Evolution of Arizona Farm and Ranch
As the news of the fertile land in the new Arizona Territory spread farmers, ranchers, and businessmen with vision came to Arizona Territory to claim land and start to build. They developed farms, ranches, businesses, schools, churches, and served in the territorial legislature.
The goal of the Arizona Farm and Ranch, established in 2007, is to honor and preserve the legacy of the pioneers of agriculture in Arizona. The first honorees, selected in 2007, were from nomination received from around the state.
The first Hall of Fame dinner was held at the CJS Western Film Studios in Avondale, Arizona in 2008. Through 2012 the Hall of Fame has honored forty-three outstanding individuals from across Arizona that have contributed to our agricultural heritage in many ways. These honorees include the Jesus Felix Family Farm that established their roots in Florence, AZ in 1867; Orval Knox 2009 honoree served on the commission that appraised and selected the land in 1940 for the location of Luke Field for the training of Army Air Corps pilots in Glendale.
