What was once a vast stretch of land covering much of the Carson Valley and the adjacent countryside has been whittled down to 500 acres of home ranch, and leases of nearby grazing areas. The much smaller operation on the current Dressler Ranch is run by the fifth generation Carson Valley Dressler, Devere.  He works a cow-calf operation on the ranch while his wife Laura is a nurse at the local hospital to help maintain the ranching lifestyle.  A surface gravel pit has also been opened on the property.

What was once a plush valley full of pastures, cattle and tall pine trees is being pushed back by encroaching housing developments and shopping strip malls.  But the Dressler family has tried their hardest to preserve their history. Many of the original buildings are still on the ranch and Devere and Laura are in the process of renovating the more than 100 year old house where they live.

Although the future of ranching may look dim for the Carson Valley, with its proximity to growing urban centers, Devere hopes that one day he can pass the ranching heritage on to his son Garrett.  And that the Dressler legacy can continue.