself when family historian Troy Babbitt visited Flagstaff last spring.
Troy noticed the family name on the downtown Babbitt Building and wondered if there were still any Babbitts in Flagstaff. He asked a clerk in Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters and learned about the Babbitt Ranches office upstairs. There he found Caleb Cordasco, who introduced him to his dad, Billy.
“We learned about a family reunion that was being planned and Troy invited us to attend,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. Although Billy couldn’t make the trip, Rayma Sharber Lee – an Arizona David Babbitt descendent – could.
“We thought the reunion was
going to be in Cincinnati and I was really excited about it.
My daughter, Jessica, lives in Boston. She loves journalism and history and since moving to Boston has been digging deep into the family’s Massachusetts roots. I was thinking what a fun trip this would be for us to attend a Cincinnati family reunion.”
As it turned out, the reunion was not to be in Ohio, but rather, in Colorado. “I was disappointed that it wasn’t in Cincinnati but then as I was thinking about the Wyoming reunion I began wondering:
Who are these Wyoming Babbitts? What was their story? How did they end up in Wyoming? Do they have any historic documents or letters from our shared ancestors? Were they related to the Isaac Babbitt, who in 1839, invented a new metal alloy known as Babbitt Metal? Were they related to Edwin D. Babbitt, who wrote ‘Principals of Light and Color’ in 1878?”
The answers to these questions and more were revealed when she joined the July reunion in Loveland, Colorado. “They had a great turnout – more than 100 people spanning three generations!” said Rayma. “Turns out many of the first and second generation in attendance had read the ‘Brothers Five’ book. They were really interested in
the Arizona family story and were delighted to have me show up, which was so cool and so unexpected.”
She says her favorite part of the trip was hanging out with them and listening to Troy talk to his family about what he was learning through his research on Ancestery.com. “They were just completely immersed in their family and culture and were interested to talk to me to hear more about what I knew about our shared family history.”
She also learned that she is Troy’s seventh cousin, once removed. Brothers Isaac and Elkanah III, born in Taunton in the early 1700s, were Edward Bobet’s great grandsons. “And this is where the split in our family lines occurred that eventually landed descendants in Wyoming and Arizona,” said Rayma. “I’m descended from Elkanah III. Troy is related to Isaac.” As Rayma explained, Elkanah III moved to Cooperstown, New York, and his son Elkanah IV later lived in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, near the New York border. His great-grandson, William David Babbitt, moved from Lanesborough to Cincinnati in 1848.
The Isaac Babbitt branch moved first to New York and New Jersey, then ventured as far west as Iowa by 1840. From there, two brothers, Harve M.
Next Generation Shares Stories
Gathered in a yurt at Arizona Nordic Village on a crisp fall morning, generations of the Babbitt Ranches Community settled in to share stories that connect and remind them that they are part of the same fabric—woven through time—that continues to unfold.
“Our story began far from here, on the shores of a distant ocean,” said Susan Babbitt. “It has carried across centuries, plains and mountains. Each step marked by courage, trust and imagination.”
Helping to carry the story from the 17th century to today at the Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, Shareholders Meeting were David Babbitt’s great grandchildren.
Lippincott
Across the Sea: Ed Bobet’s Leap of Faith
“Picture the year 1639,” began Ryan McGinty, a fifth generation Arizona Babbitt. “The air at the dock is heavy with salt, the gulls circling overhead, the swell of the tide against the wooden pilings. Families gather with bundles of belongings, hearts pulled between the comfort of what is known and the mystery of what lies ahead. Among them stands Ed Bobet [the early spelling of Babbitt].”
Ryan says he was close with his late grandmother, Margaret Charles, who often shared stories about the family and the ranches. “She was an inspiring figure in my life and embodied the character, values and selflessness that our family is known for.
I’m grateful to carry forward that legacy and to continue striving to integrate those same principles into our lives.”
Ryan recounted the historic journey of Ed Bobet leaving
England and heading to the New World. “That story captured the faith, courage and initiative he demonstrated as he set out on an inspired, yet uncertain, path,” he said. “It was very moving to reflect on his journey and the efforts of generations that followed to build an organization grounded in integrity, conscientiousness and service.”
As the story unfolded, Ryan said, “That crossing was not
Babbitt Ranches Marks 140th Year With Major Clean Energy Milestone continued from page 1 that we are stewards of the land. We know we are going to be operating the project throughout its life. That’s what’s
possibilities of what we can learn and create, and Clenera has been there participating every step of the way to make this the best project it can be.”
