Tejon Ranch in California: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Tejon Ranch is described on its own site as a ranch of about 270,000 acres, the largest private hunting ranch in California. Its working ranch combines nearly 6,000 acres of pistachios, almonds, wine grapes, alfalfa and olives with cattle grazing, hunting and filming.
| Location | Tejon Ranch, Kern County area, California |
|---|---|
| Founded | Ranching tradition dates to 1843 per the ranch; farming began in the 1890s |
| Sectors | permanent crops; cattle grazing; hunting; filming; real estate |
| Scale | 270,000 acres; a little less than 6,000 acres of crops (ranch website) |
| Why it is elite | Among the largest contiguous private ranches in California, with crop, cattle and hunting operations |
| Ownership | Tejon Ranch Company, a publicly traded company |
| Official website | Tejon Ranch official site |
History of Tejon Ranch
The ranch traces its ranching tradition to 1843, and its cattle grazing partnership dates to the same year. Sheep and cattle were the first focus. Farming began in the 1890s with 20 acres of oranges, 20 acres of figs and 15 acres of vineyards.
Today the property is managed as a working ranch by Tejon Ranch Company, which also runs real estate and commercial activities. The agricultural side has shifted toward permanent crops suited to the Central Valley edge.
What Tejon Ranch Grows and Raises
The farm side devotes a little less than 6,000 acres to pistachios, almonds, wine grapes, alfalfa and now olives. Almonds are shipped to 22 countries. The valley floor vineyard grows table wine grapes, while a mountain vineyard supports fine wine, and the ranch is a member of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
Cattle graze leased land, which the ranch says helps keep the land healthy and reduce wildfire fuel loads. The ranch also manages game including elk, mule deer, wild pigs, turkey, pheasant and quail in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
How Tejon Ranch Makes Money
Permanent crops
Almonds, pistachios and wine grapes are the main cash crops, with almonds exported widely.
Grazing leases and cattle
Leasing grazing land to cattle operators gives income and helps manage vegetation and fire risk.
Hunting and filming
The ranch runs a hunting program and a filming department, using its scenery and size for non-farm income.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Tejon Ranch
Tejon Ranch shows how very large landholdings can layer several land uses on one property. Crops, grazing, game management and film use share the same acreage and diversify income when any single market weakens.
Another lesson is to match crops to the land. The ranch uses valley floor and mountain sites for different vineyard styles, and has added olives to its mix. Growers should check water supply and groundwater rules under California law before expanding permanent plantings.
A ranch big enough to have its own weather has a lot of cattle, almonds and elk to keep track of. At farm.FM we count it as prime farm satire material that a place with film crews and hunters still has alfalfa to cut. Our farm humor staff say the best ranch humor starts with a very large gate, and the farm jokes follow.
Readers who want the full experience can pair the jokes with Tractor Tunes, the country music for farmers that farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, plays between stories. This author page is a fine starting point.
How to Contact Tejon Ranch
Website: https://tejonranch.com/the-working-ranch/
Address: 4436 Lebec Road, Tejon Ranch, CA 93243
Phone: 661.248.3000
Email: info@tejonranch.com
Contact details as published on the operation's own website, November 2026. Hunting, filming and other programs have separate contacts; confirm before traveling.
Tejon Ranch Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Tejon Ranch working ranch page - The ranch's own description of its agriculture
- Tejon Ranch on Wikipedia - Independent encyclopedia summary
- Tejon Ranch Company profile - Independent company history
- USDA NASS California - State agriculture statistics
- California Department of Food and Agriculture - State agency for agriculture
Tejon Ranch FAQ
How big is Tejon Ranch?
The ranch website gives about 270,000 acres.
What crops does Tejon Ranch grow?
The ranch lists pistachios, almonds, wine grapes, alfalfa and olives on a little less than 6,000 acres.
Does Tejon Ranch raise cattle?
Cattle graze on leased land, and the ranch says its grazing partnership dates to 1843.
How do I contact Tejon Ranch?
The main office is listed as 4436 Lebec Road, Tejon Ranch, CA 93243, with phone 661.248.3000.
Tejon Ranch is one of the clearest examples of large-scale, diversified land management in California. To place it in the state's wider farm economy, read the California farms guide and the other profiled operations.