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BABBITT TIMES REVIEWC LEARNINGUNDERSTANDING w JOININGSHARING w BECOMING A PART c

The Constitution of Babbitt Ranches highlights the charac-teristics and values by which the organization operates. Articles of the Constitution can be found correlating with the news stories in the Babbitt Times Review.

August 2011

More than 500 Babbitts Recognize125th Anniversary

Special 125th anniverSary edition

Photo courtesy Tom Alexander Photography

Babbitt Ranches Overview

A Building for the GenerationsBy James E. Babbitt

In the fall of 1888, work commenced at the corner of San Francisco Street and Church Street (now Aspen Avenue) on a new building to house the mercantile business operated by the Babbitt brothers. The broth-ers had arrived in Flagstaff in 1886, first establishing the CO Bar Ranch, then starting a hardware and lum-beryard in downtown Flagstaff.The new building, intended to house a general mer-

chandise store, measured 30 x 70 and was con-structed from local Moenkopi sandstone, quarried a mile east of downtown. The contractor was local builder and mason Ed Whipple. The building was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque architec-tural style, with distinctive arched doors and windows, and a decorative pressed metal cornice gracing the roof line. The second floor of the building included offices used by the various Babbitt enterprises. Upon completion, the second floor also served as a tem-porary courthouse for the newly created Coconino County, and then as an opera house and community meeting space.The mercantile operation prospered, and the build-

ing was expanded, first in 1891, then several times again after the turn of the twentieth century. By 1916, the Babbitt Brothers Building housed a bewilder-ing collection of commercial departments, including dry goods, mens and womens clothing, books and stationery, hardware, sporting goods, groceries, meats and fish, fruits and vegetables, furniture, and a large Indian curio room selling Navajo rugs, Hopi pottery and silver, Apache and Pima baskets, and Pendleton blankets. Also included in the build-ing were electric light, heating, and ice plants. One writer described the building as the largest general merchandise store in Arizona.The building continued to evolve through the years

as the lumber and hardware departments moved into separate outlying facilities, and the grocery department developed into the freestanding Thriftway Supermar-kets. By the 1970s the Babbitts Department Store offered clothing and furniture departments as well as housewares, cosmetics, jewelry, shoes and gifts.

Building continued on page 10

If we could first know where we are and whither

we are tending, we could better judge

what to do and how to do it.

Abraham Lincoln

In 1991 this quote inspired our discussions regarding the future of Babbitt Ranches. It was a time swirling with many ideas, opinions, wants and needs. Some of this swirling included efforts to remove live-stock from the grazing lands of the Southwest with the theme Cattle free by 93. There were pressures to maximize real estate val-ues by selling ranch lands as 40-acre devel-opments. Rec-reational activi-ties and the hunter demand to increase big game populations put added pressures on open spaces and grasslands. In addition, there were the 100-year-old inner work-ings of a third and fourth generation family business. There was much about

Babbitt Ranches that we understood such as the cat-tle, the horses, the grazing rotations and water infra-structure. Babbitt Ranches was a cattle ranch with much of the daily routine of the livestock operations well forged and in place for quite some time. Abra-ham Lincoln would have certainly agreed, in these areas, Babbitt Ranches knew where it was and that it was well tending. Of course, there were

many areas not so well understood and defined. For example, if we were such a well-tending live-

stock ranch, why was the return on investment so low? If we were such a well-tending livestock operation, how come the environmen-tal community wanted to rid the land of livestock? If we were such a well-tend-ing livestock operator, why were there so many issues and conflicts with recre-ational users and hunters? How come we felt boxed in as a group of owners, as a livestock industry and as

a community?Although, some

years since 1991 did feel clouded with frustra-tion and uncer-tainty, it was the deliberate, thorough and comprehensive discussions and genuine efforts to articulate and define the com-munity of Bab-bitt Ranches and its future that focused us on who we are, what we do, how we do it

and why we do it. Areas of conversation

included: The Constitu-tion of Babbitt Ranches, Land Ethics, Tomorrows Agriculture and Land Use, The Multiple Bot-tom Line, Generations Sustainability Sciences Program, The Landsward Institute and our need to become appropriately aware of our neighboring regional land owners. These conversations ulti-

mately defined Babbitt Ranches as much more than a livestock operation. Babbitt Ranches is a land uses company, harnessed with a sense of responsibil-ity, obligation and aware-ness. We are now better able to

judge what we do and how we do it. BC

The building continues to be a vital part of downtown Flagstaff.

Jim Babbitt stands in front of the Babbitt Brothers Building that houses a sports and camping store, apartments and company offices.

Article IIConversation Council Creed

Section 5.

Our character will be demonstrated through our patience, kindness, humility, respectfulness, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty and resilience.

Article IXPriceless

Values Section 1.

OrganizationBabbitt Ranches,

founded in 1886, is rich in history and strength-ened through relation-ships. For as many as

six generations, owners, employees and their fam-ilies have shared in this

history and have forged a deep commitment to the health of the land and the

organization.

500 Babbitts continued on page 11

Commemorating 125 years since the five Babbitt Brothers of Cincinnati made Flag-staff the hub of what would become one of the Wests largest cattle ranching operations, 507 Babbitts posed for this picture in front of the Elks Lodge on Saturday, July 9.The venue was great with the view of the

Peaks in the background, said Melanie Dorn, one of the reunion organizers, of David Bab-bitt lineage. Her great grandfather was Joseph Babbitt, Davids son and her great grandmother was Viola Babbitt. That, for me, is the sight of home. The mountain is such a great reminder of our heritage, but the reunion was all about the people; watching people meet each other, enjoy each other and share memories.

On Sunday, July 17 a color photo full of Babbitts graced the front page of the Arizona Daily Sun. Reporter Betsey Bruner documented the gather-ing that drew family members from all over the country. Many Verkamps and Shoeneys traveled all the way from Cincinnati, and some George Babbitt family members traveled from as far as Connecticut and Florida. Jim E. Babbitt declared, Oh, its just

wonderful to have the whole big family together. Jim is the youngest of five in the Paul J. Babbitt and Frances Perry family, of C.J. Babbitt lineage.The best part was checking people in at La

Fonda for dinner, said Claire West, Dorns mother, also the granddaughter of Viola Babbitt.

I got to hug everybody. It was wonderful. And even the relatives you hadnt met felt like rela-tives, especially the Verkamps. There are certain traits in the family and you could just see them in so many people. You knew they were yours.The Cincinnati Verkamps funded the original

ranching venture. Three Verkamp sisters married three of the original five brothers. David married Emma Catherine, Charles (C.J.) married Mary and Edward married Matilda.The Babbitts of Flagstaff always remember

their maternal family and continue to honor the maternal heritage and names, said Dorn. There are as many names associated with Babbitts as there are women who have married them.

August 2011BABBITT TIMES REVIEW

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.

By PLATT CLINEExcerpts and photo borrowed from The Coconino Sun, Friday, July 7, 1939

This picture was made about 1918 upon the occasion of a visit Edward (left) of Cincinnati, paid his four brothers in Flagstaff. From left to right: Edward, who has been engaged in the practice of law in Cincinnati for many years; Charles J., president of Babbitt Brothers Trading Co., David (1858-1920); George (1860-1920); and William 1863-1930). Charles, David, George and William starting with a tiny hardware business and a few cattle, built one of the largest business firms in Arizona, Babbitt Brothers Trading Company, which today does over $4,000,000 worth of business a year.

Looking For a Cattle Ranch

As a result of the decision of the brothers, David Bab-bitt had left Cincinnati in 1885, and had visited cat-tle ranges in Montana and Wyoming. Not finding just the type of opportunity the brothers desired, he had returned to Cincinnati. The brothers eventually decided on the northern part of Ari-zona Territory as the most likely location.At the time of the arrival of

David and William Babbitt in Flagstaff in 1886, the Tonto Basin cattlemens-sheepmens war raging; Apache Indian raids were a constant menace; the coun-try was infested with stock rustlers, necessitating that a stockman have a wary eye and a quick gun hand; and the Civil War was just 20 years in the past; nearer to the people of that day than the World War is to us of 1939. Flagstaff was tough, and the surround-ing country was tougher; only men of courage and determination could hope to operate cattle and man-age to get most of them to market. The brothers had a letter

of introduction to Dr. Bran-nen, a cousin of the owner of the Brannen Mercantile Co. The Babbitts called on Dr. Brannen upon their arrival, and in a short time had met most of the business men of the town, includ-ing John Lind, bookkeeper and general manager of the Brannen store. He was to become, later, a trusted employee of the Babbitts, after the establishment of the great trading company, still years in the future. The brothers took up then tem-porary residence with Dr. Brannen, in a small frame building standing back of the Bank hotel.

Four Tenderfeet Came West in 1886; Stayed, and Grew Up with The CountryBabbitt Brothers Went Into Cattle Business, Later Founded Trading Company

David and William spent their time, for several months, constantly looking for the range and herd of cattle that would measure up to their desires.