Exploring Solward
Insight
The
“We
animals, perhaps changing the soil beneath them and the way water runs off the panels.”
A solar farm on the landscape can open doors in unexpected ways, he continued. “Smart planting can provide habitat for pollinators. Care in fencing can facilitate the movement of key wildlife species. We now are able to create pronghorn corridors. We are wide open to the
The project also is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the county and state to support education and road infrastructure.
“More and more of our technology is made in the United States and operated by a highly skilled American workforce,” Fitzgerald said.“Solar farms like the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex reduce our dependence on foreign oil and gas and disperse energy generation across the nation. This increases grid security, resilience and reliability,” he added.
Solar, Wind and Powering Arizona’s Grid
Both SRP and APS are buying electricity from the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex under separate power purchase agreements with Clenera. SRP is buying the bulk
and Thomas Raymond Babbitt, seized an opportunity to homestead near LaGrange, Wyoming, about 30-miles northeast of Cheyenne. They ranched, farmed, founded a post office and became community leaders. In September 2025, Rayma shared her experience with Babbitt Ranches shareholders at Arizona Nordic Village. “David Babbitt was in Wyoming in 1884, scouting for a place where he and his brothers could start a cattle ranch,” she said. “Babbitt Ranch at La Grange was founded in 1882, and Tom Babbitt lived in Cheyenne from 1886 until 1891. Seeing how closely their paths passed and how their history paralleled ours in the Great Western movement was fascinating.”
An unexpected discovery during Rayma’s trip was learning how similar the Wyoming Babbitts are to the Arizona Babbitts.
just a voyage across the Atlantic. It was a crossing of heart and will—a declaration that life is not meant to be clung to but lived.”
Westward Heart:
The Journeys of David W. Babbitt and Sons
Billy Lippincott shared the story of the mid-1800s and another great crossing. “Imagine the creak of wagon wheels, the rhythm of hooves, the grit of dust clinging to clothes and skin. Before them stretched a horizon with no end—rolling grass, rivers to ford, mountains to climb and the vast unknown of the American West.”
Tying lessons of this story forward, Billy said, “Just as David W. Babbitt and his sons looked beyond the wilderness and imagined a home where none yet stood, we too are called to look ahead with imagination—seeing possibilities before they are obvious and shaping the future with courage and care.”
1886: Arriving in Flagstaff
Brian Woods, who was raised in Flagstaff, delivered the story about the five Cincinnati, Ohio, Babbitt brothers who followed their dream to the Arizona Territory.
In 1886, when the Babbitts arrived in Flagstaff, they eventually had herds of cattle and sheep. But before that, they had a spirit of relationship. They worked side by side with neighbors, merchants and other ranchers. They built trust. They built community. They built responsibility. They traded goods, shared water and learned the rhythms of the land together.”
From that shared history, Brian reflected on the conflict in the country today. “It is nice to see that Babbitt Ranches still holds those values in place: being a good neighbor, doing the right thing for the community and everyone around you. As we live in such a strange society and world today, it’s nice to see people connected to their original roots.”
Holding Through Change Elizabeth “Lizzy” Christy
of the solar generation, while APS has a separate contract that includes solar generation and battery storage.
The existing Navajo Generating Station transmission lines provide the electrical backbone that allows electricity from the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex to move from rural northern Arizona to population centers.
This is the same transmission corridor delivering power from the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center wind farm. NextEra Energy
“It seems like we share many of the same values, including the importance of family and community, industriousness and an appreciation for education and science,” she said. “It made me wonder how much of these traits falls into the nature vs. nurture question.”
Massachusetts. There, she met Bill Babbitt, who still lives on the land once owned by Edward. Bill’s branch of the Babbitt family has remained in the Taunton-Berkeley area for generations.
She reported that the younger Wyoming relatives were very impressed by the Arizona Babbitts’ Colorado Plateau Biological Assessment and the commitment to the environment, sustainability and stewardship.
Meanwhile, Rayma’s daughter, Jessica, located Edward Bobet’s original farm and homesite in Berkeley,
shared the victories and trials of the 20th century, as the family and business was tested by long years of drought, shifts in the markets and major events from wars to depressions.
