The History of Graves Ranch

Graves Ranch Inc. was created in 1966 with Roy Graves and his sons, Robert and Ralph, the original shareholders. The company laid out its purpose in its articles of incorporation: “To engage generally in a general farming business, including the breeding and cross breeding of cattle and the feeding of the same for the purpose of improving the tenderizing and taste of the beef and all other general farming business.”

Roy purchased a 40-acre farm with grass pastures, barns and small house about five miles north of Visalia, California, which he contributed to Graves Ranch Inc. for shares in the corporation. Roy set up his 25-year breeding program for beef cattle as a scientific experiment, not a money-making endeavor.

Roy was able to see it progress until his death in 1976. Ralph wanted to continue in the cattle business, but Robert said they needed to do something that made money.

The 80-acre walnut ranch we own today was purchased in April 1977, and in 1978, Robert and Ralph’s sisters, Margaret Pryor and Eleanor and Mary Kitterman, became shareholders, after lending money to Graves Ranch for a number of years to keep it going.

At first, the ranch was growing Hartley walnuts. In 1979, they began to replant with a new variety called Serrs. At one point in the 1980s they planted 20 acres of pecans, but after eight years of poor returns, they were pulled and replaced with a new variety of walnuts called Tulares. We now have 40 acres of Tulares and have just replaced the 40-year-old Serrs with a new variety called Ivanhoes.