First Cattle Purchased

The Babbitt brothers made a deal for their first herd of cattle, over 1000 head, in early May. On May 17, the weekly news-paper, the ancestor of the The Coconino Sun, edited by George H. Tinker, had this to say: Just as we are going to press, we are informed that Messrs. Hos-ler and Warren have sold to Babbitt Bros. of Cincinnati, something over 1000 head of cattle. The cattle were of the Boot brand. The week following the purchase of the first herd of stock, the newspaper expanded on the article of the previ-ous week: The Babbitt Bros. of Cincinnati have purchased from Messrs. Hosler and Warren about 1200 head of stock, con-sisting of 800 cows, 35 fine grade bulls, 200 two-year olds, and about 200 year-lings. The cattle purchased are all first-class stock, and in fine condition. We are informed by a prominent stockman that he considers the herd one of the best in this vicinity, and considers that the gentlemen have made a cheap and excel-lent purchase. Thus the beginning of a business that was to spread far and wide, that was to operate literally dozens of business establishments, that was to employ hundreds of people in northern Arizona in years to come.The cattle were all re-

branded with the C-O-Bar brand, which is still in use by Babbitts to this

day. It was composed of the initial letters of C incinnati, O hio, as a tribute to the home the boys had left behind. This first herd of cattle were run in the Little Colorado river country, Charles J. Babbitt recollects.In May, 1886, Charles,

21, arrived in Flagstaff to join brothers in the new venture. From that time on, and for almost half a cen-tury, he was to be actively engaged in the stock busi-ness. His job in later years, with his brother William, was to take care of the live-stock interests of the not-yet-born Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. He states that the first five years he was in Arizona, he spent prac-tically every minute on the range with the stock.

Looking for the Range

Constantly looking the country over for better range and water, it was nat-ural that the brothers should become acquainted with Al Grady and Jack Smith, partners in the stock busi-ness, who controlled some excellent land and water rights, the latter consist-ing of a spring that is now the main water supply for Flagstaff. In company with Grady and Smith, David and William set out on a visit to the famous spring, a trip more or less beset with hardships, only to find it covered with a blanket of snow over seven feet deep. The party camped in the vicinity of the spring. Jack Smith shot a bear, and two mountain sheep were seen by the boys. A writer in the The Coconino Sun many years later wrote of the incident, as remembered by David Babbitt.Camp was pitched, but in

the morning the first thing to greet their eyes was another blanket of snow that had fallen during the night. Breakfast being of course in order, wood was gathered, the coffee made ready, in fact all prepara-tions made for a hearty meal, when it was discov-ered that in the whole party only a match and a half stood between them and hunger, and that Mr. Dave Babbitt happened to possess those.After much

cajoling on the part of Al Grady he was entrusted with the one whole match. True to life, the first match wept out, and then only the half match r e m a i n e d truly a critical situation with the prospect of no break-fast if the remaining half match failed to function. Pleading on the part of Al Grady did not seem to do any good this time, for his-tory records that Mr. Bab-bitt kept the match and lit it, only after a careful gath-ering of all the inflammable material to be obtained. The half match in the hands of Mr. Babbitt seemed to realize its responsibilities, and a roaring camp fire and a good breakfast for all hands resulted.

A Pleasant Valley Visit

A May, 1886, issue of the The Coconino Sun, records that the Babbitt Brothers, accompanied by a friend, set out in search of new range in the Pleasant Valley coun-try, a trip which proved to be more exciting than had been bargained for. Riding into the beautiful green val-ley, known as Pleasant Val-ley, bordering the Apache reservation, they were met by a man riding toward them rapidly, warning them that the Apaches were on a raid, and that everyone was seeking refuge at the nearby Tewksbury ranch. In their conversation on the way to the Tewksbury ranch, a writer in the The Coconino Sun several years ago says, it was learned that their new found friend was named Sigsby. As the party passed a rather dilap-idated cabin they made inquiry from their guide as to why the occupants were not warned of the coming danger, and were informed that the place belonged to the Grahams. Their guide went on to say that the Tewksbury and Graham factions were at war with each other, and inasmuch as Sigsby was a Tewks-bury sympathizer, it did not seem quite in order to stop at the enemys stronghold. From the way Sigsby talked the brothers gathered the impression that he was a bit more afraid of the Gra-hams than he was of the Apaches. The Grahams in this feud were the leaders of the cattle faction and the Tewksbury represented the sheep interests. As a con-

sequence the party made all haste to the Tewksbury ranch, which they found to be in more or less a state of siege.The Indian scare finally

subsided, but about this time the climax came in the Tewksbury-Graham feud, one of the bloodi-est chapters in the history of the state. The Babbitt brothers were not actively concerned in this warfare,

but were right on the edge of it all during the time that it was at its worst.The Pleasant

Valley country looked pretty promising for the cow busi-ness, related Mr. David Bab-bitt in later years, and it wasnt long before we had

made negotiations for some land, and were really full-fledged cattlemen. The more prominent cat-

tlemen of the Flagstaff sec-tion at that time included Acker & Walker, Lot Smith, Al Doyle, John Marshall, the Black Brothers, Henry Ashurst, and John Clark.

The A-One-Bar Cattle Co.

The largest cattle com-pany in the vicinity of Flagstaff at that time was the A-One-Bar, the Ari-zona Cattle Company, with headquarters in Fort Valley. The company was being ram-rodded by Captain B. B. Bullwinkle. In the early 80s, and until 1885, it had been managed by John W. Young, son of the famous Brigham Young, president of the Mormon Church. John Young, with a company of lumberjacks, had built the fort in what later became Fort Valley for protection against the Indians, while they were engaged in cutting ties on the slopes of the San Fran-cisco Mountains for the Atlantic and Pacific Rail-road Company. Following the completion of the rail-road in 1883, the fort was turned into headquarters for the big cattle company, which was financed by a number of wealthy east-erners. Bullwinkle, whom old-timers described as an original had at one time been fire chief in Chicago for the insurance compa-nies. He was a man who liked fast horses; riding his Kentucky racing stock from Fort Valley to Flagstaff, it was his pleasure to ride with a watch in one hand, striving to cut the time of the ride to the lowest pos-sible point. Charles J. Bab-bitt remarks with a smile, that Bullwinkles training as a fire chief, who had to get there first was the probable reason for the ex-firemans continual hurry to get wherever he was going. Bullwinkle was killed in 1888 when a fast horse he was riding to Flagstaff to meet the Hashknife ram-rod, Captain Warner, fell with him near the western limits of town.

Following the death of Bullwinkle, the owners of the famous A-One-Bar decided to go out of busi-ness. Accordingly, that fall they shipped 19,000 head of cattle and the Babbitt brothers found themselves deeper in the cattle busi-ness than ever.

The FamiliesThe five Babbitt broth-

ers, including E. J., whom we have not so far men-tioned in this story, were the children of David and Catherine Babbitt. Fol-lowing a common school education in Cincinnati, their home, the five broth-ers attended St. Xaviers (Jesuit) college in that city.Oldest of the brothers

was David, born in 1858. He was married in 1886 to miss Emma Verkamp, sis-ter of the wives of Charles and E. J. Babbitt, and also a sister of O. J. Verkamp, manager today of Babbitts Flagstaff curio department. To this union were born six children: Raymond G., at present secretary-treasurer of Babbitt Bros. Trading Co.; Edwin D., propri-etor of the E. D. Babbitt Motor Company, Flagstaff; Joseph R., vice-president of the Trading Co.; David M. Jr., who died in 1929; Elaine, who died in 1938; and Gertrude, who makes her home in Flagstaff. Mr. Babbitt died in 1929.George Babbitt Sr. was

born in 1860. He was mar-ried in 1887 to Philomena Wessell, of Cincinnati. The five children born to them were: Bertram H., promi-nent sheepman of the Flag-staff section; Marguerite (Mrs. Thos. McCullough, of Flagstaff); Herbert, pro-prietor of the Herb Bab-bitt garage in Flagstaff; George Jr., Flagstaff post-master; and Eunice (Mrs. Ike Veazey). Mr. Babbitt died in 1920.William Babbitt was

born 1863. He was mar-ried in 1914 to Elizabeth Roach. Death came to him in Phoenix in 1930. Mrs. Babbitt makes her home in Flagstaff.Charles J. Babbitt was born

in 1865. He was married in 1891 to Mary Verkamp, of Cincinnati. Four children were born to the couple: Helen, who resides in Los Angeles; Paul, an attorney in Los Angeles; James E., Arizona State Senator, and an officer of Babbitt Bros. Trading Co.; and John, also connected with the Flag-staff establishment.Edward J. Babbitt, who

has practiced law in Cin-cinnati for many years, was born in 1868. He was a Senator in Arizonas Ter-ritorial Legislature in the 90s, also probate judge for a time. When he was a member of the legisla-ture he rode on the first train between Phoenix and Prescott. Later he returned to Cincinnati, where he is still active in the practice of law. He was married to Matilda Verkamp. Their three children, all of Cin-cinnati, are: Mary, Eliza-beth, and E. J. Jr.

