This article is part of the ’24-’25 Donor Yearbook & Annual Report. Click here to download the full report (PDF).
The 2024-2025 fiscal year included a unique and unprecedented grant of a historic 240-acre property to the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe (BLR). The Leavey Ranch was entrusted to the HAF+WRCF through Joseph “Jim” Leavey’s estate and was managed by the Foundation from 2014 to 2024. It was transferred to the Tribe in March 2025 following a rigorous Request for Proposal process to ensure the selection was based on merit and aligned with Mr. Leavey’s intent to support agriculture, ecological preservation, and education.
The Leavey Ranch was purchased in 1912 by Michael Leavey as part of the family’s dairy operation. The Leavey family played a significant role in shaping the West End and the wider agricultural community through their land stewardship and civic engagement. Jim Leavey—Michael’s grandson—continued in this tradition through his own conservation work.
The Tribe plans to continue to maintain Leavey Ranch as a working cattle ranch while integrating the property into its Food Sovereignty Program. This program focuses on the production and distribution of traditional and fresh foods to elders, children, and underserved communities. In July, the Tribe hosted a cultural burn on the property as part of its commitment to restoring traditional land management practices and enhancing habitat for native species.
“Stewarding Leavey Ranch is both an honor and a responsibility, and we are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us to uphold its legacy. This land represents an opportunity to strengthen sustainable agriculture, expand educational programs, and enhance ecological preservation for future generations. Through collaboration and careful stewardship, we look forward to ensuring that Leavey Ranch remains a thriving resource for the community and a model for regenerative land management,” said Jason Ramos,
Tribal Chairperson, Blue Lake Rancheria, in a press release from March.
“The transfer of the Leavey Ranch marks a new chapter for this special place, one in which we are proud to have played a role. Jim Leavey felt strongly that the ranch should not be developed and that it should provide opportunities for conservation and education. Blue Lake Rancheria shares that vision, and it’s exciting to see the work that has already begun in honoring his intent,” said Sara Dronkers, CEO. “The Rancheria and HAF+WRCF have shared goals and values, particularly in their desire to strengthen food sovereignty and disaster resilience, to restore Indigenous ownership, access, and management of land, and to include the input and leadership of community partners. We look forward to seeing what comes next.”
Since receiving the land, the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe has built a greenhouse and established a native plant nursery to help restore the local ecosystems and preserve indigenous plant species. In June, the Rancheria also hosted its third annual Cultural Burn Seminar in conjunction with Yurok Fire, BLR Fire, CAL Fire, Cal Poly Humboldt, the U.S. Forest Service, and the County of Humboldt.