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 Engler Ranch to be honored
8/24/2007 By: Times staff report
Times staff report
For five generations, the Engler family has raised cattle, sheep, bees, fruit, oats, wheat, turkey, and potatoes, among other things, on its original 160-acre ranch near Allison.
Today, the Engler Ranch is one of 19 Colorado Centennial Farms to be honored at the Colorado State Fair.
The current owners, Richard and Shirley Engler, raised five daughters on the farm. Today their grandson, Jake Nossaman, still raises cattle, hay and oats on the property.
Colorado Centennial Farms recognize local ranches and farms that have been in the same family for at least 100 years. The Wilmer Farm near Bayfield is another Centennial Farm.
The family submitted this history of the ranch in their application to become a Centennial Farm:
Francis and Estelle Engler came from Rocky Ford to homestead 160 acres in Allison in 1904. The government let each spouse file on 80 acres.
There have been many changes in Allison over the 100 years. Allsion used to have a post office, train depot, filling station, dress shop, grocery store, blacksmith shop, body shop, café, two churches, a school house, and Grange Hall. Today we only have a welding shop, body shop, one church, and the Grange in the town of Allison.
Francis Engler raised honeybees while clearing the land. The first crop raised was yellow sweet clover that the bees found so favorable, in turn making delicious honey. They shipped the clover seed by train to Kansas City. Orchards were developed that produced apples, peaches, pears, apricots, and black walnuts.
Son Paris bought an additional 200 acres, raising oats, wheat, corn, and alfalfa. Paris shipped clover seed, turkeys, cows, and sheep by rail to Kansas City and cream was shipped by rail to Durango.
Grandson Richard increased the cattle operation by adding to the registered Herefords he bought from his father Paris. Richard added Black Angus for cross breeding. He also raised and sold certified wheat. He sold potatoes to Ignacio School, Rosa Store, the Ignacio Locker Plant and to local residents.
Today Richard and Shirley raise cattle, hay, and oats. They live in the 1920 farm house and continue to use the granary, corn crib and hay shed. The 1940 barn and chicken house are still in use also.
The Engler Ranch carries the Reverse E, Slash N brand, which Richard and Shirley acquired in 1964.
The Engler Ranch will be honored at 4 p.m. today at the fair in Pueblo.
“The Colorado State Fair is proud to host the Centennial Farm Awards,” said Chris Wiseman, general manager of the fair. “These families deserve to be honored for their long-lasting ties to Colorado and its agriculture.”
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