A Yellow Rose

Harvey Howell loved being a cowboy, considered his career a privilege, and called it an honor to have spent nearly 40 years running cattle, breaking horses and being part of Western ranching history.Howell began working for Babbitt Ranches in the 1960s

after serving in the U.S. Marines. He and his wife Janet raised their sons, Todd and Dallas, at Redlands Camp on the Cataract Ranch.It was a wonderful life to live with my wife and boys on

Babbitt Ranches, said Howell in 2008. Sitting on a head of cattle, with 30-mile-an-hour winds

pounding him with red dirt and visibility so bad he couldnt see his hands, he would ask himself, Why do I love it? Then, hed answer, I dont know why, but I love it.Howell enjoyed the roundups, the roping, the branding

and the wildlife, but especially the friendships.

Article IIICowboy Essence

Section 15.

Competitive Greatness

Be at your best when your best is needed.

Enjoy a difficult challenge.

Howell, a Life Well-Lived

A Yellow RoseIts 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 tomorrows sunriseIts 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.

Article IIICowboy EssenceSection 1.

IndustriousnessThere is no substitute for work. Worthwhile

results come from hard work and

careful planning.

August 2011 BABBITT TIMES REVIEW page 3

Randy Servis has looked at Babbitt Ranches from sev-eral different perspectives. As a photogra-pher, its not so much the cows, horses and cow-boys hes focus-ing on, its more the lifestyle, the everyday tasks and the still life of a ranch when the dust settles.Servis is cap-

turing the ranch in a way that hasnt been done before, documenting the biology, wildlife and past presence of occupants in the old camps.Theres a haunting quality

in some of the images, he says, and somehow also a comfortable, lived-in feel.Servis is looking forward

to publishing the photos in the future. But currently he is wearing another hat regarding Babbitt Ranches, as the northern Arizona brand inspector for the states Department of Agri-culture.This role involves the health and welfare of the ranch animals, along with the prevention of theft.

Article IIICowboyEssenceSection 7.

AlertnessObserve constantly. Stay open minded. Be eager to learn

and improve.

Servis Serves Northern Arizona as Brand Inspector and Photographer

I work for the state vet-erinarian and am the hands and eyes in the field collect-

ing samples for disease or unex-plained deaths.Anytime ani-

mals are moved, change hands or go to slaughter, they are physi-cally examined. We look for communicable diseases like t u b e r c u l o -sis. We also check for can-cers and ship-

ping fever. We really dont see any of this on Bab-bitt Ranches. They have well maintained, healthy animals.Servis also works to keep

foreign animal diseases out of U.S. herds. There are 17 of these diseases and they can affect cattle, peo-ple and the economy. Hoof-and-mouth disease is one that we watch out for. It can hitchhike on clothing and is tremendously contagious. In some countries it has decimated the beef indus-try. Hundreds of thousands of animals have had to be put down.

When Mike Mongini walked into John Babbitts office in the mid 1980s, he had no idea his father had been there before him. More tangible than footprints, a file cabinet revealed the history of a Mongini/Babbitt business relation-ship that was developing decades ago.Italian immigrant, Emilio

Mongini had an invest-ment business, Selna and Mongini Investments. One of his business partners was a mining engineer who was convinced the CO Bar Ranch was rich in uranium. In the late 1950s, a deal was in the works for Selna and Mongini to purchase various small properties on the ranch.Fast forward some 25

years, that transaction had never transpired, but the land called out to Emilios son. This time the resource was gravel.Tr u c k l o a d s

of gravel were being extracted from Babbitt Ranches for roads and con-struction proj-ects, but there was little infor-mation about how much gravel existed, where it was going and who should be paying for it. It was a different time

then. The Gray Mountain open pit was very remote. The cowboys were the only ones out there. They saw the mining activity, but they figured someone else was managing the gravel opera-tions, said Flagstaff lawyer Mike Mongini.In the mid 1980s, Mongini

was hired to evaluate the value of Babbitt Ranches gravel pits and make sure companies paid for the gravel taken. It was thought that the

Gray Mountain pit was mined out. Bill Cordasco and I walked miles over that lava flow.They concluded there was

much more gravel than anyone had suspected. As a result they worked with contractors, such as the Arizona Department of Transportation, to finance the drilling costs to assess the quantity of material.Mongini regards the 80s

as a turning point for the Babbitts. It was a time when Babbitt Brothers Trading Company was liquidating its interests and the ranches were being appraised for only their ranch value. He was asked to evaluate the situation.Family members did not

want to sell the ranches. They were trying to fig-ure out how to keep them for generations to come. It was at that time that they realized they werent just a ranching company that raises cattle; they were a land company that grows grass. If the grass is healthy, the land is healthy and everything revolves around how well youre taking care of the land.This bigger picture para-

digm shift changed the way Babbitt Ranches viewed

A Cowboys Cowboy, a Visit with Victor Howell


Section 12.Ranch SpiritA genuine consider-

ation for others fosters an eagerness to sacrifice personal interests and

glory for the betterment of others. It is not about I but We.

itself and managed the busi-ness of land ownership.As a result now 25 years

later, the ranches are better off than ever before. The land is healthier and more valuable, the cattle are big-ger, the gravel operation is paying dividends, roads have been improved, there are more water resources, wildlife, such as antelope, are benefiting, and there are more business oppor-tunities. Mongini has witnessed

how the Babbitt family has set up this 125-year-old company to go on for another 125 years.The Babbitts really

believe in a land ethic. In everything they do, they have to be able to explain how it relates to the health of the land and the busi-ness of land management. They didnt want to be the

generation that wasted it all. Instead theyre just getting started.Mongini was

raised in Cot-tonwood, clean-ing up after the cows on his fam-ilys dairy farm. He attended Northern Ari-zona University and went to

law school in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Jeni, are raising their two sons in Flagstaff. Both boys were adopted from an Italian orphanage in Guatemala. This past year Mongini

was reminiscing with Bab-bitt Ranches Foreman Vic-tor Howell and President Bill Cordasco during ship-ping at Tin House Camp on the Espee Ranch. Mon-gini was shipping cattle in the early 70s working for the Tavasci Brothers Cat-tle Handlers. Vic, being a 10-year-old boy out there with his dad at the time, remembered watching one of the Tavasci Brothers flip an ornery 600-pound steer on his back in the cattle chute. Vic said, Those Tavasci Brothers were really big and mean! Mongini, at age 15, was

as big as he is today. I must have looked huge to a young boy. The Tavasci Brothers had told me not to let any of the animals come down the chute. The cattle werent used to being shipped, the weather was bad, they were scared and there was one that came down with a vengeance.Mongini tackled the steer

and when it got back on its feet it was so worked up it hit its head on the steel gate and knocked himself out. I told Vic, that was me!

But Vic had a hard time believing it. He was sure those Tavasci Brothers were monsters.

Article IVCowboy Essence

Character QualitiesSection 8.

IntegrityPurity of intention.

Monginis Mined for Perspective

Servis has years of expe-rience training him for the law enforcement component of the job. Cattle rustling still exists, he says.For 21 years, he served

at the Coconino County Sheriffs Office. He started as a jail deputy and then became a patrolman in Flagstaff rising through the ranks as corporal and sergeant. Sheriff Joe Rich-ards appointed him as ranch deputy. And during his last five years with the CCSO, Servis patrolled the most remote areas of the county looking for missing and stranded people as the Search and Rescue coordi-nator.Servis has known Babbitt

Ranches in different capaci-ties over the years. As a young man he worked as a cowboy on the neighboring Michelbach Ranch. We would help each other out, moving cattle, gathering cattle and finding strays.

The Servis family has been in the horse business for five generations, trac-ing back to an 1850s farm in upstate New York. We raised horses for hunt-ing and jumping. Serviss father and grandfather worked for the Forest Service.After growing up in

Springerville, Servis moved to Flagstaff in 1975. He has known Vic Howell, Bill Cordasco and many other Babbitt family members since his high school days.When he met his wife,

Dena, she worked as CCSO patrol secretary.Servis had to ask the sheriffs permis-sion to marry her. At the time there was a policy that married couples could not both work in the depart-ment. Sheriff Joe changed the policy for us.The two are living in

Flagstaff and raising two children.

Its 10 a.m. on a Satur-day morning and Victor Vic Howell is teaching his 4-year-old grandson, Thomas, how to rope. Like his father, Babbitt Ranches foreman Bill Howell, Vic raised his daughters and now his grandchildren with skills that come with grow-ing up on a ranch.Dad would say, Youre

gonna learn how to rope, youre gonna learn how to ride and youre gonna learn how to cowboy. You dont have to do it for a lifetime, but youre gonna learn how to do this stuff.Now filling his fathers

boots, Vic has been Bab-bitt Ranches foreman since 1991. Following a long line of tradition, Howells father, grandfather and great grandfather have been the oldest sons of cowboys who became cowboys. His uncle, Harvey, took care of the Cataract Ranch. Vic says his father, Bill, was one of the most versatile cowboys there ever was.With only 5 percent of the

nation working on farms and ranches, and basically producing the countrys food supply, Howell says its not easy to find help.The best person to get to

work on a ranch is some-body who grew up on a ranch. But at the same time there are people who want to work for the Bab-bitts. They are well known and have a good reputation. There are lots of employees who are lifers.Vic is one of those people.

