Historical society to show ‘Living the Legacy: Cattle Ranching in Shasta County'

SHASTA COUNTY, California - A small group of Shasta Historical Society volunteers put together the video. One of their goals was to interview many of Shasta County's legendary cattlemen and cattlewomen, and they said they found that each interviewee had a unique perspective on the cattle industry. Ellington Peek founded the Shasta Livestock in Cottonwood, where he continues an active role today. Ellington also wrote the book, "When to Buy … When to Sell: Cattle Deals, Ranchers & Shasta Livestock," with Linda Hussa. The book was a jumping off point for the volunteer documentary team. It chronicles more than 40 years of the Shasta Livestock family corporation. Shasta Livestock is one of the largest livestock-buying operations in the country. Today, the livestock auction looks very different from the auctions of the past. Shasta Livestock continues its Friday auctions, but much of the livestock's business now takes place via the Internet with video auctions. The changing cattle industry is one of themes of the film. Jim and Mary Rickert manage the Prather Ranch. The Rickerts run one of the few slaughterhouses in the country contracting with bio-medical companies for products such as collagen and bones used in surgical procedures. Another well-known rancher is Glenn Aldridge. The Aldridge family came to Shasta County in 1861 and began ranching. Their well-known YJ cattle brand was registered at the county in 1872. His family continues the tradition of ranching that they started over 150 years ago. Glenn Aldridge has many stories of cattle drives to winter pastures and round-ups for branding cattle...more