From 1889 to today.
The story of this land is still being written and we’re looking for the perfect match for its next chapter.
1889 I Clarence & Fannie Shaw Arrive
Clarence and Fannie Shaw arrived in Long Valley in 1889 from Missouri by mule-drawn wagon, beginning a life that would shape the land for generations. They raised nine children here, clearing the ground and growing vegetables to prove the homestead. Clarence’s mother, Harriet, soon joined them, and her small cabin still stands, one of the original structures on the property. The root cellar they used to carry food through winter remains as well, a quiet reminder of those first years.
1905 I Official Homestead Certification
In 1905, the land was officially homesteaded, marking the moment when years of labor became something lasting and the beginning of a legacy that still endures today.
1930s - 1960s I Roy & Lora Shaw
Roy and Lora Shaw carried the land forward, raising four children and guiding the ranch through its next evolution. What began as a truck farm gradually became a working cattle operation, as neighboring homesteads were combined and additional land acquired. During the Depression, the ranch became a place of resilience and provision sustained by its gardens, orchard, livestock, and the surrounding land. At its height, the ranch grew to more than 700 acres, shaped by both necessity and care.
1960s - 2001 I John & Geri Shaw
In the 1960s, John and Geri Shaw took ownership of the ranch, balancing life between this land, a farm in Emmett, and property in Riggins. Their stewardship focused on maintaining the health of the land, including thoughtful forest management and flourishing pastures. They remained connected to the ranch until John’s passing in 2001, continuing the family’s long-standing relationship with the land.
2001 - 2020 I Tom & Skeeter Shaw
Following John’s passing, TG and Skeeter Shaw carried on the work of the ranch including managing summer cattle operations and maintaining the irrigation and fencing that support the pasture. Their time and effort on the land were instrumental in today’s continued natural tree farm designation.
2021 - Present I The Next Chapter
Today, the land is shared among John and Geri’s three children and their families, with cattle still grazing the front fields — a continuation of the ranch’s working legacy. In 2024, the homestead ranch was recognized as a Century Ranch in Idaho. The land remains active, cared for, and deeply connected to the family that has shaped it for more than a century. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren still spend time here, ensuring the legacy of the land is not only preserved, but lived.