John and Sydney Flournoy named 2025 Fandango Days Grand Marshals
by Harry Boulade

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Five generations of family farming and ranching has been the cornerstone and a family tradition for the Flournoys, extending a long history of conservation and stewardship that has been handed down through those generations which began 154 years ago this year.
 

As history has shown many times for more than a century and a half, ranching and farming for the most part work hand-in-hand as do many agricultural operations that involve both growing crops and raising livestock. Agriculture is a story of progress, of change and the dynamics of creative innovation that changes a rancher’s life forever. For John and Sydney Flournoy, that philosophy of working hand-in-hand has long been the unbreakable bond and everlasting commitment they have shared together since saying “I do” 47 years ago.

The Alturas Chamber of Commerce is proud to have chosen John and Sydney to be their 55th Fandango Day’s Parade Grand Marshals who will lead the 2025 parade down Main Street in Alturas on July 5th.

Many generations of ranching families have etched their names in the fertile soils of Modoc County since brothers Pressley and Carlos Dorris established their ranch just south of Dorris Bridge (Alturas) in 1871. At that time, Dorris Bridge was still part of Northeastern Siskiyou County until it was officially named Modoc County in February of 1874 when the proclamation to secede was signed by the Governor of California, Newton Booth.

John Flournoy can easily and undeniably attest to being a true “Modoc’er”, having been born in the Alturas hospital in 1944 to Don and Shirley Flournoy. His first three years as a young child were spent in Jess Valley, then at the “swamp house” for nine years before finally settling down at the original Likely Homestead Ranch owned and operated by his Great-Grandfather, J.D. Flournoy.

After graduation from Modoc High School and attending college at both UNR and Cal Poly, John had an aspiration to become an avid pilot. So, it was off to Reno, Nevada to learn how to fly an airplane. That intense training landed him a civilian job for several years instructing Air Force pilots. “I taught cadets in Selma, Alabama as well as becoming a Flight Instructor in Laredo, Texas,” John recalled.

As for Sydney Williams, she was born in 1953 to Bud and Dottie Williams of Likely, who also owned and operated the Williams Ranch coincidentally within walking distance of the Flournoy homestead. Sydney learned early on as a young girl growing up on a ranch that you quickly learn many life lessons attributed to the constant daily chores of having to feed the animals, or on some occasion, riding a horse or having to operate a tractor at a moment’s notice.

Upon graduating from Modoc High School, Sydney attended beauty school in Medford, Oregon to pursue her dream of cutting hair. Little did she know that a young man from Likely, California was about to pursue his dream of making her his future wife. Sydney fondly recalled, “a cowboy came and swept me off my feet.” And with that, her hair cutting profession was somewhat “cut short”.

On January 14, 1978, John and Sydney tied the knot, and as John would proudly admit without hesitation, “I finally married the girl next door”. From this marriage, two sons were born (Miles and Daniel), who are both honored with the title of 5th generation Flournoys. Today, Miles and his wife, Jennifer, own and operate the Likely General Store, which proudly carries on a long-standing tradition of Flournoys who have owned that same store over the past years.

Ranching and farming have always been an important and intricate component in Modoc County’s economic and social fabric, and today, John and Sydney and the rest of the Flournoy families in Likely are continuing that legacy as diverse as any in the world, no matter how complex of a need.

John graciously admits that in some ways, Modoc County still depends on agriculture as a source of economic and stable growth as it has always been since he was a young man growing up on the family ranch in Likely. “I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I’m helping to provide food for a whole bunch of people,” John admitted.

Today, John and his two brothers and business partners (Billy and Dave) continue to own and operate “Likely Land and Livestock”, a venture that has taken them on a long and tireless journey to help preserve the long-term health and productivity of agricultural land while keeping with the tradition of ranching and family values.

The dependency on agriculture in today’s world is undeniable, relying heavily on its sustenance and the high demand for more food products. “Ranching has dramatically changed from years past. The cattle are bigger through better genetics and better feed as well as better management,” John said.

Modoc County agriculture still beholds the fulfillment through its solemn, untouched beauty that has been part of the Flournoy family, now five generations strong and counting. And visions still vividly mirrored with the picturesque South Warner Mountains stretching high above Jess Valley to the east seemingly within arm’s reach from their front porch.

Yes, it’s all part of a revolving door in the life of a Modoc County farmer and rancher. But for John and Sydney Flournoy, it’s just a way of life to them where there is no such thing as “retirement”. It takes dedication to live the legacy that was left from generations before, but it also provides so many opportunities and life lessons for future generations to follow.

Throughout their lives, John and Sydney have devoted all their efforts to serving their community through farming, ranching and advocating for agriculture. They both go above and beyond their limits to help make Modoc County a diversified and productive agricultural community. John has been an active member of the Modoc County Cattlemen for 50 years, a member of the Modoc County Farm Bureau, a past Board of Director for Plumas Bank, and was elected “Cattlemen of the year” in 1998.

In conclusion, John easily summed it all up by saying, “life will always be a struggle and we are here to enjoy the struggle.” Oh, how true and honest is that statement. Congratulations John and Sydney for being selected the 2025 Alturas Chamber of Commerce Fandango Days Grand Marshals. Your continued support and commitment to Modoc County agriculture did not go unnoticed