Chipmunk Grazing Association (Owyhee County, Idaho)

A Detailed History, Founders & Legacy Overview

The Chipmunk Grazing Association, Inc. is a private ranchers’ association based in Owyhee County, Idaho, with its registered address in Marsing, ID (83639). This places it near the lower Snake River and the Owyhee Mountains, emblematic of its operations on rangelands where public and private parcels intertwine. Original Founders & Early Leadership • Henry Brandau was instrumental in organizing the Chipmunk Grazing Association. His ranch acquisitions—like the grazing permit from Ralph and Lydia Bailey, the grazing section at Squaw Butte from Andy Hurley in 1955, and later the Dan Hurley ranch—helped solidify a land base integral to the association’s formation. • Adam J. Blackstock, a rancher of Scottish descent who arrived in Idaho around 1899 and purchased a ranch in the Opaline District in 1900, also played a pivotal role. He served the association “since its inception” and held roles in local agricultural bodies, including Owyhee County Farm Bureau treasurer, the Idaho Farm Bureau Beef Committee, and the Natural Resource Committee, as well as the Chipmunk Grazing Association. Leadership Through the Years • A 2007 report in the Owyhee Avalanche names Elias as the then current President of the Chipmunk Grazing Association, with a list of earlier leaders including Adam Blackstock (1979), Lee Stanford (1980), and Ed Muller (1981). Operational Geography & Landholdings County RS 2477 right of way maps show “Chipmunk Grazing Assoc.” managing private land parcels in the Owyhee Mountains—especially around Rooster Comb Peak and Whiskey Mountain. These holdings illustrate the association’s significant presence amid public lands. A 2010 Angus Journal feature highlights that the Jacas and neighboring ranchers, who were part of the Association, collectively managed about 31 sections of private land surrounded by public grazing land. Conservation, Collaboration & Financial Presence • Watershed Restoration: In 2023, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service chronicled the “Richards Chipmunk Grazing Association Project” at Chipmunk Meadow, aimed at restoring mesic habitat in the Succor Creek area. • Sage-Grouse Habitat Management: The association has been a listed participant in Owyhee County’s Sage-Grouse Local Working Group, contributing to collaborative habitat strategies. • USDA Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Between 1995 and 2024, the association received $26,370 in ECP funds for conservation-related activities. Expanded Timeline Year / Period Highlight 1960s Founding of the Chipmunk Grazing Association, led by Henry Brandau and Adam J. Blackstock 1979–1981 Leadership transitions: Adam Blackstock (1979) → Lee Stanford (1980) → Ed Muller (1981) 2000s Elias serves as President (as of 2007). 2010s Jaca family and others hold ~31 sections of private land through the association. 2013+ Participation in Sage-Grouse Working Group; conservation collaboration. 2023 Completion of mesic habitat restoration at Chipmunk Meadow via Fish & Wildlife-funded projects. 1995–2024 ECP funds totaling $26,370 received.