TS Ranch History

The T Lazy S Ranch

The historic T Lazy S Ranch, located in Northern Nevada between the towns of Elko and Battle Mountain, was originally settled by Irish immigrant William Dunphy.

Arriving in California as a young man, Dunphy had the good fortune to meet and eventually marry the beautiful and wealthy daughter of the Spanish Land Grant Family named Carmel.

In 1870, leaving his young family back in San Francisco, William Dunphy formed a partnership with a man named Hildreth and began to look for business opportunities in the neighboring frontier of Nevada. They settled in Boulder Valley where they turned their cattle herd loose on open range and began to develop and irrigate wild meadow hay.

Throughout the 1870's, Dunphy and Hildrith continued to expand their cattle and hay operations. By putting together acquisitions of government and railroad lands, in addition to purchases from private sources, they formed large blocks of deeded land; thus allowing them to controlled vast acreages of surrounding government owned grazing lands

By 1875, Dunphy and Hildrith owned over 40,000 head of cattle, which were run in two herds. One in Nevada on the Rock Creek and Humboldt River drainage's, and the other in Idaho on the Snake River. Both Dunphy and Hildrith maintained their main residence in California and left the day to day management of their operations to a Superintendent. They spent a great deal of time on their holdings, and occasionally brought their families with them on inspection trips.

In the late 1870's, William Dunphy bought out Hildrith's interest in the Nevada ranch, and continued to expand and improve the operation. Dunphy fenced over 20,000 acres, where he developed native meadows through irrigation, to produce grass hay to feed thin and weak cattle during the winter. A practice unique to Nevada at a time when most outfits relied upon open range.

Dunphy's herds prospered, until the hard winter in 1889-90, where despite Dunphy's hay reserves, over 10,000 head of TS cattle perished.

Dunphy immediately set about rebuilding his herd and eventually changed from Shorthorn to Hereford cattle. His ranching operation continued to prosper through his forward thinking and innovative management practices. When he died in 1914, William Dunphy was running in excess of 20,000 head of cattle under 23 irons, the best known being the T Lazy S brand. He was using his hay farming operation to grow feed for beef cattle designated for late winter and spring markets. Dunphy ran a wholesale beef business in San Francisco, where he butched his Nevada raised cattle in his California packing plant.

Following his death, the Dunphy Estate was passed on to Dunphy's wife and four children; the widow receiving a one-half interest and the other one-half being equally divided among the four children. Gradually, the once great spread dwindled in size as land was taken up by family heirs and sold.

Since then the TS Ranch has changed hands several times. It is now owned and operated by Newmont Mining Corporation, one of the largest gold mining companies in the world. (See NMC) Managed through Newmonts' subsidiary Elko Land & Livestock Company, the T Lazy S Ranch remains one of the largest ranching operations in the State of Nevada today.

It is thought that the T Lazy S brand, registered in 1873, was acquired by William Dunphy in 1877 from Hobert & Simonds of Elko County. What the T Lazy S brand actually stands for was lost in time and remains a mystery.

Today, it is just called the TS RANCH, because "there is nothing lazy about this outfit!

The TS Ranch Today

Although the TS Ranch adheres to many of the old Spanish "Buckaroo" traditions of the past, the forward thinking and innovative management style of William Dunphy continues today.

The ranch, operated as a profit center separate from Newmont Mining Corp's mineral enterprises, is managed by Elko Land & Livestock Company as a diversified commercial cow/calf and alfalfa hay operation.

The cowherd, consisting of approximately 4,000 commercial cows, are run primarily on rangeland, in large pastures. A 4,000 head feedlot is operated as a weaning and "warm up" facility in the fall. Some years, yearling cattle are run through the summer and shipped in the fall. (See Cowherd)

The Alfalfa Hay operation consists if approximately 5,500 acres under pivot irrigation. Some barley is raised for feed grain in the feedlot. The alfalfa hay is primarily targeted to the California dairy market, with lessor quality hay being fed to the TS cowherd or sold to neighboring ranchers. (See Alfalfa Hay)

On the TS, wildlife and wildlife habitat are a major focus in the overall management of the land and water resources of the ranch. With Newmont Mining as a partner, thousands of acres of wildlife habitat have been developed or enhanced, and numerous watering sources have been developed for mammals, birds and fish. (See Wildlife & Habitat)

On the TS Ranch we take a professional approach to the profitable management of our cattle and hay operations, while protecting and enhancing our wildlife and its' habitat. The ranch is managed and operated by "real people" with family values and a sense of tradition and local customs. Honesty and integrity are foremost in our dealings with our cattle and hay customers.

William Dunphy came to this land now known as the TS Ranch in 1870. With forward thinking and innovative management, he made it into one of the great ranches of the west. We are committed to follow in his footsteps and through emulation of his forward thinking and innovative management practices, we can ensure that the TS Ranch will remain an agricultural leader through the year 2070.

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