Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum

SYV Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House

Ranching on the gaviota coast -

John McCarty Tells of Living and Working on the Hollister Ranch

Friday, February 10, 2012
6:30 pm Reception 7:00 pm Presentation

John McCarty has been ranching on the Gaviota Coast for the past 37 years. As the Manager of the Hollister Ranch Co-op he will discuss the history of the Hollister Ranch and the challenges he faces managing the ranch after its subdivision in the late 1960's. Rangeland management has been a top priority for John in order to gain the trust of the property owners and also to increase the quality of the rangeland. John is quick to note, "it's a great responsibility to be in charge of such an historical ranch while making every effort to keep some true Vaguero traditions alive".

John still ranches on horse back putting great emphasis of good horses and good dogs. John currently heads up the Hollister Ranch Cooperative Grass Fed Beef program. HR Cooperative Grass Fed beef is getting great reviews and attendees will have the opportunity to taste it at the appetizer reception.

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Frémont, Foxen and the Pass
A Presentation by Neal Graffy

Friday, march 9, 2012

6:30 pm Reception 7:00 pm Presentation

Having assembled diaries, family legends, historic reviews and reminiscences of pure absurdum speaker Neal Graffy will present the nearly true story of "Frémont, Foxen and the Pass" as part of Valley Museum week (March 3 – March 10).

One hundred and sixty-four years ago, “The Pathfinder,” Lt. Col. John C. Frémont, and his California Battalion headed south from San Juan Bautista to liberate Santa Barbara from the forces of General José María Flores. For 25 days Frémont and his men embarked on a historic and nearly comical march of 230 miles culminating in a Christmas Day descent into Santa Barbara from the Santa Ynez Mountains. According to legend, as Frémont marched through Benjamin Foxen’s ranch, Foxen warned him of a trap at Gaviota Pass and diverted the battalion over the “San Marcos Pass” allowing Frémont and his men to arrive safely in Santa Barbara.

A well-known and entertaining Santa Barbara historian, Graffy has been featured in several documentaries including the Emmy Award winning “Impressions in Time.” He has also appeared on Huell Howser’s California Gold, KCET TV’s Life and Times and nationally syndicated This Old House.

Neal Graffy