History: Idaho homesteaders - The Cranneys
I wrote the following story for the South Idaho Press' Centennial Farms supplement printed July 1, 2007.
Pictured above are four generations of Willard Duane Cranney's.
By LISA DAYLEY
South Idaho Press
BURLEY – In 1907 Willard Duane Cranney took Uncle Sam up on his offer of free land in Cassia County.
At what was then known as Island, Idaho, Cranney staked a claim and built a log cabin.
“It was just like filing a claim on a gold mine,” said Cranney’s great-grandson Doug Cranney.
Island, Idaho, was named for the land formation created by the waters flowing through it.
“Goose Creek split and made an island. You can still kind of see where it was, but water doesn’t go through any more,” said Ryan Cranney, Doug’s nephew and Willard’s great-great-grandson.
Shortly after arriving, Willard Cranney’s family cleared sagebrush and fought off hordes of rabbits. Eventually 2,000 acres of land became part of the family’s farm.
Today Doug and his brothers Bill and Ryan’s Dad, Mike, help run the family farm. Doug’s son, Tyler, and Bill’s son, Arden, also assist operating the old homestead that today totals about 20,000 acres. There they raise potatoes, sugar beets and cattle.
It’s similar to what William raised when he homesteaded the property.
“I think it’s kind of neat that we’re all trying to accomplish the same purpose as Willard Sr. was,” Ryan said.
Since Willard homesteaded, six generations of Cranneys have lived and worked on the farm. In that time there’s been numerous economic ups and downs as well as wars.
During World War II, the Cranneys received an agricultural deferment from service.
“They were just as important to the cause by staying home and growing food for the soldiers,” Doug said.
The Cranney boys were especially needed, as in 1941, and, just before the start of World War II, Willard senior died of old age. His son Willard Jr. succumbed to phenomena shortly after.
“They died within two weeks of each other. It was devastating losing two generations in two weeks,” Ryan said.
That left Willard Duane Cranney III and his brother Wendell to farm. Yet, during harvest seasons, they had help from prisoners of war (POW) at the neighboring Paul POW camp.
“They would bring them out on buses. Anytime any of those Germans would get out of line, the guards would raise their guns up and ‘rat, tat, tat.’ That got their attention,” Doug recalled.
From 1941 to 1968, Willard III also raised thoroughbred race horses. A stable and a track made up part of the farm.
“It was somewhat successful,” Doug said.
In 1968 Willard III was killed in a car accident, and the farm went to three of his sons: Willard IV “Bill,” Mike and Doug. Son Gary moved to California to work as a horse veterinarian.
Today the Cranney farm is vastly different from the original Willard started. “Farming is like medicine and law; it’s ever evolving. There are technological improvements. If you don’t keep up with it, you’ll get left behind in the dust,” Doug said.
Today, the family uses technological improvements to irrigate by pushing a button from their office computer.
“We manage 100 pivots from the Internet. Every field is numbered,” Ryan said.
They also have tractors that operate with very little human assistance. All that’s needed is for someone to press a few buttons and turn the machinery around.
“Tractors drive themselves,” Ryan quipped.
Both men say their ancestors would be left scratching their heads at the improvements. Yet, while technology has lessened their work, there are some things that never change about farm life such as commitment to family and hard work. As a result, the farm and family are intertwined, Doug said.
“The farm becomes part of you,” he said.
And despite the many years since the original Willard homesteaded, his love of farming resonates through his great-great-grandson.
“I love being part of the legacy,” Ryan said.
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