On land commonly occupied by Hereford cattle, pronghorn antelope and mule deer, a moon rover prototype cruises at a top speed of eight miles per hour near Black Point Lava Flow. It is here on Babbitt Ranches that NASA, Japan’s space program, JAXA, U.S. Geological Survey scientists, along with engineers and technicians, set up a space camp of sorts. They have been preparing for the Artemis Missions to the moon, with the first launch window for the un-crewed Artemis 1 rocket opening Nov. … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Supporting Artemis Missions, Promoting Land-Use Ethic on Other Worlds
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Astronauts are Back, Training in the Dark
Space-suited astronauts are training again on Babbitt Ranches, preparing for the manned Artemis mission scheduled to explore the lunar South Pole in 2025. The goal is to find ice, which may enable future explorers to set up a space station on the Moon and serve as a launching pad into deeper space. “Because of where Artemis and VIPER [a planetary rover set for launch next year] are landing, the angle of the sun is really, really low. Craters may contain ice that never sees the sun. The … [Read more...] about Astronauts are Back, Training in the Dark
SP Crater Closed to Recreationists through May to Protect Nesting Golden Eagles
A two-mile area around SP Crater, known as the SP Crater Golden Eagle Conservation Complex (SPEC), currently is off limits to recreationists including hunters, hikers and UTV-ers in an effort to protect golden eagle nests. Babbitt Ranches, in collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, has announced special rules in effect for the Complex on the CO Bar Ranch. Under the special rules, lead ammunition is strictly forbidden, no target shooting is allowed and no … [Read more...] about SP Crater Closed to Recreationists through May to Protect Nesting Golden Eagles
Testing a Smarter Planetary Rover on Babbitt Ranches
Scientists like David Wettergreen and Eldar Noe Dobrea are making robots smarter. Zoë (a Greek word that means “life”) is a planetary rover prototype. As expected with next generations, she and future rover robots will be more intelligent than their predecessors who have journeyed to Mars. On Babbitt Ranches north of Flagstaff, scientists, engineers and geologists have been testing instruments on Zoë that are enabling her to make decisions, explore rocks that catch her attention and actually … [Read more...] about Testing a Smarter Planetary Rover on Babbitt Ranches
Delivering Power from Arizona’s Largest Wind Farm
Salt River Project is contracting with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources to purchase wind power from the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, a 161-megawatt (MW) wind resource to be built on the CO Bar Ranch about 25 miles north of Flagstaff. With some 53 wind turbines across 669 acres, the project is scheduled to begin delivering clean energy on to SRP’s power grid by December 2023, producing enough power to support about 40,000 residential homes and moving the utility company closer to its … [Read more...] about Delivering Power from Arizona’s Largest Wind Farm
Babbitt Ranches Being Inducted into Hall of Fame
Marking 136 years in operation this spring, Babbitt Ranches is being celebrated by the Arizona agricultural community and inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame. “Babbitt Ranches is legendary in Arizona ranching history,” said Historian Janice Bryson, who nominated the pioneering land company. “Their story follows our state’s history from Territorial days to the present. They have been leaders and innovators in conservation on their ranches.” “This acknowledgement of … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Being Inducted into Hall of Fame
‘Homegrown’ Wind, Solar Energy Project Approved on Babbitt Ranches
Praising Babbitt Ranches for the way the family business manages its operations and citing the Babbitt family’s long-running reputation for land stewardship and conservation practices, the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a wind and solar project on Babbitt Ranches about 30 miles north of Flagstaff. The action allows NextEra Energy Resources to move forward with the Babbitt Ranch Renewable Energy Center (BREC, pronounced B-REC) across 669 acres of a nearly … [Read more...] about ‘Homegrown’ Wind, Solar Energy Project Approved on Babbitt Ranches
Babbitt Ranches Forges Ahead with Clēnera and SRP on Solar Project
CO Bar Solar is gaining energy with the recent purchase power agreement between renewable resources developer Clēnera, owned by Enlight Renewable Energy, and Arizona utility company Salt River Project (SRP). “Where we are today, as we embark on renewable energy endeavors, is truly inspirational for the Babbitt family,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “We are talking about what matters most for future generations. And, what we have all worked toward is not … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Forges Ahead with Clēnera and SRP on Solar Project
Cordasco Honored as Arizona Cattle Grower’s Cattleman of the Year
Expressing gratitude and sharing the Babbitt Ranches philosophy of Cowboy Essence, President and General Manager Billy Cordasco accepted the prestigious honor as the Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association Cattleman of the Year, Friday, July 16, during the 2021 ACGA Annual Summer Convention in Springerville. “I am truly inspired by this honor,” said Cordasco. “On behalf of Babbitt Ranches, I am eager to continue to be a part of the agriculture industry’s efforts as it identifies and maintains its … [Read more...] about Cordasco Honored as Arizona Cattle Grower’s Cattleman of the Year
Rodeo Family Wins at Auction and in the Arena
Fresh off a first place team-roping win at the Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, New Mexico, on a Babbitt Ranches horse named Tubs, 19-year-old Cy Singer quietly conferred with his younger sisters on the front row of the bleachers at the Annual Hashknife Colt Sale. Cy, 18-year-old Sherina and 16-year-old Shaelene are big fans of Babbitt horses. They have three at home on their Bird Springs ranch north of Winslow. Busy with rodeo competition and travel through the summer, the teens were all in one … [Read more...] about Rodeo Family Wins at Auction and in the Arena
