Hearst Ranch additional lands. The ranch's Circle C brand is the oldest registered brand in use in California. The Hearst ranch produces branded grass-fed beef for the retail markets, selling primarily to Whole Foods in Southern California. The ranch is managed by Stephen Thompson Hearst, the great-grandson of William Randolph Hearst. The ranch is permanently protected under a conservation agreement signed in 2005 by the Hearst Corporation, American Land Conservancy, California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California. Hearst Ranch The Hearst Ranch is composed of two cattle ranches in central California. The best known is the original Hearst Ranch, which surrounds
Dead Horse Ranch State Park park. The annual Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, the "Birdy Verde", with emphasis on birdwatching, is held each April. In 2010, about 70 field trips were offered for the four-day event, many led by nationally recognized experts. Headquarters for the festival is at Dead Horse Ranch, but events are held throughout the Verde Valley. Another popular yearly event at Dead Horse Ranch State Park is Verde River Day, which is held annually in September to celebrate the protection of the river's riparian habitat. Dead Horse Ranch State Park Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a state park of Arizona,