James A. Little, 83, Renowned Idaho Cattleman and Conservationist

James “Jim” A. Little, a figure in Idaho agriculture whose influence stretched from the high-desert pastures of the Gem State to national land-management policy, died on Saturday at Meadow View Assisted Living in Emmett, Idaho.

He was 83 years old and had spent his final years fighting Parkinson’s disease.

Standing 6’7″, Jim Little was as recognizable for his physical stature as he was for his commitment to the land. His passing marks the end of a career that included ranching, conservation, and civic leadership. He leaves behind a legacy defined by his transition from a trained accountant to a steward of the land, fulfilling a childhood ambition documented in his own memory book at age six: “I want to be a Rancher.”

From Boise Junior College to the Van Deusen Ranch

Born in Boise on August 27, 1943, to David and Geraldine Little, Jim’s path to the ranch was not a straight line. He attended school in Emmett and spent a year at the University of Idaho before transferring to Boise Junior College.

He earned an accounting degree in 1967, a skill set that would later become a hallmark of his management style. While he briefly tested the waters at an accounting firm in downtown Boise, the pull of the family operation proved too strong to ignore.

In 1968, Jim and his wife, Jan DeBolt—whom he married in 1964—moved to the Van Deusen Ranch. It was here that he began his work, eventually serving as the President of Van Deusen Ranch, Inc. and the Managing Partner of V Dot Cattle Co. His approach to the business was often described as a blend of frugal Scottish heritage and a forward-looking embrace of agricultural technology.

He managed the operation through the realities of the cattle industry, including volatile market cycles, severe droughts, and the physical devastation of large-scale wildfires.

A Legacy of Conservation and Public Service

Jim Little’s impact was not confined to his own property lines. He served as president of the Idaho Cattle Association and was a past president of the Emmett Optimist Club and the Gem County Chamber of Commerce. His work often intersected with complex federal policy, particularly regarding public lands.

Governor Phil Batt's appointment of him to the Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council reflects his balanced approach to resource management. During his tenure, he worked on the restoration of Bear Valley Creek, an effort recognized by the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

He also garnered the “Spirit of Idaho Award” from U.S. Senator Mike Crapo for his role in conserving the Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel, demonstrating that agricultural interests and environmental conservation could find common ground.

“Jim’s leadership extended far beyond his own pastures. A true champion of conservation and community, he served as the past president of the Emmett Optimist Club and the Gem County Chamber of Commerce.”

His work had high economic stakes, particularly for Idaho’s cattle industry. As a president of the Colorado-based Cattle-Fax, Little understood the data required to keep a ranch profitable. This data-driven approach was a recurring theme in his career, from his meticulous accounting to his board seat on the Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Commission.

The Human and Economic Stakes

For those watching the evolution of the American ranching model, Little represents the producer who serves as both a primary stakeholder and a public policy bridge-builder. Little’s career—validated by awards from the Society for Range Management and his work on salmon habitat—suggests that local, hands-on management often provides the most effective pathway toward sustainability.

His family remembers him for the life he built with Jan. He is survived by his wife; his three daughters, Gretchen Hyde, Rochelle Oxarango, and Dinah Reaney; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. He is also survived by his siblings, Judy Hinman and Brad Little.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral services. The family has requested that those wishing to honor his memory direct their support toward the Idaho Cattle Foundation, an organization he helped found to foster education and industry growth. Jim Little’s career spanned the evolution of modern Idaho, illustrating the quiet, persistent work required to keep a family ranch—and a community—intact through generations of change.