Last Lifetime Owner – a 2011 Deep West Video by Leslie David Schwabacher

Deep West filmmaker Leslie David Schwabacher's video portrays a California rancher who tries to preserve the family ranch for his children despite the complex economics of the times.

Morgan Blasingame: I would never sell this
unless I was forced to.

Boy, I got close to it one time.

It means more to me
than just about anything.

It's my mistress.

My love.

Leslie David Schwabacher: This is
my friend, Morgan Blasingame.

Our cattle partner for about ten years

and a rancher in California's
Central Valley.

He calls the ranch his mistress.

But I'd say he's married to the place.

(Music)

The connection to this one spot on Earth

started for the Blasingame family
around 1862.

Morgan's great-grandfather settled here

as a veteran of the Mexican War.

Morgan told me how his great-grandfather
just about lost the ranch -

in a card game.

MB: He came home

to here and he told his wife
what happened.

And boy, I guess she was furious.

She went under her bed

and got some money out of a box
she kept down there.

And gave him ...

start on some money and said,

"You go back

and you don't quit
till you get all that money

and then you don't do anything else
and you come home right away."

So he was back up there,
and he played and played and played

and he finally got enough back

and then -

I guess they told her, the pistol's out,
and said, "Well, we're leaving, boys."

And came home and gave it to his wife.

LDS: Two generations later,

Morgan's father expanded
the ranch borders until the Depression,

when he was forced to let go of a piece.

MB: I like to tell this story

because when he sold it in 1932

he got 25 dollars an acre for it.

And when he bought it back in '47,

he paid 50 dollars an acre for it.

He says, "Damn. I had to pay
twice what it was worth."

LDS: And he passed it on to Morgan

who in turn has managed it
through thick and thin

for another 60 years.

MB: This is as far south
and east as the ranch goes.

LDS: He point out the remains
of an antelope trap

used by Native Americans
back when they hunted the area.

MB: And you know, an antelope
won't hardy jump.

They just -

and then, when they come into water,

there'd be Indians laying along
and they'd kill them.

I've seen them in Nevada, too.

LDS: All around us are grind holes
or gossip rocks

where Indian women mashed
their acorns for the next meal.

You can almost hear them laughing,
talking and singing songs.

(Music: Yokut Acorn Grinding Song)

Morgan says he feels an Erie connection

with the people that were here before him.

MB: When he saw that first wagon
coming over there

he noticed there were less buffalo
that there were a year before,

he says, "Ohh!"

Yeah.

LDS: Just like those Native Americans,

Morgan also sees trouble over the horizon.

Looking out over this vista with him,

I realized Morgan's great achievement

has been to keep the land the same.

But that may no longer be possible

considering the realities
of 21st century ranching.

MB: I think you're talking
to the last lifetime owner on this.

Because of government inheritance taxes

which I'm trying my best
to take care of right now.

And the pressure
of California keeps growing.

LDS: Population growth means
higher land values and higher taxes.

Yet, incomes remain modest.

So the cards are stacked
against long-term stewardship.

MB: It takes a lot of acreage
just to support a family on these ranches.

I've spent the last couple of years

trying to lower the inheritance tax
and I have, in a way,

but it's put a pretty good
financial burden on me.

(Birds chirping)

LDS: Now Morgan's in his 80s.

And he know how difficult it will be

for his kids to make a living as ranchers.

He worries, "How do I protect
my family and the ranch?"

Have you gone through
sleepless nights, Morgan?

(Laughter)

MB: The last 80 years -
and I'm 81 years old -

first year I slept very well.

Yeah - unless you're just numb.

LDS: What bothers you?

MB: What will become of the ranch
and what the kids will do with it.

The money part -
you don't want to be without it

but if I was in this for big money,
I would have sold out years ago.

LDS: What would you like to see happen?

MB: Stay the same as it is.

God did a pretty good job on it.

I don't think I can improve
on the Lord's work.

(Music)