From age 2, hes grown up on Babbitt Ranches, first at Redlands Camp and, when he was ready to begin school, the family lived at Cedar Ranch in the sum-mertime and Spider Web in the winter. He and his

brother and sister rode a bus an hour each way to school for 12 years.About the time most kids

get their first bike, kids on a ranch get their first horse, Vic explains. I started rid-ing by myself at about age 7. Thats what we did on the weekends and every chance we got. As a little bitty kid, Dad would have us doing summer projects. Wed go around checking waters. There were days I would call pickup days. Thats when we would go with him all day long. When I got tired, Id sleep in the seat of the pickup.Howell recalls

his first big cattle drive. It involved mov-ing some 500 head of cattle 14 miles when he was just 9 years old.Dad didnt

have much of a crew around. He was tak-ing dry cows (cows without calves) to Kendrick Park. We went by a watering drinker called Green Gate and the cattle wanted to go to that water. There were other cattle watering there and my dad was trying to get my attention not to let the cattle get mixed up with the other cattle. He said, The next time you hear me hollering like that, come up and see whats going on and help the man next to ya!The long difficult day

started at 4:30 in the morn-ing, but they managed to get the job done. Vic remem-bers being too tired to eat dinner that night. As he got older, there

have been few horses that Vic couldnt break, but one

was Tuffy.I was breaking him as a

15-year-old. I had ridden Tuffy 20 times the year before and got bucked off 20 times. Dad put a ride on him one afternoon so things would go better the next morning. We got out about a mile from the house and for sure he was gonna buck me off. It was on a road with deep ditches on the side. It was gonna hurt. Dad rode into him and hit my horse in the shoulder

so he wouldnt buck so hard. I was like, That was a good job, Dad!Growing up,

Vic didnt have plans to make a career out of being a cowboy. Its Gods will I guess.As a young

man while work-ing on a ranch near Holbrook, John Babbitt

asked Vic to be the ranch manager in training. He joined Babbitt Ranches and continued to earn his bach-elors degree at Northern Arizona University.These days the biggest

challenge Howell faces as ranch foreman is the drought. Probably the worst years were 2002 and 03. It seems like the spring wind blew and it didnt rain at all. There was a drought all over the West. We were feeding the cattle all year long and the waters were drying up. We started mak-ing phone calls looking for pasture. Billy (Cordasco) and I got in the pickup and found some grass in Douglas.With thousands of cattle

to move and 50 to a truck,

shipping becomes a huge project. Its a big job, but its doable. Its better than having to sell the cattle and then replace them.During the fall, Howell

spends most his days on horseback moving cows among some 30 or more different pastures. Cattle drives can include up to 1,200 head of cattle cover-ing ten miles a day.One of the biggest chal-

lenges is trailing cattle in the trees. You need to know how to cut across the forest. Sometimes the cattle dont want to move, so you have to know how many guys you need to move them and the proper technique to get the cows walking.Howells day can require

gathering up stray cows from neighboring ranches, hauling water to dry tanks, assessing range conditions or fixing engines in ranch vehicles.In the meantime, as How-

ell readies young Thomas and his pony for the barrel-racing event in the Arizona Cowpunchers Reunion, he remembers why he loves the cowboy lifestyle.I enjoy seeing Gods cre-

ation in all the seasons. With spring comes the grass and the calves are born. In summer the rains come. In the fall its time to wean the calves. A lot of people would probably dream of getting to do what I do for a living. I have been blessed that way.Vic and his wife, Jamie,

met when she visited Spider Web Ranch. Two of their daughters live on Babbitt Ranches, one lives on the Big Boquillas Ranch. They have seven grandchildren and are expecting another this fall.

Round-up Song

Bunch the herd, at the old meet,

Then beat em on the tail;

Whip em up and down the sides

And hit the shortest trail.

The Legacy Continues: At Tin House, 14 outriders (cowboys) drive 1,000 head of Hereford steers to pens for fall shipping.

Round Pen at Savage: This abandoned camp on the east side of Spider Web Ranch witnesses a storm brewing over the Peaks.

Photo courtesy J Randy Servis Photography

Photo courtesy J Randy Servis Photography

August 2011BABBITT TIMES REVIEWpage 4

928.774.6199

P. O. Box 520 Flagstaff, AZ 86002

www.babbittranches.com

Hed see them whenever he bused tables at the Monte Vista Hotel. As a young man he admired their tailored suits and the way they con-ducted themselves. These were the businessmen of Babbitt Brothers Trading CompanyTed Babbitt, Paul Babbitt, John Babbitt and Bob Nimmonsmen whose character would have a lasting impact on Gregg Fendley. Id think, Id like to be

like them someday, to dress nicely and spend 20 to 30 minutes at a coffee shop a couple times a day, talking business and socializing.Fendley worked in down-

town Flagstaffs Monte Vista Hotel, across from the Babbitt offices, in the early 1960s. His mother, Janet, was a waitress there. When she began working in the data processing depart-ment at Babbitts' Depart-ment Store, her influence landed Gregg a part-time job in the cashiers depart-ment. In those days, customers

would come in to pay their credit and lay-away bills. Employees would cash their payroll checks and the cowboys would come in off the ranch. Theyd have an inch of dirt all over them. Ill never forget that.

Article IIICowboy

EssenceSection 9.

Intentness Set realistic goals. Concentrate on achievement by

resisting temptations. Be determined and persistent.

Babbitt Executives Serve as Role Models to Fendley

Fendley remembers his supervisor Paul Wilson as a diminutive older man who carried a big stick.I cant tell you how many

times I used my own money to balance my account at the end of my shift just so Mr. Wilson wouldnt yell at me!While Fendley was earn-

ing his business degree at Northern Arizona Univer-sity, he worked as a jani-tor in the evenings at the department store, respon-sible for cleaning all the executive offices including the board room.Some of my most memo-

rable experiences involved sitting down with Ted Bab-bitt, who was president at the time. He was such a nice man and made himself available for conversation. Id sit on his couch at 5:30, 6, 6:30 in the evenings and hed ask about what I was learning in college and Id ask him how it applied to the trading company. It was a wonderful experience. Fendley would do the

same thing with Babbitt Brothers comptroller Bob Nimmons and learned enough through conversa-tions with him to know he didnt want anything to do with accounting. Id have the same con-

versations with the Human Resources director, Mr. Dickinson. I heard enough stories from him to realize I didnt want to be an HR direc-tor either. But with Ted Bab-bitt, I learned I wanted to be a guy like him someday.From Babbitts

influence, Fend-ley made the decision to go into business for himself.It really started

watching those gentlemen come in to the coffee shop and was reinforced doing janitor work and working at the cashiers window.Fendley got into the insur-

ance business in 1975. By the early 90s, he was man-aging employee benefits for Babbitt Brothers Trading Company. When I see the folks

upstairs in the old build-ing, I cant help but think its been quite a full circle that Ive personally been through. I think back to the day when at Christmastime in the late 50s and 60s, the only place you really bought any gifts were at Babbitts and JC Penney. Then, to be

Boyd Corbett had a repu-tation for strongly disliking little ranching operations. In the 1930s, he ran outfits for the Babbitts, including the famous Hashknives. It has been said that this ranch foreman was difficult to get along with, which is prob-ably why only one cowboy made the effort to save him when he was bucked and dragged from a horse named Midnight.None-the-less,

Corbett was a well-established part of Arizona history. His name now is remembered on various northern Arizona land-marks such as pastures and water tanks. Stories about Corbett are captured in the book Hashknife Cowboy by Stella Hughes.Today, the Corbett family

continues to be associated with Babbitt Ranches. Cor-betts great, great nephew is accountant Tim Hansen. Through Nordstrom & Associates, CPAs, Hansen has been crunching num-bers for the Babbitts for more than a decade. Hansens great, great

grandfather, John Terry, was Corbets brother-in-law. He brought his family to Flagstaff from Arkansas in 1923 when Boyd had a job for him on Cedar Ranch. The work required driving the freight wagon, taking supplies from Anitas

Accountant Adds Up Rich History with BabbittsSiding and the railroad, and running them from Williams to Tin House Camp and the Grand Canyon.After a year working for

Babbitt Ranches, Terry went to work for Northern

Arizona Uni-versity manag-ing the schools dairy herd.H a n s e n s

g randmother, Althea (Terry) Burns, has made her mark on his-tory, too. At age 104, she holds the honor of being Flagstaff High Schools oldest surviv-ing alumna. In 1925, Burns

was captain of the FHS girls basketball team, which was undefeated dur-ing her senior year.Hansens grandfather,

Nelson Burns, came to Flagstaff shortly after high school with his brothers to work in the lumber mill. He ended up working on the Riordans vehicles because no one else in Flagstaff had ever worked on any automobiles before, nor had he prior to that! says Hansen. In the mid 40s, Hansens

grandparents built an auto dealership on Milton and Route 66. The building now houses the I Do, I Do wedding shop.The Burns left Flagstaff

in the mid 50s and moved to Cottonwood. The couple bought 35 acres on the Verde River and Nelson worked as a radio mechanic.