“I appreciate being part of a family that treats our history like it's sacred, that takes time to document and revisit our story, and that it is also equally focused on our collective future,” said Lizzy. “I also appreciate how our family history is so deeply rooted in the land, and that connection is recognized, celebrated and protected.
The New Chapter: Regenward and OmniDynamics
Will Lee spoke about the current chapter, calling it an honor and a privilege to be sharing time with his relatives. “What I think is the coolest part, not just the history of our family and heritage of the ranches, but the integrity and the morals and values we carry with us, the fact that we have a constitution as a family and that respect for the land is a primary value.”
He brought the story to present-day Babbitt Ranches, noting that the land remains what it has always been – wide grasslands, volcanic peaks and open range – yet, with something new.
“It is still cattle, grass and sky, but now it is also a place where stewardship meets innovation, where tradition joins hands with imagination. Here, clean energy projects rise from the same soil where cattle graze. Golden eagles wheel overhead, their flights guiding how we plan and care.
Resources developed the 161 MW wind project with 50 turbines on Babbitt Ranches, which began turning in mid-2024 under longterm agreements with SRP.
APS plays a key role in the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex by integrating the electricity generated into the regional grid.
A First-Generation Mindset in the Clean Energy Era
“Through 140 years on the land and tracing back to our first ancestor on the continent, the
“I ended the summer’s adventure thinking about how these connections remind us that it truly is a small world and we’re all more connected than we realize,” said Rayma. “It was a memorable connection for both sides of the family and all of them are looking forward to coming to Flagstaff – several are hoping to come to
Pronghorn cross the open country, reminding us that the land must remain connected, alive and free.”
The Northern Arizona University environmental science graduate noted that the values and principles that carried the Babbitt Ranches Community through time are the same ones that shape the Babbitt Ranches Community decisions today.
“Courage. Imagination. Integrity. Trust. Each one still lights the path as we weigh questions of solar development, wildlife stewardship and community partnerships,” said Will.
“All of us crave to know that we are part of something bigger than our own lives, something meaningful, something that matters,” noted Babbitt Ranches General Manager Billy Cordasco. “That longing is answered in our story.”
Guided by Values: From Sea to Sagebrush
The Babbitt Ranches Community can trace nearly 400 years of adventure — from a perilous Atlantic crossing from England to the rugged journey across the wildlands of the American West. Through hills and valleys, fortunes and losses, one thread has remained unbroken: the values, principles and character qualities that guided the family through every challenge, condition and season. Join Discovery with Babbitt Ranches for stories and leadership lessons from the past that continue to inspire the future.
Babbitts have always been excited about welcoming fresh opportunities and exploring new frontiers,” Cordasco said.
“That First-Generation Mindset is as alive and well today as it was in 1886, when the five Cincinnati Babbitt brothers arrived in Flagstaff, helped build towns and participated in our young nation’s growth,” he said. “This time, the new frontier is about a future with clean energy for Arizona, our nation and the planet.”
Susan Babbitt facilitates the sharing of the Arizona Babbitt family story, handing off chapters to David Babbitt's great grandchildren, such as Will Lee pictured here.
More than 100 Wyoming Babbitts, who gathered for a family reunion in Loveland, Colorado, welcomed Arizona cousin Rayma Sharber Lee. Many sported their new Babbitt Ranches hats, a gift from Arizona.
Ryan McGinty
Brian Woods
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Christy
Leading with Solward Insight, OmniDynamic Stewardship
Demonstrating how technology, wildlife and land stewardship can coexist and result in positive outcomes for land, people and animals, representatives from Babbitt Ranches, Clenera, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Quantum Energy discussed the CO Bar Solar project as an example of Solward Insight and OmniDynamic participatory stewardship at a scientific and industry conference last fall in Scottsdale.
become more layered and communities, at times, have become less receptive.
“Rather than seeing this as a barrier, we see it as a call to participate with more awareness, more care and deeper relationship,” said Cordasco, suggesting a different approach to clean energy, “A Path With Heart, rooted in belonging to the land,” not just building on it.
“CO Bar Solar sits on land our family has walked for generations,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco at the biennial Solar, Wildlife & Ecosystems Research Meeting (SWERM), Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. “We gather at a remarkable moment – a moment when the need for clean, resilient and affordable power has never been greater and when tools like solar stand ready to meet that demand.”
