Cyrus Ranches

For several generations, the Cyrus family has shaped the agriculture and community of Sisters Country. In 1847, William Cyrus traveled the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley. In the 1880s, his son Enoch and his wife Mary homesteaded in central Oregon near Gray Butte where they planted hardy Scotch fife wheat that became known as "Cyrus wheat". They also raised more than 3,000 sheep and helped bring stability to Prineville during the central Oregon range wars.

By the early 1900s, Enoch and Mary Cyrus had tired of dryland farming. They moved to Cloverdale, 4 miles east of Sisters, and bought 160 acres in Section 18 at the intersection of Cloverdale and Jordan Roads. Mary and her son George homesteaded all of Section 7 under the Desert Land Act. Related Cyrus families acquired ranches in Sections 6, 12, 13, and 18, reaching a total of 1,000 acres. They were pioneering alfalfa farmers, raised certified seed potatoes, and partnered with Oregon State University to develop new crops.

In 1959, Keith Cyrus built a 12-acre storage reservoir on the ranch. He introduced solid-set sprinkler irrigation to central Oregon and drilled the area's first irrigation wells. Keith and his wife Connie diversified the family's operations, founding Sisters Aggregate & Construction in 1980 and later building Aspen Lakes Golf Course. They also cultivated hemp under the Oregon Pure brand. Matt and Kelly Cyrus now manage the ranch, raising hay and cattle. Their daughter Awbrey raises sheep and runs a horse-drawn carriage business. The Cyrus family has long been strong community builders, supporting the Cloverdale Fire District, the 4H Club, various farming associations, and Sisters High sports.