Winner

Honoring the Best

of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources

Jon Griggs

Jon Griggs

Ranch Manager of Maggie Creek Ranch

Outstanding Agriculturalist

The Outstanding Agriculturalist Award recognizes individuals who play a significant role in the advancement of agriculture in Nevada.


Maggie Creek Ranch is a beef cow-calf and stocker operation in the high desert of Elko County, Nevada. Jon Griggs is the ranch manager of Maggie Creek Ranch, with responsibility for all aspects of the operation. He also serves as president-elect of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association that functions to promote a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry. He was named Cattleman of the Year for the Association in 2015 and in 2016, Maggie Creek was awarded the National Environmental Stewardship Award, and Griggs has since been invited all over the country to speak of Maggie Creek’s conservation efforts. Griggs worked at various ranches in Nevada before joining Maggie Creek in 1991. He started there as a cowboy and was promoted to cowboss, then manager in 1998. He has been active in the community, serving as an EMT-I with Elko County Ambulance Service, serving on various resource- or agriculture -related advisory boards, and serving youth sports/4-H activities. Griggs lives at the Maggie Creek Ranch Headquarters, West of Elko, with his wife, Shellie, and has two children, Wyatt and Mackie.

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