GILROY
– When talking about a Gilroy cattle ranch that has been in her
family for years, Mickie Dawal says,
”
I’ve been coming here since before I was born.
”
GILROY – When talking about a Gilroy cattle ranch that has been in her family for years, Mickie Dawal says, “I’ve been coming here since before I was born.”
Now owned by her grandparents, Jeannette and Norman Dickens, Dawal moved to the cattle ranch in Hecker Pass four months ago with her 2-year-old son, Guillermo.
“It’s called ‘Rancho Los Animas.’ This was the family hub on weekends while I was growing up; it’s home to me,” she said. “I’m very excited to be part of that again and to share it with my son. He’s so curious; he’s hearing sounds he’s never heard before. He’s always asking ‘what’s that?’ We have wild turkeys up here, and he loves imitating the cows.”
Jeannette Dickens began assisting her mother-in-law with a cattle ranch she operated on the property in 1984. It was quite a change from her job in accounting for Associated Tag Line, a fertilizer company in Salinas, where her husband continued to work until he retired.
“I love being outdoors, and I found I have a real affinity for the animals. I grew up in Aromas, I was a 4H-er, and even though we lived in Watsonville after I was married, we always lived on the edge of town.”
Jeannette likes the variety of skills that are needed to run an agriculture business.
“We’re a medium-sized operation,” she said. “It’s the different aspects of the business of cattle ranching that got me interested and keep me interested.”
Jeannette is a past president of the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau and has sat on county water and agricultural advisory boards.
Norman and Jeannette built their dream home on the ranch four years ago after inheriting the property when her mother-in-law died.
“It’s wonderful to be here and to have my granddaughter and great grandson with us, too,” Jeannette said.
When Jeannette isn’t looking after the herd, she enjoys photography, a hobby of hers since childhood.
“I take pictures of ranch life and of my family,” she said. “I also like writing poetry; I won a Montalvo award that was judged by San Jose State. That was exciting.”
Mickie Dawal lived in Watsonville until coming to the ranch a few months ago.
“I love Gilroy. There’s so much to do here, and it’s so close to San Jose,” she said, “It’s a bit farther to work in the morning, but living here, on 300 acres of land, it’s so green in the winter, I love it.”
Dawal works in wholesale sales for West Marine at their offices in Watsonville.
“It’s the number-one boating supply source in the world. I love my job,” she said. “We keep pricing competitive, and they are into ocean conservation. I’ve learned so much, and I like their attitude about safety for the environment and for people who buy our products.”
In the evening, the drive over the mountain to the ranch is worth the extra time that is added to her work day.
“I love it here. I grew up running and playing outside, not sitting watching television,” Dawal said. “I want that for my son, too.”
