Our History
Rooted in Integrity, Growing for Tomorrow
Generations of Farmers
In the early 1900s, Northern California’s rugged landscape became the backdrop for a unique blend of cattle ranching and spirited entrepreneurship, epitomized by the Bognuda family’s ventures in Little Valley, CA.
Over the years, with the generations to follow, ranching activities began to extend beyond traditional cattle farming to include horse breeding, particularly with George Corder’s introduction of the esteemed “Corder Quarter Horses” in the 1950s.
We invite you to take a look at some of our historical pictures and read about the early beginnings of Corder Farm, a true American legacy of which we are proud to be a part of.
1918
The Bognuda Ranch – Ned, Josie, Lil and Clover
Ned and Josie Bognuda, a Swiss-Italian couple, settled in Little Valley CA in 1918. With their daughters, Lil and Clover, they built a diverse ranching operation, taking advantage of the business opportunities created by the new railroad and mill built in Little Valley.
The Bognudas were a fun-loving, rough-and-ready crew known for rodeos, where Lil performed as a bronc rider, and their annual deer hunt, which drew friends from as far away as the Bay Area. However, they were also infamous for the Bognuda Club, the only bar at the time between Oregon and Nevada, and the moonshine still in the woods that the girls were in charge of guarding.
1950’s
Reputation
Clover found love with George Corder, a cowboy from West Virginia. They took over responsibilities for the ranch during the 1950’s. George was a passionate horseman and bred the respected, “Corder Quarter Horses” while developing a large cattle ranching operation. Clover ran the small village that was Little Valley, renting and maintaining cabins, feeding cowboys, and spoiling her son, George Jr., and grandsons Travis, Toby, and Tarron.