Section 11.

SkillBe prepared with

knowledge and the ability to properly

and quickly execute the fundamentals.

Cover every little detail.

With tens of thousands of patients to examine each year, the life of a cow doc-tor means long days away from home, long nights helping cowboys treat sick animals, and some 60,000 miles on the odometer.Ranch veterinarian Dr.

Jim Lytle is one of only four Arizona ranch doc-tors solely devoted to the beef industry. A third generation Arizonan, Lytle was born and raised in the ranching community of Prescott. He grew up around livestock and spent weekends and summers as a cowboy as both sets of g randparents owned cattle ranches, one on the Arizona/Mexico border, the other near Prescott.You have to

really have a fondness for animals to do this kind of work. Although people pay the bills, animals are partners in the success of the ranch. Saying he knew hed go

broke as a cowboy, Lytle attended veterinary school in Fort Collins, Colo. After a short time in Nebraska, he set up his veterinary business in Wickenburg in 1975. About 80 percent of my practice is with ranch animals. My main focus is herd health and reproduc-tive efficiency.A good part of the job

requires testing for preg-nancy, vaccinating heif-ers, and conducting fertil-ity work with bulls. The busiest season is in the fall when cattle are sold. If the animals are going out-of-state they require a veteri-

nary inspection.Weather, he says, has the

biggest influence on herd health. Drought interfaces quite readily with what all of us do on a ranch. Theres always some disease entity that pops up and we can vaccinate for a lot, but drought magnifies it.Lytle says knowing the

industry has helped him help ranches become more efficient. In this business you are working with great people and youre both working toward the same goals: the animals welfare and the ranches bottom line. Youve got to have good

healthy horses and cattle. Bab-bitt Ranches has the smoothest operation Ive seen. Because of the

distances he travels, Lytle spends much of his time training and consulting cowboys.If theres an

individual ani-mal crisis, a dif-

ficult birth or a sick critter, often times you can talk the cowboy through it, espe-cially if youve been work-ing with him and you know the individual. You may be able to advise him in what medicine to use or at least get him to a veterinarian whos close.Aside from his practice,

Lytle is a partner in the Forepaugh Cattle Com-pany, a cow/calf operation. He met his wife, Chris, in college. The two live in Wickenburg and have raised a daughter and a son who didnt want to be veterinarians because vets work too many hours.

Third Generation Cowboy Serves as Cow Doc


Character QualitiesSection 6

Reliability The consistency and trustworthiness that

creates respect.

a young man watching the gentlemen who built and managed the company and

now to be in a position to run my own busi-ness and rep-resent Babbitt Ranches and the employee bene-fits. Its quite an honor to know and recognize the history of the company through the years.Fendley met his

wife, Ira Jean, in high school.

They raised their three chil-dren in Flagstaff.One of the things I picked

up from the Babbitts is how important it is to be respected in the commu-nity. Ive tried to run my business with the same hometown values, being willing to sit down with people and solve problems. And, no matter how big you are, you have to give back and spend meaningful time with the younger genera-tion.Fendley is the owner

of Fendley and Sons Employee Benefit Consult-ing in Flagstaff.

This is where Hansen grew up, along with his aunts and uncles. Hansen graduated from Mingus High School. After earning his account-

ing degree at NAU, he joined Nordstrom & Asso-ciates. He began working with the Babbitts when the Trading Company was divesting and later became the accountant for Cataract Ranch.Its just fascinating know-

ing our familys history in Arizona and knowing my relatives were involved in the history of Babbitt Ranches. It makes you feel

more part of the commu-nity, he says.Hansens grandmother

lives in Cottonwood. Another Boyd Corbett descendent, granddaugh-ter Ruth Kunkle, lives in Albuquerque. Hansen has lived in Flag-

staff for 22 years and been involved in community activ-ities and boards including Kiwanis, Northland Fam-ily Help Center, the Pine Country Pro Rodeo, Aspen Valley Golf Club and his church. He and his wife, Mary, have a 13-year- old son.

The old ponderosa pine stumps in Tim McCulloughs backyard root this fourth generation Arizona Babbitt relative back to the original five brothers. McCulloughs great grandfather, George Babbitt, owned the prop-erty where these large tim-bers were taken down. Like so many others who

are connected to Babbitt Ranches, McCulloughs life has weaved in and out of Babbitt operations.George Babbitt, more of a

businessman than a cattle-man, may well have passed his entrepreneurial gene onto future generations. Mean-time, Tims other grand-father, Thomas Edward McCullough, started McCullough Insurance in 1919. Respectively, these are Flagstaffs oldest sur-viving businesses: Babbitt Ranches first, McCullough Insurance second. The Babbitts and the

McCulloughs first came together when Thomas married Georges daugh-ter, Margaret. The two had George McCullough. He and his wife Patsy had four children, the youngest being Tim. At one time, George McCullough had the job of driving C.J. Babbitt around Babbitt Ranches to check on waters and look at cattle when C.J. could no longer drive. In the 80s, George

Babbitt Ranches and McCullough Insurance, a Time-honored Flagstaff Partnership

d o c u m e n t e d a year of the ranching opera-tions with pho-tographs and a slide show.While Tim was

growing up, his younger cousin was in and out of town while attending Orme School. Billy Cordasco would stay with John and Betty Bab-bitt who lived up the street. Tim says the two, like brothers, participated in family picnics and hunt-

Article IIICowboy

EssenceSection 3.

Friendship Mutual esteem, respect and devotion are the

ingredients of an enduring friendship.

Like marriage, it must not be taken for granted

but requires a joint effort.

R.B. and Bertha Corbett pose at Cedar Ranch in 1922. This is the truck in which he was almost killed the following year.

ing trips.By their later

teen years, McCullough and Cordasco began working at Bab-bitt Home Cen-ter. Tim recalls many fond memories. For example, Tim had his com-mercial drivers license so he was making deliveries. Billy was sweeping up the yard. It wasnt long

before they were making deliveries together. It was

during that time that Tim introduced Billy to Mike Mongini, who was picking up some building supplies.McCullough, Cordasco

and Mongini became fast friends, hanging out, play-ing together on the same Flagstaff city league bas-ketball team, and sharing many other activities and adventures.By 1982, Tim had earned

his bachelors degree in business from Northern Arizona University. He joined the Peace Corps and traveled to Micronesia. On this three-million-square-

Tim McCullough, center in dark jacket, lends a hand at Spider Web during branding time.

McCulloughcontinued on page 11

Autumn Aspens on Cedar Ranch


After earning her account-ing degree at Northern Ari-zona University, Kim Gallaher went to work for a law firm in downtown Phoenix. A few years later, she says she was fortunate to gain e m p l o y m e n t with Babbitt Brothers Trad-ing Company and return to Flagstaff, where she was introduced to a completely different way of doing business. Perhaps Gallahers diverse

background had prepared her for the adventure and culture she was about to embrace. She had grown up in exotic places such as Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand. She learned to be adaptable and looked for-

Gallaher Accounts for a Century of Inventory

Article IIICowboyEssenceSection 5.

LoyaltyBe devoted to yourself and to all those who depend on you. Keep

your self-respect.

Wolf Knows Cattle

Genetics, quality and consistency make Babbitt Ranches cattle easy to sell, says Willard Wolf, who has marketed more than $200 million worth of cattle for western ranchers. Wolf may well be the most

knowledgeable Hereford broker in the country. His comprehensive network includes purebred breeders, feedlots, ranchers and auc-tioneers.We have a network of pro-

spective buyers nationwide that we deal with, he said. You have to know the corn market, food costs, the cost of production and get all the terms of the sale before you consider an asking price. The Babbitt Ranches quality health program results in cattle that get the top market price each and every year.Wolf is used to seeing the Babbitt cat-

tle get better each year. In the last 15 years he says Babbitt Ranches cattle, 90 percent Hereford and 10 percent black baldie, have increased in weight about 140 pounds per head. And that means profit.The Babbitt Ranches community has

been working hard at it. The environ-ment also has an effect. You can have the best genetics in the world, but if you dont have moisture, the weights will be lighter. But even in drier years, Bab-



Honesty Doing the things we

know are right.

bitt Ranches cattle still do better than most.Wolf has been around cattle his whole

life, and since the early 90s hes been working with Bab-bitt Ranches, consulting on where to buy bulls and ship-ping 3,200 to 3,500 Babbitt Ranches heifers and steers a year.Born and raised on a com-

mercial ranch in Oklahoma, Wolf recalls working with his grandfather from the age of 5. He graduated from Okla-

homa State University with a degree in animal science. Soon he was setting up the

western division of the Oklahoma Com-mission Company and learning all aspects of the livestock industry.From there he went to work for the

U.S. Department of Agriculture report-ing market news about sheep, hogs and cattle. Two years later, he was export-ing livestock to foreign countries such as Hondurus and Mexico for a Rich-mond, Va., firm.It was at a national exposition in Mex-

ico City where he was recruited by the American Hereford Association. Today he runs up to 200 head of cattle in the state of Washington.

