Tom Cannon marks the fourth generation on Goodson Ranch near Blackwell, OK. In 1989 the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture established the Oklahoma Centennial Farm & Ranch Program to recognize those families who have continuously occupied their land and carried out farming or ranching operations for at least 100 years. In 1999 the Goodson Ranch was awarded the Oklahoma Centennial Ranch status that includes land near Blackwell and East of Newkirk.

The Great American Desert is the description of the beginnings with the Goodson family in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of September 16, 1893. The Goodson family shares their unique story of love, hardship and perseverance, a belief in the future of agriculture and recognize the role they play.

Cannon’s great-grandfather, Ola Goodson had made the Land Run September 16, 1893, with no luck. However within a year he found a settler willing to leave a claim. Goodson put filings on the claim, lived on the land southeast of Blackwell the required number of years, paid $500.00 and “proved it up.”

Cannon’s great-grandmother, Dora Berry, who was about 18 years old at the time, had filed a contest on a claim five miles south of Blackwell and was working on making it hers. On October 4, 1897 Ola and Dora were married.

The Goodson’s were married 37 years. Mr. Ola Goodson passed away at the age of 65, and Mrs. Dora Goodson died in 1969, 95 years old. She never remarried and never surrendered their shared love of the land. The family continues to live in the house built in 1904 by Tom Cannon’s great-grandparents. Their grandson Larry Cannon managed the ranch, a member of many farming and ranching organizations, and on various boards.  The elder Mr. Cannon passed away in 2013 with Tom’s mother Shari currently still living in the home on the ranch.

Great-grandson Tom and Laurie Cannon have 4 children, Jacob, Raegan, Rachel and Reece. The Cannon’s believe in “God” their creator, the intimacy and belief in their diversified ranching operation. With the livestock operation they have cow/calf and stockers; also row crops of cotton, soybeans, wheat, and corn, with a number of different species in the cover crop blends that they graze. The family ranch provides heart healthy protein that is all natural grass finished beef. The Goodson Ranch promotes farm-to-fork (knowing where your food comes from) and local food, preferably through direct acquisition from the producer. The family participates with many local fundraising ventures with the beef and garden crops grown on the ranch. Jacob Cannon has ventured into the wildlife area, which provides food and habitat. This includes the fun of observing and food by harvesting.

Soil health is Cannon’s passion. Tom Cannon quoted his dad’s statement, “Don’t worry about the cows worry about the grass”. So they did that for a number of years and knew if they took good care, managed the grass with the best management practices they could think of, what they knew and with research, the grass would take care of the cows. What they didn’t realize were some of the practice changes they were making, was actually a function of establishing better soil. They have gone literally deeper and focus 100% on the soil. Cannon said “the soil health is more important of what and when I plant, and the profit. The number one criterion is our stewardship, by God’s ordained authority, to manage the soil. We can travel trillions of miles in exploration of our cosmos, but fail to explore equally incredible complexity 6” deep”.

Now more than ever, the agriculture industry needs intelligent, competent people to plant, harvest, and distribute food around the globe. Agricultural literacy increases knowledge of agriculture and nutrition which helps people make more informed choices. Informed citizens will be positioned to help establish the policies that will support a competitive, thriving agriculture industry in the U.S. and abroad.

Contact information: Goodson Ranch, Tom Cannon 580-763-2451. Email: goodsonranch@yahoo.com.

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