Flournoy family achievement award

Legendary Achievement

Likely Land and Livestock a model for family ranchers

from the Modoc County Cattlemen's Association

At the historic Hotel Niles on October 29, the Modoc County Cattlemen’s Association presented Likely Land and Livestock with the Association’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award at their fall dinner meeting. The three Flournoy brothers who accepted the award, Billy, John and Dave, along with their spouses were surprised by the award and the attendance of family members who traveled to Alturas to be there for the presentation of this prestigious award.

The following is an edited version of what was read at the meeting with the presentation of the award.

The 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award goes to cattlemen who are running the same brand in their family for the last 321 years in America. The Lazy F brand began with Jacob Flournoy in the year 1700 when he came to America. It continued for five generations in Virginia then on to Missouri and in 1864 it was brought to California by John Daniel Flournoy who settled in the South Fork Valley in 1871. In 1917 he wrote “he only planned to stay for a short time but the feed was so good and our stock done so well that here I still am on the same place I first located on 46 years ago this fall.”

Now in 2021, 150 years later, Bill, John and Dave Flournoy are still on that same place and the feed is still good and the cattle do very well.

The ranch has been passed down and ran generation by generation. Bill, John and Dave have worked alongside their dad Don and granddad Arthur. Growing up the ranch was called D.F. Flournoy & Sons until 1973 when they became incorporated and came to be known as Likely Land and Livestock - which is what it is called today.

Bill, John and Dave, all fourth generation ranchers were born and raised in Likely to Don and Shirley Flournoy at the original homestead.

Billy was born in 1941 and married Athena Cook. They have two daughters, Dawn and Roxann; one grandson, Nic; one granddaughter, Gabriella; and two great grandchildren, Hayes and Maelyn. Billy is active in cattleman's and served as the 2015-2016 CCA President. He enjoys buckarooing, attending rodeos and watching all kinds of sports. He is a member of the Rancheros Vistadores, likes to recite cowboy poetry and is a former competition team roper. John was born in 1944 and married Sydney Williams. They have two sons, Daniel and Myles, and seven grandchildren, Maghan, Karlee, Avery, Elsie, Nash, Paisley and John. An All-Around Cowboy and Vietnam Veteran, John enjoys flying his Cessna 172 or sometimes referred to as the corporate jet. John recently served on the Board of Directors for Plumas Bank. If you’re lucky you might also find him playing guitar and singing country music. Dave was born in 1952. Together with Kim they have four children, Monica, Aaron, Cody and Kacy, and nine grandchildren, Brandon, Kaylie, Adam, Christian, Cain, Casey, Camden, Ty and Daniel. Dave loves racing. He loves his family and his dogs. He enjoyed his time as a log truck driver and has hauled cattle for many decades. He has had a lifelong love of racing and in the past couple years has renewed his passion when he started racing again with his son Aaron. Bill, John and Dave are longtime members of the Likely Volunteer Fire Department and active supporters Flournoy brothers and business partners, Dave, John and Billy Flournoy of Modoc County's Likely Land and Livestock.

of the Likely 4-H Pine Burrs. They all enjoy keeping up with their good old friends, spending quality time with their adorable grandkids and always helping whenever and wherever they can - darn good neighbors and cattlemen.

Together they have ran a successful cow calf operation, grew and put up all their own hay and evolved to big bales. They run a feedlot and mill their own ration of chopped hay for their weaned calves and have done so for over 50 years.

Bill, John and Dave along with their dad Don received the Cattleman of the Year award in 1998. This year they are celebrating the 150-year anniversary of the home ranch. Modoc county and the cattle industry would not be what it is today without the Flournoys.

CCA congratulates the entire Flournoy family on this achievement, thanks them for being leaders in California agriculture and looks forward to watching Likely Land and Livestock continue to thrive in Modoc County over the next 150 years.

Likely Land and Livestock has been the focus of two recent podcasts from the California Cattle Council. Stories from California Cattle Country is a podcast that takes listeners to some of the most beautiful parts of this diverse state to learn more about the people and practices of ranches and dairies. All that makes up Likely Land and Livestock was the focus of two recent episodes. To learn more about the Flournoy family, see photos of the ranch and hear from the family listen to the episodes at https://calcattlecouncil.org/likely. This podcast is produced by the California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council.

Myles Flournoy followed family tradition by stepping into a leadership position. He was installed as Modoc County Cattlemen's President following the family's award recognition. Many in the Flournoy Family attended the meeting to see the family ranch receive such a unique honor.