Desk to Saddle

Jay Platt is a gentleman rancher. He was practicing law and living in Mesa, Arizona, when his father died and left the ranch to him. Jay feels that because of the low population densities among ranchers and farmers, rural folks go without adequate representation in government. “We’re the true minority in this country,” he says. He also has strong feelings about the high percentage of federally owned land in Arizona and Utah. As a result, he is as much an advocate of rural rights as he is a rancher.

Members of the St. Johns Second Ward, St. Johns Arizona Stake, Jay, his wife, Tricia, and their five children run two ranches—one in St. Johns, Arizona, and one in central Utah. In all, they own some 1,500 head of cattle.

“I like the combination of the outdoors, hard work, and adventure to go with the more typical contemporary family life,” Tricia says. “The biggest draw to St. Johns for our family is the meaningful, constructive work that ranching gives us. Our kids love ranch life and have learned how to be capable workers.”