The historic Priday Ranch, once a nearly 5,000-acre spread near Madras, has been part of Central Oregon’s homesteading landscape since 1881. Once a vast cattle operation, today the property is protected as one of the Deschutes Land Trust’s most prized nature reserves — and a critical stronghold for native steelhead.

When Annan and Marla Priday sold 4,973 acres to the Land Trust in 2020, it marked a major conservation milestone. “The main ranch had been part of our family’s ranching operations for more than 100 years, and we wanted to keep it intact,” Annan Priday said in a statement at the time of the sale. “We felt the Land Trust valued that history and would build on our efforts to help keep Trout Creek healthy for steelhead.”

A deep ranching history

The Priday family legacy began when Albert J. Priday homesteaded near the confluence of Antelope and Trout Creeks in 1881. By 1889, his son Leslie had built the foundation for a major cattle operation, driving herds of up to 2,000 head each spring into the Ochoco Forest Reserve for summer grazing, then back to the home ranch for market preparation. At its peak, the family managed 800 irrigated acres along Trout Creek, producing multiple crops of alfalfa annually.

Through droughts, depressions, and shifting land deals, the Pridays held on — helped in part by the ranch’s spring-fed creeks that offered resilience many other homesteads lacked.

Conservation before Deschutes Land Trust

Long before selling to the Land Trust, the Pridays were engaged in restoration. Between 2006 and 2009, they worked with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to reshape creek channels, restore floodplains, and replant riparian zones along Trout and Antelope Creeks. The JCSWCD completed sitework to re-meander the creeks and remove berms, reconstructing creek channels. Nearly 50,000 native trees and shrubs were added to rebuild habitat degraded by decades of grazing, along with seeded native grasses.

These creeks are vital: Trout Creek feeds the Deschutes River, while Antelope and Ward Creeks feed Trout Creek. Ward Creek, the shortest of the three, is especially important — its spring-fed waters and shaded Degner Canyon provide summer refuge for young steelhead when other stretches dry up.

Current restoration work

Since acquiring the land in 2020, the Deschutes Land Trust has advanced large-scale restoration, including selective juniper removal to conserve water and reduce fire risks. Junipers, though native, have proliferated excessively, drawing up to 30 gallons of water per day and crowding out native bunchgrasses and sagebrush. To date, the land trust has thinned junipers across more than 500 acres, carefully retaining some for wildlife shelter.

Stewardship manager at Priday Reserve, Jen Zalewski commented on her observations after some mature junipers were cut near the cell tower hill. “I counted rings on a few of the larger junipers – they were 107 years old.” stated Zalewski.

The Trust is also reseeding former alfalfa fields with native grasses, using irrigation to establish them before eventually adding wildflowers. Invasive annual grasses are being targeted with aerial herbicide treatments to give native plants a fighting chance.

A refuge for wildlife — and the public

Priday Ranch today is home to golden eagles, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, beavers, and even great horned owls, which volunteers spotted during last year’s bird survey. Wildlife cameras capture species movement across the property, though the Trust does not publicly share camera locations to protect the animals.

ODFW conducts steelhead surveys at the ranch, and public engagement is growing: volunteer groups, such as the Environmental Club of Madras High School, have removed old barbed wire fencing, planted willow starts, and helped restore habitats. Several public hikes and birdwatching events are planned for summer 2025, offering visitors a chance to experience the evolving landscape firsthand.

To learn more or sign up for hikes and volunteer events, visit: https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/visit/priday-ranch