Grace Tolson

Grace Dickson Tolson is steeped in the history of Dickson Ranch. From her descendants, born on the property in 1878, Grace has lived there her entire life. A baby boomer, Grace grew up on the ranch which from its beginnings, had some resident livestock. Her first introduction to horses was the Forest Farm Horse Camp, where 12 year old “Gracie” learned about horses. She applied that early knowledge to her nascent horse boarding operation open to neighbors of the Ranch. In 1955, her dad, Bill, bought her a horse named Bo-d, a 13’3” paint. Grace tried her hand at Gymkhana at the San Geronimo Horseman’s Association. Bo-d turned out to be an experienced competitor and they won the trophy! Around the same time, Grace had 8 horses boarded, and in 1956 she formally launched the operation charging $32.50 a month per horse! Her uncle, a local hay grower, provided the feed, and she taught lessons. Frequently she had to go looking for the horses that had snuck off the property for a midnight graze. She took it all in stride!

Life changed when Grace, while changing the spark plugs on her 1946 Ford, met Chuck - she knew he was the man for her. 10 years later they found each other again and married. Chuck helped Grace propel the ranch into the facility it is today, lending his construction skills and hard work to build arenas, good fencing and shelters. In 1974, Grace and Chuck started hosting horse shows to help pay for new footing in the arena. These were a huge success with up to 60 riders per class! English and Western shows continued for decades until the Pandemic which negatively affected the horse community. Dickson continues to offer a limited number of horse shows, providing the equestrian community a chance to come together and show off riders and their horses’ skills.

Notable in Grace’s character is her ability to recognize a community need and do something about it. In 1976, she noticed that Woodacre did not have a 4th of July Parade. She got things organized, and in 1977, it rolled down the streets of Woodacre, with lots of local color and of course, horses! Even Covid didn’t stop the parade - people poured out of their houses, hungry to find community and joy. Now the parade is a Woodacre tradition. Another example of filling a community need is the evolution of the successful fundraiser, “Valley Toys and Joys”. In the 1980’s, Grace became aware that some Valley children needed help during the holidays. So, she and Chuck adopted a couple of families for holiday gift giving. Soon, they were helping over 25 children! That’s when “Valley Toys and Joys” was born, a 501(c) 3 organization designed to help make the holidays bright for underprivileged children in the Valley and Nicasio. Today the program, headquartered at Dickson Ranch, serves up to 200 children and has lots of volunteer elves and a beautiful donated barn-structure with shelves, tables, and heat! Grace is perhaps most proud of this accomplishment. Grace also started a tradition of holiday plays, caroling, and hayrides open to all, often using her own home and sometimes the indoor arena, to bring joy to children and adults alike.

Grace and Chuck raised Dawn Ellen, and fostered many children at the Dickson Ranch. They “adopted” the children of the ranch staff who all live on the property. This huge extended family with grandchildren and great grandchildren, gives the ranch a family feeling that extends to the boarding community. Through Grace’s steadfastness, honesty, and warmth, the Dickson Ranch is more than the sum of its residents, animals and structures. It is, in fact, the heart of Woodacre, giving more than it receives and holding valued traditions vibrantly alive for the greater community and the future.