Meet Arizona Agriculture’s Moore Family
Author
Published
2/4/2025
Last November Larry and Anne Marie were recognized by the Arizona Farm Bureau as Century Ranch recipients during the organization’s 103rd Annual Meeting in Tucson. This recognition recognizes farm and ranch families that have been in continuous business for more than 100 years. The Moore ranch family is another amazing example of the resilience of ranch families to endure through thick and thin and make their family businesses thrive.
Lawrence Ellis, better known as “Larry” Moore Jr. and his wife, Anne Marie Accomazzo, are descendants of early Arizona ranch and farm pioneers. Larry’s great-grandfather, Canadian- born Peter Moore, came to Arizona Territory in 1893. He ranched in Rucker Canyon in Cochise County, branding the F Fire Hook. Peter later purchased the Whitewater Ranch in 1897 with his son Franklin. They stocked the ranch with cattle purchased from John Long and branded with the Rafter X brand. The Rafter X Ranch celebrates its 127th Anniversary this year.
Born in Douglas in 1944, Great-grandson to Peter Moore, Larry, attended the University of Arizona where he studied Animal Science. While at the University, he was a member of the Livestock Judging Team. Fondly known as “Lariat,” Larry served in the Army Reserve for six years. In 1974, Larry married Anne Marie Accomazzo, a graduate of Arizona State University and the Home Economics teacher at Willcox High School.
Anne, the daughter of Mark and Betty Kruse Accomazzo, was raised on a cotton and cattle farm in Laveen. She and her sister Peggy could set up a hundred irrigation tubes in record time. One of Anne’s favorite chores was raking hay in the morning dew.
Larry and Anne officially purchased the Rafter X Ranch in 1980 from the family. The Rafter X operation was expanded to take in two neighboring ranches. They acquired several brands, the “CJ” and “Bench S” and created the Bar M Bar Cattle Company. Larry was proud to involve his children as the fifth generation in the day-to-day operations on the ranch.
In 2006, Larry and Anne decided to move closer to town rather than the fifty-mile drive from Rucker Canyon. They purchased a small ranch operation in Dos Cabezas and spent three years setting up a new Bar M Bar headquarters, Hacienda, barn and corrals. They leased their Rucker Canyon ranches and moved their Red Brangus herd to Dos Cabezas along with some horses and Border Collies. The ranch is called “Rancho Hacienda.”
While 127 years of ranching cannot be fairly and truly told in just a few minutes, we can certainly celebrate this couple’s commitment to their family legacy and the rich history of ranching in Arizona.