More information about possible grant of DK Ranch surfaces
Thanks to an article by Mark Lineberger of the Larson newspapers, a great deal of new information has surfaced regarding the possible gift of the DK Ranch in Cornville. It has about 1,500 feet on Oak Creek on 45 acres of land. The ranch is located in Cornville and has been listed for sale for as much as $4.5 million dollars. The College will submit its proposal for the property by June 1. There is a home and a barn, which President Penelope Wills describes as in “excellent condition.”
According to the article, the ranch is now owned by the Steele Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Phoenix The Steele Foundation has awarded more than $75 million in grants to over 300 organizations within the state of Arizona. Apparently, this is not a Charitable Remainder trust, as was originally thought. It now appears that if the College is successful, it will receive the property free and clear—although those details have yet to be publicly confirmed by the College.
In the interview with President Penelope Wills, she told Mr. Lineberger that the College was “invited to submit a proposal” to the Steele Foundation. She said that the property cannot be “flipped” for resale and must be used for educational purposes. . She also said that the property could be used for classrooms. Wills said it would likely take at least a year to develop a plan for the property should the college acquire it.
Stuart Blacklaw was also interviewed by Mr. Lineberger. He said that the ranch could potentially be used for agricultural instruction and the teaching of animal sciences. “That’s the primary focus that we envision,” he told the reporter.
The property has water rights going back to 1919. Other uses of the property discussed in the interviews were: (a) Use the ranch to teach conservation and environmental science. (b) Partner with the Universality of Arizona’s veterinary medicine program. For some, it was odd that a discussion of expanding the viticulture program to that site was not discussed.
The article by Mr. Lineberger appeared in the May 13, 2015 issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
