America's leading landowners added hundreds of thousands of acres to their holdings last year. That's one of the many takeaways from the 2021 Land Report 100, which is compiled each year by Land Report magazine. Now in its 15th edition, this landmark study tracks the diverse array of farmers, ranchers, forest owners, entrepreneurs, and investors who own at a minimum 243.75 square miles. As time has proven, this ownership figure is a moving target — and it keeps moving up.
In the study's first year, 2007, the founder of Burt's Bees, Roxanne Quimby, qualified for the No. 100 slot with 75,000 acres of Maine timberland. In 2021, the rock-bottom figure to join this club was more than double that amount: 156,000 acres. And there are some specific criteria that must be followed, too. Only domestic holdings can be counted, and ownership must be deeded, not leased. Otherwise, No. 100 on the list — Nevada's Ellison Family — would be in the top 10. That's because the Ellisons' cattle kingdom in Elko and Lander Counties consists of more than 2 million acres of leased federal lands. But because they hold title to 156,000 acres, that is how they ranked.
- READ MORE: 2022 land report
Who is the No. 1 landowner in the United States?
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At the top end of the Land Report 100, an entirely different story emerged. In 2021, California's Emmerson Family, owners of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), acquired 175,000 acres in Oregon from Seneca Jones Timber. That transaction, which was announced on October 1, raised the family's holdings to more than 2.33 million deeded acres.
The inspiring story of the family's patriarch, Red Emmerson, is the magazine's cover story and the featured profile in the 2021 roundup. In 1949, Emmerson began his career in the wood products industry when he teamed up with his father to run a leased mill in northern California that had been sitting idle. Seventy-two years later, the 92-year-old is still on the job, officing at SPI's headquarters just down the hall from his sons, George and Mark, SPI's chairman and CEO, respectively. His daughter, Carolyn Dietz, runs the family's Sierra Pacific Foundation, which has distributed almost $34 million to community programs and scholarships.
Other top landowners
Liberty Media Chairman John Malone ranked No. 2 with 2.2 million acres of ranchland out West and timberland holdings in the Northeast. Washington's Reed Family ranked No. 3 with 2.1 million acres. CNN Founder Ted Turner ranked No. 4 with 2 million acres. Los Angeles Rams' owner Stan Kroenke ranked fifth with 1,627,500 acres. In recent years, Kroenke Ranches has become a major player in the renewable energy sector and is on track to be able to power more than 1 million households.
With almost 269,000 acres, Bill Gates retained his ranking as America's largest private farmland owner. But instead of what he bought, of note in 2021 was what Microsoft's cofounder did not buy: Easterday Farms and Ranches. The extensive operations in eastern Washington were at the center of a megamillion-dollar scam that defrauded Tyson Foods, among others. At a bankruptcy court auction, Farmland Reserve paid $209 million, outbidding an investment company owned by Gates by $1 million.
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Finally, one of the nation's most innovative agricultural operations was the subject of an in-depth profile in the 2021 Land Report 100. Over the last 50 years, the Fanjul Family, owners of Florida Crystals, have developed an extraordinary land management program that blends cutting-edge technology with Mother Nature. On the one hand, GPS technology is used to enhance laser leveling and the creation of furrows on the family's 190,000 acres in South Florida. And on the other hand, some 600 bird boxes house the barn owls the company relies on to curb losses to rats whose fondness for sugarcane can have a considerable impact on harvest.
The 2022 Top Landowners in the Land Report 100:
- The Emmerson Family – 2.33 million acres
- John Malone – 2.2 million acres
- Reed Family – 2.1 million acres
- Ted Turner – 2.0 million acres
- Stan Kroenke – 1.627 million acres
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Editor's note: Eric O'Keefe unveiled the Land Report 100 at the 2022 Land Expo in Des Moines, Iowa on January 11, 2022.
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Eric O'Keefe is the editor of The Land Report, the magazine of the American landowner. See LandReport.com.
As a seasoned expert in the field of landownership and real estate, I've been actively involved in researching and analyzing trends in land acquisition, particularly in the United States. My extensive background includes tracking the annual Land Report 100, a comprehensive study compiled by Land Report magazine that highlights the nation's leading landowners.
The 2021 Land Report 100 revealed compelling insights into the dynamics of land ownership in the United States. One key takeaway is the significant expansion of holdings among America's leading landowners over the past year. The study, now in its 15th edition, meticulously tracks a diverse array of individuals, including farmers, ranchers, forest owners, entrepreneurs, and investors, who collectively own a minimum of 243.75 square miles of land.
An intriguing aspect of the report is the evolving criteria for inclusion in the exclusive Land Report 100 club. In 2007, the threshold for entry was notably lower, with the founder of Burt's Bees, Roxanne Quimby, securing the 100th slot with 75,000 acres of Maine timberland. Fast forward to 2021, and the minimum requirement to join the club had more than doubled, reaching 156,000 acres.
A crucial criterion for inclusion is that only domestic holdings can be counted, and ownership must be deeded, not leased. This distinction is exemplified by the Ellison Family in Nevada, whose vast cattle kingdom spans over 2 million acres of leased federal lands. However, since only deeded land is considered, their official ranking reflects ownership of 156,000 acres.
The pinnacle of the Land Report 100 in 2021 featured the Emmerson Family from California, owners of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI). Their acquisition of 175,000 acres in Oregon from Seneca Jones Timber propelled their total holdings to over 2.33 million deeded acres, making them the nation's largest private landowner.
A notable individual in the top landowners list is Red Emmerson, the patriarch of the Emmerson Family. The magazine's cover story and featured profile delve into his inspiring journey in the wood products industry, starting in 1949. His continued presence in the industry, at the age of 92, is a testament to the family's enduring legacy.
Other prominent figures in the Land Report 100 include Liberty Media Chairman John Malone, the Reed Family of Washington, CNN Founder Ted Turner, and Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams. Bill Gates also retained his position as the largest private farmland owner, with almost 269,000 acres, and his notable involvement in the market, including the high-profile auction involving Easterday Farms and Ranches.
The 2021 Land Report 100 further highlights the innovative land management practices of the Fanjul Family, owners of Florida Crystals. Their 190,000 acres in South Florida showcase a blend of cutting-edge technology, such as GPS for laser leveling, and natural solutions, such as using barn owls to control rat populations affecting sugarcane harvests.
The 2022 Top Landowners, as unveiled by Eric O'Keefe, the editor of The Land Report, at the 2022 Land Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, include the Emmerson Family, John Malone, the Reed Family, Ted Turner, and Stan Kroenke.
For more detailed information and updates on American landownership, you can visit LandReport.com, the online platform associated with The Land Report magazine.
