Bennion Beef Ranch History

Bennion Brothers John & Samuel scouted out various locations to begin running cattle in 1861, decided upon a lush and secluded location in the southern most end of the Rush Valley, and began boots on the ground operations in 1863. Originally running cattle and sheep, the Bennion Ranch has now converted fully to cattle and is in its' 5th generation of the Bennion Family maintaining ownership & management.

The Bennion Family is proud to honor the family legacy of this generational ranch, and is constantly working towards bettering their knowledge and management skills in order to do so to the best of their ability. This include things like Intensive Grazing, Cover Crops, Crop Rotation, Reseeding, Waterway Improvement & Restoration Projects, Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration, Pinyon Juniper Removal, and much more.

Below is a fun family history of the Bennion Ranch and the people who have stewarded the land and are currently in operation of our Family Ranch.

John Bennion pioneer to Taylorsville utah Vernon Utah

John Bennion (1820-1877)

He and his brother, Samuel, left their town in Wales, immigrated then Salt Lake City, and built a house in present Taylorsville. They began running cattle in the southern end of Rush Valley, 75 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

Israel Bennion (1860-1944)

Homesteaded several ranches around Vernon, and pioneered the town of Benmore, six mile to the south. Homesteaded the Greenjacket Ranch and bullt the bungalow house from a kit in 1916.

Glynn Sharp Bennion (1892-1972)

Following in his father's footsteps by homesteading and ranching. He ended up the original homesteader of Riverbed Ranch, an additional ranch where the Bennion cattle would spend their summers, and where he lived until his death in 1972.

Glynn Colin Bennion

Glynn Colin Bennion (1918-1986)

After WWII, he studied Range Management and Botany, then taught school while he ranched at Greenjacket and Riverbed. Known for his humor, eccentric living, and mastering all the plants in the West Desert.

Elizabeth Bennion MItchell at Bennion Ranch with Border Collie Nurk March 2023

Elizabeth Bennion Mitchell (1959- )

Unilke other humans, she did not evolve out of African apes, but was born fully grown undeneath a sagebrush and within arms reach of a horse. All jokes aside, she and her husband Alan have been running the ranch since they returned back to Elizabeth's childhood home in 1997.

Alan Rex Mitchell portrait taken overlooking Budapest Hungary in September 2024

Alan Rex Mitchell (1958- )

Born and raised in Oregon, he married Elizabeth in 1982. Together they lived in multiple states, raised 5 children, and have successfully restored, improved, owned, and operated the Bennion Ranch since 1997.