Orland history's caretaker

The old guy and his old colony

Jim Wackerman is the current owner and caretaker of the property widely known as the Wackerman Ranch. The history of the ranch goes back to 1864 with the settling of the pioneers. This is some 40 years before Orland became a city, and the water rights have Teddy Roosevelt’s signature. In 1900, the ranch became known as the “Old Colony,” honoring an ever-present Bay Area influence. Though dairy farming was the mainstay, the ranch also included vegetable gardens, cattle, pigs, and fruit trees.

At the youthful age of 22, and only a few years out of high school, Jim’s father was offered the farm. It was 1950, and he decided to purchase the farm, determined to turn it around and make it prosper. At the time, it had been a dairy farm like many others dotting the Glenn County landscape. Dairy farming came with maintenance and impending rules. Not only was Albert clearly aware of this but also discovered how hard it had become to find hay. In addition, restrictions and new regulations kept emerging. In the ‘70’s, Albert related to Jim that he felt, “We are one generation on the verge of bankruptcy.” Where once 125 dairies flourished, the number had plummeted into the 20’s.

Originally, pioneers irrigated the land from government funding. Water has remained a touchy topic ever since and moving away from the dairy industry proved difficult. The dairy business, like many operations, came with big pressures, like going completely organic while fighting the seller’s market which had stretched all the way to Colorado. It became clear that Jim had inherited too much hassle, so much maintenance, and ever-changing rules. Like his dad, however, pressure and all, Jim Wackerman is truly the right person to tend this property.

Among other things, Jim is a walking sound bite, dropping lines one cannot write down fast enough. He speaks in both a demonstrative manner in full

animation and, in an instant, he strikes a statue-like pose, leaving his eyes to express emotion. He was in full animation, hands and arms flailing away, when describing the cattle still roaming the ranch. With obvious pride, he noted, “They never stop. The heifers and jerseys love the area with its numerous trails and fire breaks.” Then Jim got into it, forming his arms and hands in the pantomimed backside of the cattle. “They look like Olympic athletes!” Immediately, his more statuesque style emerged while taking stock of the reversal of the property from a dairy farm to an almond ranch. He also turned his attention to remodeling the “big barn” into an event center. With bright eyes, he mused, “I’m just an old guy, using old tools, trying to fix old things.”

Jim relayed thoughts on planting the orchards,165 acres below and 65 up on the hill. Planting trees meant taking out native ones. The oak trees, a vital part of the life and heritage of the property, literally proved “heart-breaking” to uproot. It was also sad to lose the majestic black walnut, referring to it as “a helluva tree.” He moved to a delicate subject—the difference between flood drainage and irrigation. The almonds are watered through a sprayer sprinkler, one that found the use of 60% less water. Jim made no mistake when he said, “I’ll raise nuts until I die.” It’s his retirement. Standing on a porch next to his son, Gabe, he left a genuine glimpse of the ranch’s future.

The big barn do-over is a retirement gift to his beloved wife Jeanine. Jeanine and their daughter, Sophie, have plans for the wedding and event center on the property. Jeanine is a local legend in Orland as a remarkable educator. An English teacher serving both middle and high school classes, her praises are shouted from every corner. Jim is aware the orchards are doing well, and though it takes time, he is waiting to make real money. He will turn to the remodeling of both the big barn and the property itself to prepare for Jeanine’s retirement. The wedding venue and event center on the property is enticing. Typical of Jim, he puts it this way, “When she retires I’ll teach her to drive the tractor. It’ll be fun!”