Dilkon, AZ
I grew up on my grandfather’s land after my family moved there. It was originally meant to be just a sheep camp, but my parents decided it would be a good place to raise livestock, so that is what we did. We planted our own food and raised animals. We also lived near my mom’s siblings, who were doing the same thing. All of our animals were free to roam and graze on their own. My aunt had many horses, sheep, and other livestock, and she also allowed her animals to roam freely to find water and graze. My mom still has sheep and goats, and currently my brother holds the permit for the livestock. He also has a state permit.
On weekends, we go back to my parents’ home to haul water, clean the corral, and help them with whatever they need. Growing up, my dad was very strict with us. Even though we had running water in the house, he made us take the livestock to the watering hole. He said it was important for us to learn survival skills. My mom, who is the middle child, is the matriarch of our family. Whenever someone has health problems or needs help, everyone goes to her. She keeps track of important information for all her children, including their Social Security numbers.
There is no cell service where we live, which is in a place called Sunflower Butte, southeast of Dilkon. If we need medical help, we have to drive to the hospital, which is about 15 minutes to Dilkon. For more advanced care, we are referred to Winslow, which is about 30 minutes away. From the main road to our house, it is about a five-minute drive, but the road is very rough. We used to maintain it often, but over time people stopped fixing it, so now it is in bad condition.
Because of the poor road, emergency services have difficulty reaching us. In the past, there were discussions about creating a back road to Holbrook to make it easier to access hospitals and essential services, but the project never happened. My aunt did not want to sign off on it because it would affect her grazing area. There was also a proposal to install cell towers to improve emergency communication, but a resident living on top of the mountain opposed it, saying it would be a safety hazard for her grandchildren. As a result, the project was stopped and never reopened. We do not usually prepare in advance for emergencies. Instead, we stay aware and make sure someone is nearby to help elderly family members like my parents. If something happens, we must contact someone close enough to have cell service.
Growing up, we were taught to be self-sufficient. We gathered firewood, tended livestock, and learned how to survive without modern conveniences. Now that we are getting older, it seems the younger generation is less interested in learning this lifestyle. I hope that as they grow older, they realize how important these skills are.
I believe it is important not to forget where you come from and to always put family first. Many people today do not know how to survive without water or electricity, but learning self-sufficiency helps prepare us for natural disasters, especially when living in isolated areas like ours. My grandmother used to tell stories about my grandfather riding his wagon around to help neighbors by bringing firewood, feeding animals, or delivering food. Today, my brother and I try to carry on that tradition. I hope that my younger nieces and nephews will also understand the importance of helping others and keeping those traditions alive as they grow older.
— Ronnie Johnson, April 7, 2026, Dilkon AZ