Cline Family History, Part 3/3

Descriptive

Part OfCline Family History Oral HistoryIntervieweeCline, SteveInterviewerMcBride, JoyceBrowse TopicBusiness and IndustryCommunity GroupsLand, Environment, and Natural ResourcesSociety and CultureSubjectOral historiesArizona HistoryArizona History 19th centuryArizona History 20th CenturyGila County (Ariz.)BiographyCattle--West (U.S.)--HistoryRanching History of Gila CountyRanch managers--ArizonaU.S. Forest ServiceSalt River Watershed (Ariz.)Tonto Basin (Ariz.)DescriptionPart 3: Steve Cline's Generation. Steve and Arlene were married in 1954 and lived on the old TV Ranch. About 4 years later, his father Benjamin Baker Cline was bucked off his horse and killed while putting cattle out. Steve was 23 years old. Having been raised on the ranch, he knew well how to be a cowboy, but now suddenly he was thrust into the role of a rancher. He learned quickly there's a difference between being a cowboy and a rancher. He credits his grandfather George Cline, a seasoned and successful rancher himself, for saving the ranch. Now alone, Steve took on the awesome task of finishing his father's work of cleaning the land of wild cattle. Steve recalls his dogs who served as indispensable cowhands, and tells some funny dog stories. He also talks about the bear predation with bear stories. About the time he got his numbers down to the Forest Service allotment, drought, environmentalists and the U.S. Forest Service pulled out the rest of his cattle. Now in the past years he's been building up a small herd of about 43 head, crossing over from Herefords to Charolais. Cattle in the U.S. is down about 12 percent so the market is picking up. He takes them to the Phoenix auction instead of Globe. He used to be the president of the Gila County Cattle Growers Assoc. in the mid-late 1990's but after the cattle was moved out, there was no purpose left. He mentions in 2002, when the Forest Service made everyone gather all their cattle, that he hired Joe Haught to help him and was struck by what a remarkable, hardworking and genuine character Joe Haught was, calling him one of the last of the cowboys. Steve has now passed on the ranch legacy to his two sons and grandchildren, giving them charge over the 110 acre ranch.Audio Length00:20:16Date Original2011-08-19Date Range1950s (1950-1959)1960s (1960-1969)1970s (1970-1979)1980s (1980-1989)1990s (1990-1999)2000s (2000-2009)2010s (2010-2019)TypeSound- NonmusicalOriginal FormatOral historiesLanguageEnglishContributing InstitutionArizona Heritage Research FoundationCollectionOral Histories of Gila County RanchersRights StatementThe opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee only. They do no represent the views of the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation, the Gila Co. Historical Museum or the Arizona State Library. Please contact the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation with questions about the use and reproduction of this resource.

Geographic

CountyGila CountyStateArizonaCountryUnited States

Oral HistorySteve Cline

Administrative

IdentifierCline Family History Part 3.mp3Date Digitized2011-08-19Digital FormatMP3

48.mp3

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Cline Family History, Part 3/3