In 1885, the Ranch was homesteaded by Louie Kramer, a ship stow-a-way from Germany. He first worked on the toll roads to Redding, CA. His employer was unable to pay his wages, so he gave him some land in Big Valley instead. The rest is history. His neighbors misfortune of having to sell their land during the depression was to Louie’s advantage. He bought their homesteads, and added acreage to the ranch in both Modoc and Lassen County. Each field still bears those original settlers names.

Historically we are a cow and calf operation. Diversification has added new adventures for us with wild rice, alfalfa hay and cabin rentals. We have a private waterfowl hunt club and Wilderness Unlimited handles the rentals and recreation.

Our lifestyle is a dying breed. We know how blessed we are to see the panoramic view of the green meadows and grazing cattle when we step out our front door. If we are lucky, we can look upon the deer grazing in the alfalfa fields, and duck and geese floating in the ponds. These areas in Big Valley and the Modoc Plateau are a few of the last working landscapes where development has not taken over. It’s important to keep the last of these spaces open for the wildlife habit and the ranching industry as well.

We love this land as did our father and grandfather. We as ranchers are the original “Stewards of the Land”. We have an obligation to protect and nurture the land and streams, not only for our livelihood, but for the 5th generation of Kramer’s that live here and future generations to come.