Dairy cattle were present from the time Major Pearson B. Reading settled in the area.

Sara Spann operated one of the first home deliveries of milk. She was assisted by her sons, Charles and Richard.

Delivery of milk was made twice daily by horse and buggy. By the late 1800s, they established the Oak Grove Dairy, located along what is now known as Rupert Road.

This operation was purchased by her granddaughter Margaret Rupert and Margaret's husband Ed in the mid-1920s.

They discontinued the home delivery and sold milk to the creameries until the 1960s. Charles kept the home place and his son, Charles, kept up the tradition until the 1970s.

McMurrys, Seales, Treats, Speers and, in later years, the Hopsons, were some of the families who carried on the tradition of home delivery of dairy products.

The peak of dairy farming was in the mid-1940s with 75 operating dairies in the area. The last two large dairy farms in the area were Walt Mathews' and Grant Amen's on the old Ducan Ranch in Churn Creek.

One of the first home and business delivery of vegetables and fruits was started in 1888 by Fritz Klukkert from a farm north of Anderson. The operation consisted of a large truck farm, vineyard, orchard and grains. Klukkert supplied produce to the miners and others living high in the surrounding hills.

Three of the main Chinese gardens were located on Gaines Lane, Gover Ranch and near Black Butte. These became the main source of fresh produce to the Anderson and Cottonwood areas prior to construction of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District canal.

Later years saw a number of truck farms including those operated by the Montagners, Squiers, Presidios and now Phil's, to name a few. Today, there are many small fruit and vegetable stands in the area.

Beef raising has always been a big operation in the area, supporting both small and large operations. Now, we are seeking many of the larger operations down-sizing as growth of new subdivisions is beginning to encroach on some of the old ranches and homesteads.