Changes

In 1988, the JA comprised several ranch buildings, including a supply store and garage. The centerpiece of the ranch remained the "Big House". In 1960, the house was designated a national historic landmark. Ritchie in 1971 and 1988, respectively, donated two of the JA's historic buildings, the old milk house and an oat bin, to the National Ranching Heritage Center on the campus of Texas Tech. A herd of longhorns, the animal once termed by the western [[artist]] Frank Reaugh as the most beautiful of animal creatures, roams in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, courtesy of the JA.<ref name=hbook/>​

In 1988, the JA comprised several ranch buildings, including a supply store and garage. The centerpiece of the ranch remained the "Big House". In 1960, the house was designated a national historic landmark. Ritchie in 1971 and 1988, respectively, donated two of the JA's historic buildings, the old milk house and an oat bin, to the National Ranching Heritage Center on the campus of Texas Tech. A herd of longhorns, the animal once termed by the western [[artist]] Frank Reaugh as the most beautiful of animal creatures, roams in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, courtesy of the JA.<ref name=hbook/>​

By 1990, the JA was substantially fenced and known for pure-bred Herefords and Angus bulls. Quarter horses were raised for ranch use, and a small buffalo herd was maintained; some commercial hunting of buffalo and deer was allowed. Tillable land continued to be leased. In 1998, the JA gave the state the last remaining wild herd of buffalo within Texas.<ref name=JA/> The Ritchie family also owns ranch land near Larkspur in Douglas County, to the north of  [[Colorado Springs]], where Montie's second wife, Hildy, spent most of her time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ranches.org/montie_ritchie.htm|title=Montie Ritchie|publisher=Ranches.org|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ranches.org/ja_colo.htm|title=JA holdings in Colorado|publisher=Ranches.org|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref>​

By 1990, the JA was substantially fenced and known for pure-bred Herefords and Angus bulls. Quarter horses were raised for ranch use, and a small buffalo herd was maintained; some commercial hunting of buffalo and deer was allowed. Tillable land continued to be leased. In 1998, the JA gave the state the last remaining wild herd of buffalo within Texas.<ref name=JA/> The Ritchie family also owns ranch land near Larkspur in Douglas County, to the north of  [[Colorado Springs]], where Montie's second wife, Hildy, spent most of her time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ranches.org/montie_ritchie.htm|title=Montie Ritchie|publisher=Ranches.org|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ranches.org/ja_colo.htm|title=JA Ranch in Colorado|publisher=Ranches.org|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref>​

Montie’s daughter, Cornelia "Ninia" Bivins, former wife of Texas state Senator Miles Teel Bivins (1947-2009) of Amarillo, himself a rancher, carried the JA into a relatively brief fourth generation. On Montie’s retirement in 1993, Ninia formed a partnership with Jay O’Brien of Amarillo.<ref>[http://www.ranches.org/JayOBrien.htm Jay O'Brien<!--Bot generated title -->]</ref> They changed the herd to predominantly black Angus and Charolais bulls. In 2005, a fifth generation took charge when Andrew Montgomery Bivins (born 1979), son of Teel and Ninia Bivins, joined the JA management team.<ref>[http://www.ranches.org/ninia_Bivins.htm Ninia Bivins<!--Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Montie’s daughter, Cornelia "Ninia" Bivins, former wife of Texas state Senator Miles Teel Bivins (1947-2009) of Amarillo, himself a rancher, carried the JA into a relatively brief fourth generation. On Montie’s retirement in 1993, Ninia formed a partnership with Jay O’Brien of Amarillo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ranches.org/JayOBrien.htm|title=Jay O'Brien|publisher=Ranches.org|accessdate=September 20, 2019}}</ref> The ranch consisted predominantly of black Angus and Charolais bulls. In 2005, a fifth generation took charge when Andrew Montgomery Bivins (born 1979), son of Teel and Ninia Bivins, joined the JA management team.<ref>[http://www.ranches.org/ninia_Bivins.htm Ninia Bivins<!--Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Montie Ritchie attributed the success of the ranch to its employees, whom he described as “men of imagination, men of skill, men of courage, men who braved the elements day or night, men who took pride in their crafts, loved their horses and understood their cattle, and were eager to enhance the reputation of the JA and proud to be a part."<ref name=JA/> Other than Montie Ritchie, the longest-serving JA employee as of 1940 was J. W. Kent, who retired that year after having worked a record fifty-seven years for the company.<ref name=hbook/> Ritchie was the manager for fifty-eight years until his retirement in 1993. However, in 1989, Tom Blasingame, known as the "oldest working cowboy in the West," died after seventy-three years in the saddle, mostly at the JA.<ref name=PPHM/>​

Montie Ritchie attributed the success of the ranch to its employees, whom he described as “men of imagination, men of skill, men of courage, men who braved the elements day or night, men who took pride in their crafts, loved their horses and understood their cattle, and were eager to enhance the reputation of the JA and proud to be a part."<ref name=JA/> Other than Montie Ritchie, the longest-serving JA employee as of 1940 was J. W. Kent, who retired that year after having worked a record fifty-seven years for the company.<ref name=hbook/> Ritchie was the manager for fifty-eight years until his retirement in 1993. However, in 1989, Tom Blasingame, known as the "oldest working cowboy in the West," died after seventy-three years in the saddle, mostly at the JA.<ref name=PPHM/>​