However, the pathway to bringing solar projects to life has become increasingly complex, he said. Development timelines are longer than ever as approval processes have
“That’s the core of Solward Insight,” he explained, “Sol” for solar and “ward” for toward stewardship. “Solward Insight is our commitment as a landowner to stay present and responsible through the full life of a clean energy project: planning, construction, operations and one day, decommissioning. It means we don’t just host a project; we stay in relationship with it. We see the solar farm not as an interruption of the landscape, but as part of its ongoing story. It doesn’t replace stewardship.”
He also introduced another new term to the SWERM audience. “OmniDynamics is how our commitment moves in real time. It recognizes that the land is always in motion, through seasons, cycles and patterns. OmniDynamics allows us to stay attuned to subtle shifts in migration patterns, the
rise and fall of grasses across seasons and the way water, wind and wildlife move through a place, so decisions can be made in days, not years.”
OmniDynamics: From Concept to Practice
Clenera Director of Development Tom Fitzgerald spoke about details of the CO Bar Clenera Solar and Storage Complex, specifically environmental design considerations.
Recognizing that Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) have long studied pronghorn antelope and tracked their migration patterns on the CO Bar, he said wildlife-friendly fencing was one of Clenera’s key concerns. He mentioned how the team had become familiar with antelope behavior and
the history of the “goat bar,” developed on Babbitt Ranches and used extensively across the region to help pronghorn crawl under fences.
“We learned to think like the pronghorn and to ‘be the goat bar’ as we planned for wildlifefriendly fencing,” he said. Other important design elements included removing non-native trees and promoting native ground cover, while creating a plan to prevent the spread of noxious weeds. Grazing, recreation and cultural sites also influenced the project design.
AZGFD Region 2 Supervisor Larry Phoenix shared research about wildlife movement corridors. “Our pre-solar construction radio telemetry collar data since 2018 shows 138 collared pronghorn and 87 collared mule deer using the
Restoring the Forest Around Arizona Nordic Village Without Disrupting the Experience
This carefully timed, custom-designed thinning project protects forest
recreational use, forest views, wildlife movement and community
Depending on the time of the year, visitors to Arizona Nordic Village might be gliding across snow-covered trails, hiking through tall ponderosa pines, attending a wedding or simply pausing to listen to the wind move through the forest.
Just beyond those trails, a strategic forest restoration effort is underway — carefully planned so that the work meant to protect the forest does not detract from the very experience that draws people there.
The Derffer Forest Restoration Project spans more than 3,000 acres on the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. The area is a key concern to foresters because a wildfire burning here could threaten the San Francisco Peaks, the City of Flagstaff and two major watersheds — the Upper Rio de Flag on the Peaks and the Verde, above Phoenix.
Thus, the project focuses on thinning overstocked forest areas to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, support the movement of wildlife like turkey and deer, and protect communities and water resources from post-fire flooding.
“There are so many partners to thank for their contributions to the incredible work that’s being done in the Rio de Flag watershed: Coconino County, the National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the City of Flagstaff, Campbell Global and the loggers themselves,” said Forest Supervisor for the Coconino National Forest Aaron Mayville. “I’m also grateful to the homeowners and business owners in the area – like Babbitt Ranches and the Nordic Center – who have shown such interest and support for this important work.”
The work is led by the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Coconino County and Salt River Project, with support from local businesses and contractors.
“NFF is the congressionally designated nonprofit organization for the Forest Service that identifies priority projects that otherwise would not be done,” said NFF Southwest Region Director Sasha Stortz. “We bring together multiple resources and our team oversees the project hand-in-hand with the Forest Service.”
What makes the Derffer project stand out is how it intersects with Arizona Nordic Village, a year-round recreation destination owned and operated by Babbitt Ranches, known for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking and special events.
“This is a really unique place,” said Arizona Nordic Village Manager Sydney Nieminen. “The forest experience is why people come here. This is where guests say they feel connected to the land, where they belong. From the beginning, the Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation understood that, and they have been wonderful partners, working with us on the ground to make sure the work protects both the forest, our operations and the guest experience.”
To minimize disruption, restoration crews adjusted traditional thinning prescriptions, protecting ski and recreation trails, leaving trees for shade to slow the evaporation of snow,
protecting views and the wildland experience, and coordinating work schedules around peak seasons and events, such as weddings. No work was conducted during the Nordic Village’s busiest months; heavier activity took place during shoulder seasons or periods when the facility was already closed.
The goal, partners say, is to create forest conditions that are more resilient to wildfire while preserving the visual and recreational character of the area.