With recent news of cor-porate abuses, ethics viola-tions, outrageous CEO pay, and government bailouts, Northern Arizona Univer-sity finance professor Lisa Majure says working with Babbitt Ranches is refresh-ing. Its such an ethical, morally-guided company. Its nice to know there are businesses out there that have integrity in all that they do.Dr. Majure has been work-

ing with Babbitt Ranches for eight years. The rela-tionship began with the 2004 Family Business Forum hosted by NAU fea-turing John and Jane Covey and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. Majure collaborated with Billy Cordasco on the forum to help other businesses in the community understand the complex dynamics of run-ning a family business.Since that time, Babbitt

Ranches and the W.A. Franke College of Busi-ness have collaborated on projects that have benefited both.Along with her co-author,

accounting professor Kath-ryn Savage, Majure recently published a case entitled, Babbitt Ranches: Gover-nance and Strategic Plan-ning in a Family Business, in the Case Research Jour-nal (Summer 2010). Using this case study, Majures MBA and undergradu-ate finance students have

Majure Skates into Niche Markets with Babbitt Ranches

Article IIICowboyEssence

Section 10.

Conditioning All aspects of our lives must be developed:

mental; spiritual; and, physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be con-

sidered and moderation must be practiced.

had access to a real-world family business model, and have been exposed to the challenges and issues associ-ated with mak-ing decisions in a family busi-ness. B a b b i t t

Ranches is s o m e w h a t unique in its corporate gov-ernance prac-tices and use of a multiple bot-tom line. There are not a lot of fourth or fifth generation fam-ily businesses around that can disseminate lessons learned and provide strate-gies for moving forward, she says.We also have been inves-

tigating niche marketing of local beef products for the past several years, says Majure. Babbitt Ranches ventured into this market in 2004-05, but quickly pulled back due to market-ing and distribution prob-lems as well as roadblocks with wholesalers.Majures undergraduate

students have gone in for a much closer look conduct-ing consumer surveys to determine the local demand and price point for natural, grass-fed beef, and inves-tigating the viability of a mobile slaughter unit and processing facilities.

We have been watching other companies and their experience with mobile

slaughter units. T h u n d e r i n g Hooves in Walla Walla, Wash., was the first USDA approved mobile unit. They had their own process-ing facility, a storefront and 40 distribution sites, but after four years in business, they didnt make it. A former com-

petitive figure skater in her youth, Majure skated into the business world during her five-year career touring with the Ice Capades. Along with per-forming jumps and spins, she worked in the conces-sions operations, where she was responsible for order-ing Ice Capades souve-nirs, keeping inventory and working with vendors at the various venues where Ice Capades performed.Majure earned her under-

graduate and doctorate degrees in finance at the University of Utah and began teaching at the Uni-versity of Colorado. She moved to Flagstaff in 1990 where she has been a busi-ness professor at NAU for 20 years and raised her three children.

ward to change. Gallaher was hired to man-

age the inventory of the Trading Company, which turned into more of an opportunity than she could have ever imag-ined. There were projects involv-ing ranching, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, property man-agement and other operations

as history shows. On her first day at work she trav-eled to the Cedar Ridge Trading Post on the Indian Reservation to do inventory, which was very enlightening to the culture and vast his-tory of the company.Meantime, a hundred

years of Babbitt history had been boxed up and tucked away in the 4,000-square-foot Pendleton warehouse behind Flagstaffs Pine-grove Shopping Center. Gallaher feared this vast amount of history, two sto-ries high and three boxes deep, would be lost for-

ever. So in the late 90s, she bought a scanner for her computer and went to work, carefully preserving every historical item she could find.Today many of those frag-

ile documents are stored in Special Collections with the Northern Arizona Univer-sity Cline Library or with the Babbitt Foundation. But it is projects like this that have assured Gallaher shes in the right place working with the right company.Throughout the years, she

experienced a great deal of change with Babbitts. Gal-laher has worked as assis-tant controller, controller and vice president of the Trading Company. After the Trading Company was sold, she started her own accounting business, Forest Financial Consulting, Inc., and continues to work with Babbitt Ranches on special projects.Babbitt Ranches is such

a unique place. They have developed a constitution to guide them with principles they follow and incorporate into their everyday lives.

She recalls shareholder meetings, on the ranch at Wild Bill, held on picnic benches under ponderosa pines with the San Francisco Peaks in the background. At most companies you

rarely have an opportunity to meet the owners. But here they know your name and thank you person-ally for what you do. They set the stage for an honest exchange of ideas for the betterment of the commu-nity, as well as the company, and its employees.Gallaher has been con-

nected with Babbitt Ranches for more than 20 years. She values the companys past, its vision for pioneering the future and the unique opportunities that present themselves. Every day is an adventure.

If theres a quiet time, you know something is in the works and you look forward to whats about to happen next.Kim and her husband,

Dean, raised their two sons in Flagstaff.

Across the Crossing Symbolizing the cooperation between state and federal agencies and Babbitt Ranches, representatives stand side by side on the newly constructed Redlands Crossing at Redlands Ranch Camp at Cataract Canyon.Photo courtesy Darren Choate

Night Song to Calm the Herd Oh, lay still, dogies, since you have laid down,

Stretch away out in the big open ground;

Snore loud, little dogies, and drown the wild sound

That will go away when the day rolls round;

Lay still, little dogies, lay still.


The National Park Ser-vice preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. To achieve this mission,

the NPS adheres to the fol-lowing guiding principles: excellent service; produc-tive partnerships; citizen involvement; heritage edu-cation; outstanding employ-ees; employee develop-ment; wise decisions; effec-tive management; research and technology; and shared capabilities. Each Flagstaff Area

National Monument has specific missions. Walnut Canyon National Monu-ment was established to preserve the prehistoric ruins of ancient cliff dwell-ings. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was established to protect geo-logic formations. Wupatki National Monument was established to preserve the Citadel and Wupatki pre-historic pueblos. Flagstaff Area National

Monuments staff is com-mitted to science, educa-tion and the cultivation of partnerships. Achievements include pursuing Climate Friendly Park Certification, designed to anticipate and prepare for sustainability challenges including cul-tural and natural effects of climate change; the Living Within Your Climate pro-gram has been developed by Willow Bend Environ-mental Education Cen-ter for the Flagstaff Uni-fied School District; and, interpretive programs are offered in campgrounds and at Arizona Snowbowl in partnership with the

The U.S. Geological Sur-vey Astrogeology Science Center, located in Flagstaff, serves the nation, the inter-national planetary science community and the general public in the pursuit of new knowledge of our Solar Sys-tem. The center conducts

diverse planetary research, develops software, partici-pates in the planning and operation of space explo-ration missions, produces cartographic products, and helps establish standards for mapping and archiving planetary data.The USGS Astrogeology

Science Center scientists and engineers have sup-ported NASA planetary missions for decades. Dur-ing the Apollo missions of the 1960s, USGS scientists worked with astronauts on the rocky, lunar-like land-scape of Babbitt Ranches to learn how to maneuver through the volcanic surface and identify rock samples to bring back to Earth. Babbitt cowboys used

dynamite to create a crater for astronauts to test their moon rover. Since that time, USGS scientists and engi-neers have been developing a range of image, topogra-phy and geologic maps of planetary bodies, often with help from the Babbitt fam-ily.During the past few years,

USGS scientists have worked with the NASA/Johnson Space Center Des-ert Research and Technol-



AmbitionThe desire to achieve

noble goals.

Space Cowboys Training Launched from Babbitt Ranches

A Conversation with USGS Research Geologist Jim Skinner

Forest Service Strives to Restore Health to Millions of Acres A Conversation with Coconino National Forest Public Affairs Officer Brady Smith

The mission of the Coconino National Forest is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the forest to meet the needs of present and future generations. In short, caring for the land and serving people. Major accomplishments

include managing more than 1.8 million acres of public land to accommodate more than three million visitors each year who enjoy a number of activities on their national forest including backpacking, hiking and camping.Beyond it being our job,

the Forest Service is full of people who are passionate about taking care of the land the best they can with what resources they have, said Coconino National Forest Public Affairs Officer Brady Smith. We love what we do and the service we provide.The Babbitts have had a relationship

with the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests since the Forest Service was established in 1905. Projects have included restoring historic grasslands by cutting encroaching pinyon and juniper

trees, and conducting prescribed burns to clean up dead and dying debris on

the forest floor. Other proj-ects include restoring wildlife habitat and providing access to recreationists.The future for the Forest Ser-

vice is largely in landscape-scale forest restoration. With the Four Forests Restora-tion Initiative, the Coconino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests are collaborating with many stakeholders to thin excess trees and restore ecological health to more than two mil-lion acres of ponderosa pine forest. Goals include reduc-ing dangerous levels of fuels that feed unnaturally intense wildfires and increasing wild-

life and plant diversity. Brady Smith came to the Forest Service

after serving as a public affairs officer in the Air Force. I see much of the same work ethic, integrity and diligence here as I did in the Air Force, and its good to work with people who truly care about the job they do and this great land.

Article VA Land Ethic

Section 3.

The land ethic then reflects the existence of an ecological con-

science, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibil-

ity for the health of the land. Health is the capacity of the land for self-renewal. Conser-vation is our effort to

understand and preserve this capacity.

