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We received news today of the passing of Attilio Genasci. He died peacefully at his home, in the company of his family. Genasci was a Swiss-Italian rancher with deep roots in the Sierra Valley in northern California. He was a community leader who helped pioneer the use of conservation easements to preserve Valley ranches and sustain the rural way of life. His life and philosophy have been chronicled in High Country News, the Sacramento Bee, the San Francisco Chronicle and on this Website, as well as the public radio programs, The California Report and Weekend America.
STS producers were fortunate to be able to spend several days recording Attilio and his son Jim at their ranch for this Web site and our public radio documentary that will air on stations around the country this spring.
Listen to his philosophy about farming, who owns the land and why preserve it.
"I’m Attilio Genasci My folks came here from Switzerland in ’93. They got married, and they bought land in Sierra Valley. I was born here in the valley and lived here all my life. Farming is a way of life. You have to love it. You don’t farm and say, “Well, when I’m 65 I’ll sell and retire and go to the city.” That thought never entered my mind. I’m still working at 97. Like I told my family I hope I die out there with my boots on working on the ranch. The ranch becomes part of you. It’s not a business that you can shut the door and walk away from. I get up sometimes when the snow’s on the ground and you see a blanket of snow. You can hear the train on the other end of the valley, 18 miles, you can hear the clickety-clack of the trains that go by. It’s so quiet and peaceful here, and I think I want to save it for posterity. The land does not belong to me. The land belongs to future generations, and the land also belongs to the general public. They drive through this valley. They enjoy it. It doesn’t cost them a penny, and it doesn’t cost me a penny. It’s one of the natural wonders. It’s there for humanity. And we dare not destroy it anymore than we’d cap the geysers in Yellowstone or put the Bridal Veil Falls of Yosemite in a pipe. I think we have a natural wonder here that I’ll do my best to preserve."
Genasci was 98 years old.
Weekend America will broadcast a feature from Stories From the Heart of the Land on Saturday, Feburary 9, 2008. You can hear "Attilio Genasci, Holding His Ground" at the SHL Website by clicking here .
TO INSPIRE HOPE
I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Genasci. I was deeply touched by a taped interview that I heard on Stories of the Heart of the Land back in October 2007. I later heard the announcement of his passing, while again listening to his interview on NPR. I felt a deep sense of loss for this man that I did not know; whom I'd never met. To me, Mr. Genasci was the embodiment of vision, place, land, and heart. Through his endeavors and wisdom, he left a gift of preservation, and I thank him for that. Land and nature conservancies are a wonderful gift to leave our future generations.
"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet". --James Oppenheim
Attilio's birthday
I attended Attilio's birthday picnic the day the conservation easement was finalized for his ranch. I felt honored to sit with him under the trees, to hear him talk about his love for the land. I felt I was in the presence of greatness. His whole life shone in his eyes. I'm lucky to have met him.
Barb Hodgin, SBC
Other Remembrances of Oldest Working Rancher in California
The Sierra Sun, "Leaving a Legacy of Land"
And also comments from listeners to jesikah maria ross's story on Weekend America:
By Gary Habeeb
From Nevada City, CA, 02/09/2008
I have these great memories of Attillo driving the truck following cattle from one pasture to another, driving the herd down Highway 49. He always had a kind smile and a wave.
By Jerry Donnelly
From TX, 02/09/2008
This was a gut-wrenchingly beautiful story. We lost a really great person when Attilio Genasci died in January. I hope there are others who can fill his boots, they are big boots to fill.
Catherine Stifter
From Chris Kerston
Former Saving The Sierra (STS) Intern Chris Kerson sent this our way, which I thought would be appropriate to share:
"Oh i saw the post about Attilio. I know I never met him, but I have to say it really choked me up. He was really an amazing man. I hope I have half the passion he does in my elder years. I don't know if I ever told you about it, but I played his storybooth recording for my Ag Issues class. An entire room of college students who could have cared less about anything other than the fact that they had to wake up for an early class, immediately were silenced by his voice. Everyone leaned forward a bit to make sure they caught everything he said. And when it was over and they were overwhelmed by his love for the land and his love for his lifestyle, you could see that many of the students were lost in thought thinking about what their lives might hold. Anyways, he really touched my life, and I just want to say thank you for sharing his story. "
jesikah maria ross, Co-Project Director Saving The Sierra: Voices of Conservtion In Action
Fitting Obituary In Sacramento Bee
I thought I'd share this remembrance on Attilio written by Sierra correspondent Jane Braxton Little. Reading it causes me to reflect, once again, on my good fortune to have known Attilio and spent time with him on his ranch.
http://www.sacbee.com/obituaries/story/690693.html
jesikah maria ross, Co-Project Director Saving The Sierra: Voices of Conservtion In Action
Attilio Genasci
Last night a friend and I shared our thoughts on hearing that Attilio had passed away. At the same moment we said, "I cried." Our blessing is that we ever had the chance to meet him. My only regret is that there was only the one meeting. Please read my thoughts and comments on my blog
www.californiainsider.typepad.com.
Barbara Steinberg
Washing dishes in Attilio's kitchen
We had a birthday party a few years ago for Attilio at his house and afterwords I got down to the business of washing dishes. As I looked up from the kitchen sink, the view out the window was of a beautiful, pristine valley. I was having sort of a moment beholding this scene, with my hands in the soapy water, when Attilio softy spoke up next to me, "when my wife use to do dishes here, she loved looking out on this valley. This was her church, her cathedral. I save it for her and in her memory". It was a touching moment, and while doing something so ordinary, it brought up something so dear. We will all miss Attilio very much. We will cherish his tremendous contribution to the region, as well as how enriched we all were in his good company.
Anna Toso
Sierra Business Council
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