Deseret Ranches

{{short description|Ranching operations of the Mormon Church in Central Florida}}

File:Deseret Ranches 7-12-2009 4-04-20 PM.jpg

Deseret Ranches ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Deseret.ogg|ˌ|d|ɛ|z|ə|ˈ|r|ɛ|t}})[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/pronunciation?lang=eng churchofjesuschrist.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide"] (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «dĕz-a-rĕt´» refers to the ranching operations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Central Florida. The Ranches include several organizations: Deseret Ranches of Florida, Deseret Cattle and Citrus, Taylor Creek Management, East Central Florida Services, AgReserves, and Farmland Reserve. The ranches are located {{convert|50|mi|km|0}} southeast of the Orlando International Airport and {{convert|19|mi|km|0}} west of Cape Canaveral, Florida.{{citation |last= Barnett |first= Cynthia |date= December 2001 |url= http://www.cynthiabarnett.net/clips/ChurchRanch.pdf |title= The Church's Ranch: The Mormon church runs one of the biggest and most profitable cattle operations in the U.S. on a 300,000-acre ranch covering parts of Orange, Brevard, and Osceola counties |journal= Florida Trend }}{{citation |first= John |last= Hollenhorst |date= 18 May 2011 |title= LDS Church ranch making big impact in Florida |url= http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=15602133 |publisher= KSL-TV }} Currently, Deseret Ranches is the most productive cow-calf ranch in the United States."[http://www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes/videos/playlists/full-episodes#how-the-states-got-their-shapes-culture-clash Culture Clash]". Host: Brian Unger. [http://www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes How the States Got Their Shapes]. A&E Television Networks. The History Channel. 5-Jul-11. 44 minutes in.

Geography

File:Deseret Ranch (St. Cloud, Florida) P001.jpg

The ranch, owned by the LDS Church, spreads over the three central Florida counties of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard. Covering almost {{convert|300,000|acre|km²}} of land,[http://www.deseretranchflorida.com/ranching.html Ranching] from Deseret Ranches webpage. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018063101/http://www.deseretranchflorida.com/ranching.html |date=October 18, 2008 }} 90 ranchers and their families live on the ranch. The ranch maintains 44,000 head of beef cattle.[http://www.deseretranchflorida.com/r-cattle.html Cattle] from Deseret Ranches webpage. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017081353/http://www.deseretranchflorida.com/r-cattle.html |date=October 17, 2008 }} It is a for-profit operation and is not a normal part of the LDS Church's humanitarian efforts. Gordon B. Hinckley, former church president, said, "We have felt that good farms, over a long period, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time, they are available as an agricultural resource to feed people should there come a time of need."{{citation |last= Hinckley |first= Gordon B. |author-link= Gordon B. Hinckley |date=May 1991 |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1991/05/the-state-of-the-church?lang=eng |title= The State of the Church |journal= Ensign }}

History

The earliest plans for this ranch were made in 1949, and in 1950 the original {{convert|45,000|acre|km2}} were purchased. Deseret Ranch now covers an area {{convert|50|by|30|mi|km}}, with a separate section surrounding Kenansville in Osceola County.

The church bought the original {{convert|54000|acre|km2|-1|sing=on}} tract in 1950 and over 50 years, the ranch grew to more than {{convert|312000|acre|km2|-1}}. In 1997, it was the world's largest beef ranch, and the land was worth an estimated $858 million.Biema, 1997{{full|date=April 2015}}

Operations

Like their other financial details, the LDS Church does not disclose the revenue or valuation of the ranch. Still, it is known that in 2000, they moved 16 million pounds (7300 t) of calves, which then translated to about $16 million in revenue. In 2008, Deseret Ranch discussed selling part of the property for a development near Orlando, Florida, but the proposed rezoning was withdrawn before approval.Spear, Kevin (8 July 2008). [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-bk-deseret-ranch-070808,0,2762995.story Deseret Ranch owners pull request to rezone property]. Orlando Sentinel.Spear, Kevin (13 October 2008). [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/custom/growth/orl-deseret1208oct13,0,4777515.story?page=1 Could Deseret Ranch morph into a metro area larger than Orlando?]. Orlando Sentinel. Last accessed 15 May 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025104832/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/custom/growth/orl-deseret1208oct13,0,4777515.story?page=1 |date=October 25, 2008 }}

The Deseret Ranch also brings in revenue from the mining of native shell beds (used throughout Florida to pave roads), orange groves, hunting permits, and sales of ornamental palm trees.

In 2011, having won control of some of its water from the St. Johns River Water Management District, it was planning on selling some to Cocoa, Florida.{{Cite news |first= Dave |last= Berman |title= Deal allows Cocoa to sell, use Taylor Creek water |url= http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120115/NEWS01/301150018/Deal-allows-Cocoa-sell-use-Taylor-Creek-water |newspaper= Florida Today |location= Melbourne, Florida |pages= 1B |date= January 15, 2012 }}