The Arizona State Land Department manages more than nine million acres. Established in 1915 by the Arizona legislature, the department was cre-ated to manage trust lands that were granted to the Arizona Territory and the state by Congress. Of the original 10.5 million acres, Arizona still has 9.3 million acres left in the trust, plus a Permanent Trust Fund with a book value exceed-ing $2.5 billion.The mission of the depart-

ment is to use this land and its resources to enhance value and optimize eco-nomic return for Arizo-nans that: is consistent with sound stewardship, conservation and business management; and, sup-ports socioeconomic goals for citizens today and for generations to come.Generating funding for

education is among its greatest accomplishments. Currently there are some 11,000 active contracts on trust lands that gener-ate billions of dollars for public schools, universities and other important public institutions. The depart-ment serves as the land-lord or seller to some of the states most productive

Millions of Acres Benefit ArizonansA Conversation with Arizona State Land Commissioner Maria Baier

businesses. Arizona State Land Commissioner Maria Baier counts the depart-ments ability to foster good relation-ships with its many neighbors among its great-est accomplish-ments.The Arizona

State Land Department and Babbitt Ranches have a twin-like r e l a t i o n sh i p . Because of the checkerboard pattern of land ownership, Baier says the department and Babbitt Ranches under-stand that nature does not recognize property owner-ship lines.This has prompted many

conversations about collab-orative management, which are likely to pay dividends for many generations to come. Babbitt Ranches has been a thoughtful and inclusive partner in its endeavors. It has produced some of the states great-est leaders and thinkers and Arizona has benefited from Babbitt Ranches vision, dedication and many civic and charitable contributions.The Arizona State Land

Department will continue to carry out its mission. It is a great privilege to be able to serve Arizona through

the work of the department.Maria Baier

is an Arizona native who has lived most of her life in Phoenix and is raising her two daughters, both adopted from Mexico. She attended Arizona State University as

an undergraduate and the University of Arizona for her law degree. Baier has served on the staffs of the Arizona Attorney General and two governors and was elected to the Phoenix City Council before being appointed Arizona State Land Commissioner.I think just about anyone

who knows me will tell you that serving as Arizonas land commissioner is my dream job because I have the privilege of overseeing the management of more than nine million acres of land, and it appears there is always something interest-ing (sometimes authorized, sometimes not) happening on each of them, she said. Baier also has run a

family business for two decades and been the director of two non-prof-its, The Trust for Public Land (Arizona office) and Valley Partnership.

Article VIIHuman

Dimension and Science

Section 5.

Participate in the dis-cussion, planning and development of quality

regional plans.

ogy Studies group as they examine ways to explore planetary surfaces beyond our own. In August and September 2010, Desert RATS simulated a lunar tra-verse that extended across Babbitt Ranch land, from the northwestern margin of Black Point Lava Flow to Colton Crater, a distance of more than 20 kilometers. As part of a

co l l a bora t i ve effort, the USGS provides Desert RATS scientists and mission planners with data sets and maps to assist in defining science goals, identifying rock outcrops for observation and study, and designing rover traverses and extra-vehicular activity stations, said USGS research geolo-gist Jim Skinner.In addition, NASAs Jet

Propulsion Laboratory in California utilized the exceptional access and simi-larity to extraterrestrial sur-faces of Babbitt Ranch land north of the Black Point Lava Flow to conduct a field test of NASAs Mars Sci-ence Laboratory rover dur-ing May and June. MSL is a large rover that is sched-uled for launch in November 2011 and Mars landing in August 2012. USGS Astro-geology provided logistical and science support for the MSL test.

Operating this rover on Mars will be very com-plex, so a few days of rover activities were simulated by acquiring image, spectro-scopic and weather data in the field and sending them to JPL, said USGS MSL scientist Dr. Ken Herken-hoff. The field test was very useful because it helped the

MSL science team become more familiar with software and procedures that will be used to plan and ana-lyze observations on Mars. The USGS

Astrogeo log y Science Cen-ter is a national resource for the integration

of planetary geoscience, cartography and remote sensing. As explorers and surveyors with a unique heritage of proven expertise and international leadership, USGS scientists look to a future of ongoing success-ful investigation of the Solar System for humankind.Jim Skinner has been a

geologist with the USGS for 11 years. He works with NASA on the Desert RATS project that tests equipment in the field and does mission simulations. He also con-ducts mapping projects for NASA that help improve our understanding of the Earth, Moon and Mars. He lives in Flagstaff with his wife and son.

Park Service Preserves the Past for the Future A Conversation with Flagstaff National Monuments Superintendent Diane Chung

Coconino National Forest.In addition, several acres

of tamarisk have been removed from the Dead-man Wash area. In the future, Flagstaff Area National Monuments staff members plan to be work-ing with Northern Arizona University ecologist and Regents' Professor Dr. Tom Whitham to look at cotton-wood genotypes, a project potentially funded through the National Science Foun-dation.The relationship between

the monuments and Babbitt Ranches dates back to 1924 when Wupatki National Monument was created under the Antiquities Act. The monument was carved out of lands where the CO Bar Ranch held grazing permitsexpanding in 1937, 1961 and 1996to protect significant archaeo-logical sites.Grazing con-

tinued within the Wupatki borders under a series of letters of autho-rization until the late 1980s, said Flagstaff Area National M o n u m e n t s Superintendent Diane Chung. We remain good neighbors and during the last ten years we have worked together on pronghorn conservation in the Antelope Prairie and White Mesa areas. We have rebuilt most of our com-mon boundary fence with wildlife-friendly wiring and PVC goat bars, enabling the animals to move freely between the CO Bar and the monument to meet their forage and water needs.In 2004, the CO Bar and

NPS signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding to foster a shared stewardship approach to management, allowing access for scien-tific research and providing expertise for archaeological resource preservation. During the past several

years, the monuments have worked with Babbitt Ranches, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Department of Transportation to under-stand how U.S. Highway 89 and the highway right-of-way fencing is isolating the local pronghorn herds on the east and west side of the highway. This year we are work-

ing together on a project to develop a new water source for pronghorn and other wildlife on our shared boundary in the northern Antelope Prairie area, said

Chung. Babbitt Ranches has been proactive in developing cons e r v a t i on projects such as these and we enjoy work-ing with the ranches to pre-serve wildlife and their habitat in the Wupatki area. The future of

Flagstaff Area National Monuments and the National Park Service will focus on the continued preservation of cultural sites. Diane Chung has worked

with the National Park Service for seven years in Flagstaff and as deputy superintendent at Denali National Park. She also has worked in the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.

Article VISustainable Community PrinciplesSection 11.

Babbitt Ranches is a community that does not compromise the

sustainability of other communities.

Photo courtesy USGS Astrogeology Science Center


The Arizona Game and Fish Department man-ages the states wildlife as a public trust for the people of Arizona. This includes both huntable and nongame species. Its mission is, To con-

serve, enhance and restore A r i z o n a s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive pro-tection and m a n a g e m e n t programs, and to provide wild-life resources and safe water-craft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoy-ment, appreciation and use by present and future gen-erations. Managing today for

wildlife tomorrow is the departments bottom line and vision statement.Distributing free non-lead

ammunition to hunters in condor range is among the departments most success-ful programs, says AGFD Flagstaff Regional Super-visor Ron Sieg. Lead poisoning is the greatest obstacle to condor recovery and our efforts have moved 85 to 90 percent of hunt-ers in the condor range into taking lead reduction efforts. Another accomplishment

has been the removal of invasive trees from historic grasslands through both internal funds and coop-erative projects with land owners and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Together with Babbitt

Ranches, the department has been innovative and pro-active in efforts to improve wildlife habitat, especially for antelope. Sieg says some of the more impres-sive projects include: Developing and installing

Coconino County Values Open Space and Sustainability

A Conversation with Coconino County Community Development Director Bill Towler

Wildlife Managers Get the Lead Out, Install Goat Bars and Restore MeadowsA Conversation with AGFD Flagstaff Regional Supervisor Ron Sieg

hundreds (perhaps thou-sands) of goat bars on the lower wires of fences on the ranches to help ante-lope cross under safely; cutting and grinding nearly 50,000 acres of pinyon and juniper trees to re-create

meadow open-ings and wildlife movement cor-ridors; coordi-nating with the National Park Service to move fences away from Highway 89 to determine whether ante-lope would cross the highway if there were fewer barriers in the

immediate area; and, sup-porting wildlife monitoring projects to gauge habitat usage and movement pat-terns across the ranches. Informing citizens about

the North American Wild-life Conservation Model of hunting behavior is one of the departments current projects. The overarching principle is that wildlife is a public trust resource, scientifically managed and available to all citizens. In many ways, Babbitt

Ranches is ahead of us in this area with its empha-sis on public access to the ranches and encourage-ment of Aldo Leopolds land ethics by all who use the land.Sieg says, for the vast

majority of the people who work with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, its a calling not a job. Many of the private land

owners I work with, espe-cially with Babbitt Ranches, have the same dedication to the land, which makes working together a real pleasure.Ron Sieg has been with

the AGFD for 11 years. He lives with his wife, Carolyn, in Flagstaff.


