Next Year Country

If walls could talk, the pistachio green surface of Sally Austin's kitchen would instantaneously have you settled in over a cup of steaming Folgers. A gallery of framed photos, some slightly askew, tells the story of the 70 years Austin has lived on the ranch. Tucked among them, funeral programs and a well-worn flyswatter remind you of life's unvarnished realities. Legacies experience loss. Ranches have bugs.

Perched atop a cushioned kitchen chair, Austin reflects on the history of the 125 years the property has been in the hands of her and her late husband's family. What began as a modest plo...