1850's
Covered wagon from Missouri was the mode of transportation
to the Willamette Valley for William and Mary Cyrus. They settled there and
raised a large family.
1882
Enoch and Mary Cyrus and their family homesteaded in the
Gray Butte Hills. The Crooked River National Grasslands now encompass this
area.
1950's
Keith purchased his own farm in 1959, continuing to raise
certified seed potatoes and hay. Needing more help, he married Connie Bucher
in 1961. Five kids and many years of laughs and hard work later, the family
still farms but has added Aspen Lakes Golf Course and Alder Creek Ranch to
diversify the family business.
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1930's
Dryland farming was the norm back then, and worked well until
drought and the Great Depression hit in the 1930's. Other options were necessary
so the family moved to the Cloverdale area near Sisters to join other family
members, as irrigation water was available there with the Squaw Creek Irrigation
District
Keith's grandparents, Hattie and Omer, and father,
Willard, moved to the Cloverdale area and started farming in 1936. Willard
met and married Mae Godard there. Keith, their first born, came along in
1939 and learned to run a tractor at a very early age, literally farming
all his life.
Photo Captions
TOP: While not all of the children of Keith and Connie Cyrus
help with the business of Alder Creek Ranch the family keeps close ties.
Shown here are Joseph , Brian, Grant, Connie, Keith, and Matt Cyrus.
UPPER RIGHT: Connie has the complete attention of one of the barn cats. Circa 1970.
UPPER LEFT: Not only are traditional values
passed from generation to generation but traditional skills as well. Here
Keith and young Joe work on a hay bailer together.
LOWER RIGHT: It's all about family at Alder
Creek Ranch. Mickeala, Gatlin, and Morgan share a close moment with "Grandpa"
Keith.
LOWER LEFT: Everybody pitches in when there's
work to do. Processing potatoes, 1986.
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