Babbitt Ranches is a community that respects other forms of life and supports biodiversity.

Coconino County was carved out of Yavapai County in 1891, and is the second largest in the U.S., second to San Bernadino County in California. When Bill Towler started with the county as Com-

munity Development director in 1985, there were only core services available such as the sheriffs department, assessors office and courts. Although curiously, one of the early functions was running the ferry at Lees Ferry until Navajo Bridge was built, he said.Now the county has some 30 departments and more

than 1,000 employees, about half of whom are in pub-lic safety including law enforcement and the superior and justice court systems. Public works and health are the other two large departments. The Community Development Department, with 20 employees is one of the smaller departments and is responsible for plan-ning and zoning, building permits and inspections, and floodplain management. The county mission statement begins, We live in a

land of vast and endless beauty, home to many cul-tures. It includes statements about service to county citizens, effective and efficient delivery of services, sensitivity to citizen needs, and protection for the environment. The Community Development Department

mission is also about providing the best ser-vice possible to county residents. It is guided by an award-winning Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in 2003 that contains a vision, land ethic, conservation framework, and goals and policies guiding development. The vision is about maintaining a balance between growth and protection of county character, conservation of natural resources, protection of environmentally sensitive lands, providing for a vibrant economy, and continuing with collaborative planning.The land ethic, taken from Aldo Leopold and intro-

duced by Babbitt Ranches, speaks to an ecological conscience and the responsibility of individual property owners for the health of the land. The conservation framework, from the Ecological Society of America, concerns the way the impacts of land use decisions are assessed, with an emphasis on a landscape-scale con-text and on the preservation of critical ecosystems and habitats. All goals and policies in the plan are tied to conservation guidelines.One of the underlying principles of the Comprehensive

Plan is to protect vast landscapes and preserve unique natural features. The plan also seeks to accommodate growth and economic development and to promote

stable, safe and attractive communities.Another accomplishment is the Diablo Canyon Rural

Planning Area: Evolving Traditions in a New Economy. Completed by the county in collaboration with the Fly-ing M and Bar T Bar ranches and the Diablo Trust, the plan provides a range of economic opportunities to help sustain traditional agricultural uses, to improve the economic viability of working ranches, and thus to protect open space, unfragmented landscapes and habitat.Coconino County and Babbitt Ranches have worked

together to help achieve the ranchs goals of viability, sustainability and preservation of the ranch. Follow-ing the donation of a conservation easement by Bab-bitt Ranches to The Nature Conservancy, the county accepted an easement on an adjacent 6,400 acres of Cataract Ranch. A few years later, the county accepted two conservation easements on the Cedar Springs sec-tion east of the Cedar Ranch headquarters on the CO Bar, with the financial resources of the Forest Legacy

Program and facilitation by the Arizona State Land Department and Trust for Pub-lic Land. Cedar Springs is blessed with amazing

plant diversity, a prominent basalt escarp-ment with pictographs and petroglyphs, water resources that sustain the ranch and regional wildlife, and historical importance as the site of one of the Grand Canyon stageline stops.The county continues to work with major

property owners in sustaining traditional agriculture and preserving resources, while accommodating expected growth and eco-nomic development. This involves improvement of the built

environment to continue to improve the livability of our communities and protection of the natural environment to preserve open spaces and maintain habitat.Bill Towler has been a resident of Coconino County

since 1971 and has worked for the county for more than 25 years. After earning a bachelors degree in math in Rhode Island, he did a road trip and never went home. He landed at the Grand Canyon where he worked for a year and a half. It has been immensely satisfying to play a role in

achieving the county boards mission of preserv-ing vast landscapes, protecting the natural environ-ment, and improving the quality of life in the countys communities. Towler retired from Coconino County in 2011.


Babbitt Ranches is a community that does not compromise the

sustainability of future generations by its

activities.

Photo courtesy Josh Biggs/Arizona Daily Sun

Flagstaff runners share the forest meadow with Babbitt Ranches CO Bar Herefords during the June 18, 2011 Flagstaff Nordic Centers Gaspin in the Aspen Summer Woods Run.Running with the Bulls

Removal of the siding begins to expose the

original sandstone.


This photo was taken around 1926.

Building continued from page 1

The Natural Resource Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency that emerged from the Dust Bowl of the 1930s when severe dust storms, drought and excessive farming damaged millions of acres of Americas prairie land.The NRCS works with local conservation

districts, land owners, agricultural producers and other partners to try to find solutions to resource conservation issues. NRCS provides technical and, in some cases, financial assis-tance on a volunteer basis. Its mission is to Help people, help the land.

NRCS Helps People Help the LandA Conversation with NRCS Flagstaff and Prescott Valley District Conservationist Kresta Faaborg Article V

A Land EthicSection 1.

Whatever may be the equation for people and land, it is improbable

that we as yet know all its terms. The answer, if there is any, seems

to be in a land ethic, or some other force which assigns more obligation to the private landowner.

Assisting farmers and ranchers in a way that positively impacts the land, the NRCS helps preserve and maintain the culture and history of agriculture in this country. Without farm-ers and ranchers, we would not have come as far as we have, said NRCS Flagstaff and Prescott Valley District Conservationist Kresta Faaborg.NRCS has worked with Babbitt Ranches for

decades, looking at opportunities to improve the natural resources while maintaining a way of life for the ranches. It has provided technical and financial assistance on projects

such as plant and animal inventories, cultural resources surveys, pipeline designs, brush work and wildlife projects.NRCS will continue to help people help the

land as long as there are food producers and support for agriculture.Kresta Faaborg grew up on a farm in a small

community in southwest Minnesota. I want to do what I can to help the resources and the producers of agriculture. I hope my efforts will allow the next generation to enjoy some of the same experiences that I had growing up and working for the NRCS.

This is how the building looked on Nov. 4, 1899.



Adaptability The ability to adjust to any situation.

The building is bustling with activity in downtown Flagstaff during the

August 2011 First Friday ArtWalk.

The 1950s saw the faade modernized with aluminum siding and stucco.

By 1957, the management of Babbitt Brothers Trading Company decided that the downtown store building needed a facelift. Phoenix architects Lescher & Mahoney were hired to give the building a modernized look. Aluminum siding and stucco trans-formed the buildings faade with a more up-to-date commercial appear-ance. The original sandstone faade was covered, but fortunately not destroyed.In 1989, Babbitts Depart-

ment Store downtown was closed and moved to the Flagstaff Mall. The historic structure became vacant and was then sold and scheduled for demolition and redevel-opment. Unwilling to see the historic structure razed, the Babbitt Foundation purchased the building and began a historic renovation of the property. The original sandstone faade was again revealed, and the pressed metal cor-nice was restored. Second floor areas were again transformed into offices and apartments. At the 1991 annual

meeting dinner of the Main Street Flag-staff Foundation, Arizona Governor Fife Simington predicted a bright future for the building and for the revitalization of downtown Flagstaff. At the same time the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Some 20 years later, the Babbitt Broth-

ers Building still serves as a vital cen-ter for family business concerns. Bab-bitt Ranches maintains offices on the

buildings second floor, while Babbitts Backcountry Outfit-ters operates in the original ground floor store space.At the recent Babbitt family

reunion, descendents of the original Babbitt brothers were provided with a description of the role of the downtown build-ing in the history of the family and the Flagstaff community. Behind the building, on Heri-tage Square, commemora-tive bricks recall generations of Babbitt family members

whose lives were so closely intertwined with the Babbitt Brothers Building. It is truly a building for the generations.


The mission of North-ern Arizona University is to provide an outstanding undergraduate residential education strengthened by research, graduate and professional programs, and sophisticated methods of distance delivery.At its Flagstaff campus

and extended learning cen-ters throughout Arizona, NAU serves some 25,000 students. Among its many accomplishments, NAU strives to: increase under-graduate enrollment and improve retention on the Flagstaff campus; provide services, activities, facili-ties and the physical envi-ronment that contributes to a vibrant and engaging residential campus; imple-ment innovative, effective, sustainable, and account-able practices including effective use of technology; secure new funding sources and reallocate resources to enhance the student experi-ence; and, create an envi-ronment of respect, civility, access, and inclusion that engages the campus com-munity and values.Although NAUs emphasis

is on undergraduate educa-tion, a wide range of gradu-ate programs and research extend to such national concerns as bioterrorism

NAU and Babbitt Ranches Committed to Learning, Science and SustainabilityA Conversation with Northern Arizona University President John Haeger

and forest health.NAU students study

alongside world-class researchers such as foren-sic microbiologist Regents Professor Dr. Paul Keim, who decodes DNA and solved the FBIs larg-est case involving deadly anthrax; and forest ecolo-gist Regents Professor Dr. Wally Covington, who is leading the national charge to restore forest health to the American West. The mountain campus

and the Babbitts have had a close relationship since the early 1900s when NAU was known as Northern Arizona Normal School. Many Babbitt family mem-bers have participated in efforts to support the uni-versity and may well have had more of an impact on the school than any other group of people.Babbitt President and

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