“Thinning at Derffer is helping restore healthier forest conditions — reducing wildfire risk while protecting nearby communities like Flagstaff and vital watersheds from potentially catastrophic postfire flooding,” said Stortz.
The project is one critical piece of a much larger landscapescale strategy to protect the Upper Rio de Flag Watershed, which has a history of post-fire flooding capable of devastating neighborhoods, roads and infrastructure. The Verde Watershed, which also benefits
area,” he said. “GPS movement data helped guide planning efforts for the CO Bar Solar project.”
AZGFD collared 25 pronghorn and 18 mule deer last October to track and evaluate their movement during and after construction. “Because of our continued collaboration and pronghorn movement studies with Babbitt Ranches, we are on the cutting edge of learning how pronghorn react to solar projects.”
OmniDynamics at Grid Scale
Quantum Energy Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Andrew DeMille spoke about the unseen public health, biodiversity and economic benefits of CO Bar Solar. He shared Quantum’s TotalView Energy Platform, predictive analytics on grid-level
power generation, avoided emissions to air, soil and water, and impacts on public health, the ecosystem and the economy.
The TotalView analysis predicts 55,000 cumulative years of human life will be saved across the 30-year life of CO Bar Solar and its generation of clean energy, along with 126 species. Positive economic impacts will total an estimated $15 billion, he said.
“Charting A Path With Heart includes participatory stewardship, continuous attention, transparent learning and shared values,” concluded Cordasco. “CO Bar Solar shows how care, presence and
Babbitt Ranches Meets
In September 2025, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz visited northern Arizona and met with representatives from the Coconino National Forest and permittees, including Babbitt Ranches, to share views on working lands.
Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco noted the privilege the Babbitt Ranches Community has had working alongside the Forest Service since the late 1980s, through grazing permits on the Coconino and Kaibab national forests, and recreation on the Coconino at Arizona Nordic Village.
fences, keeping grasslands open, protecting migration corridors and advancing water and pipeline improvements that benefit wildlife, livestock and people.
from the project, is a critical water source for the Salt River Project and the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Northern Arizona contractors Perkins Timber Harvesting of Williams and Bob Lee and Sons Tree Service based in Payson are completing the work through a three-year contract overseen by the NFF. Some of the removed material is being transported to sawmills, some is being made available as firewood. Federal funding through the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grant is being used to remove leftover slash to further lower the fire risk.
Funding for the project includes contributions from the Coconino County Flood Control District, Salt River Project and the U.S. Forest Service. Historic Brewing Company, with businesses in Flagstaff and Williams, also is supporting the effort through sales of its Feller Bunch IPA.
For partners involved, the project reflects a shared understanding that forest health, recreation, the guest experience, wildlife movement and community safety are deeply connected, said Nieminen. “It’s amazing to work with partners who understand both the needs of the forest and the people who love it.”
“That’s nearly 40 years of relationship and I’ve found it to be not only productive but deeply meaningful, built on participation and trust. For us, it’s not only about grazing permits or projects, but also about how we see the land as a whole, how we belong with it and how we carry forward values that last across landscapes, communities and generations.” An especially meaningful effort working with the Forest Service and others, he said, has been promoting pronghorn movement across the open range, noting wildlife-friendly
“These efforts haven’t been just on one ownership. They’ve reflected the efforts of the National Forest, along with state and private lands, working together across hundreds of thousands of acres into one connected effort. That reflects the best of what we stand for together: not separate pieces, but a shared landscape where we notice the flows of life and act with them as one.” The Forest Service philosophy is often described as “Land of Many Uses,” to include timber harvesting, range management, cultural resource protection and recreation. Cordasco offered an updated and broader slogan. “Today, maybe the call is to see it as the ‘Land of Many Values.’ Together, landowners, communities and the Forest Service can inspire a modern version of stewardship that honors values and dynamic processes, inviting participation, nurturing belonging and carrying forward a path that unites landscapes, communities and generations.”
Northern Arizona contractors Perkins Timber Harvesting of Williams and Bob Lee and Sons Tree Service based in Payson are completing the work through a threeyear contract overseen by the National Forest Foundation. The work is being conducted strategically to not disturb events like weddings and to maintain forest
Larry Phoenix AZGFD Region 2 Supervisor
Andre DeMille Quantum Energy Chief Operating Officer
Tom Fitzgerald Cl-enera Director of Development
Billy Cordasco Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager
by Tom Bean Photography
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