Long before vineyards covered the hills of Six Sigma Ranch, this land was home to shepherds and cattle ranchers.
One of the earliest residents was William Hutchinson, a sheep rancher born in North Carolina in 1833. By the 1870s he was raising sheep on what is now the Northeastern part of Six Sigma Ranch. Hutchinson and his wife, Minerva, eventually assembled nearly 1,500 acres of land, though their life here was modest. Probate records indicate how frugal they were in their hard-working ranch life – their household equipment consisted of five chairs, a cook stove, old cooking utensils, two platters, and five or six each of various plates and dishes. Their home was lost to a brush fire in 1923, but one structure connected to Hutchinson’s work still remains. Hutchinson’s Sheep Shack is perched near the spot where Asbill Creek joins Soda Creek, and it is believed to have served as a shelter while the flock in the surrounding hills were sheared.
Another important chapter of ranch history came with Norval Brookins, a rancher who ran cattle and sheep and was known for his practical skills. Brookins built three barns on the ranch, including a metal sheep barn he relocated and rebuilt here. He also constructed miles of sheep fencing using redwood posts cut by hand; many of which still stand today, quietly continuing their work across the ranch.
Today, these surviving structures offer a glimpse into the ranch’s early days; a reminder that long before wine grapes were planted, generations of ranchers were already shaping the land we farm today. Come on out and take a peek at these historic buildings in person. See you at the Ranch