Rancher turns to UC for guidance

The latest in a series of small farm profiles in the Sonora Union-Democrat features a spry, 70-year-old, self-described city girl who manages a 40-acre ranch - with cattle, llamas, goats, cats and dogs - by herself.

Elisabeth Kelly, a native of Switzerland and retired medical doctor, told reporter Lenore Rutherford that when she needs information about caring for her plants and animals, she turns to University of California Cooperative Extension in Tuolumne County.

“They have been a big help,” Kelly was quoted in the story.

After retiring at age 59 from Kaiser Medical Center in Oakland, Kelly traveled the U.S. with her physicist husband. In 2003, they decided to settle in a rural home.

“When he stepped into this log home, sat down and looked out the window, he said he thought he’d just stay here,” Kelly told the reporter. Four days later, her husband had a stroke, but they moved to the pastoral setting anyhow. He passed away in 2004.

Kelly weeds outside in the evening with her dogs beside her, and listens to the frogs croaking in a nearby pond and all of the other sounds of nature.

“I’m a very lucky woman,” she was quoted. “I love the land, I love the animals, and I love what I do.”

UCCE Tuolumne County website

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