Cattle Ranching in the Rockies

Maintaining a tradition in ranching is important to all of us who have lived the experience. I grew up with cattle and love the process of their care and handling. At the same time realizing new methods and progressive thinking can greatly minimize the adverse impact it can have on the environment. Close observation techniques are the key to maintaining a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Ranchers now have many tried and proven methods of improving their properties. This does not translate into more work, just different management techniques and the satisfaction of seeing value added results of your efforts. -Sid

Buffalo Ranching | Elk Mountain, Wyoming

Buffalo made the Great Plains. While ranching on a huge property in Southern Wyoming we found that on their former natural range, they were easier on the environment than cattle. They stay out of streams, keep moving while they graze and graze into the wind in a blizzard. Bison calve at the same time with no birth problems and can be conditioned to the necessary handling that occurs annually. To top a hill on horseback and see a couple of hundred Buffalo grazing on short grass prairie is a heart stopping experience! -Sid

Farming

Farming and Ranching go hand in hand. We grow grass all summer to feed all winter. Crop rotation to improve soil health is critical to restoring depleted soils. Intensive grazing practices done properly can reduce or eliminate the need for commercial fertilizers. The same principles apply to small organic gardens and orchards. We garden all summer to “graze” all winter: A satisfying lifestyle!

Driving Horses | Draft and Quarter Horses

We began driving horses while feeding hay in Wyoming. The relationship with a team or a single horse while driving is something no one could have convinced me beforehand that I would love this much. What can happen is an unbelievably close relationship that involves clear and intimate conversation between horse(s) and driver. I have always found that guests (and Ranch owners) find this a highlight of their time at a ranch. Some farming tasks are represented here too. -Jenny

Hosting Guests

We love to share our life. We have many outdoor interests that we teach and guide guests. We have helped many people learn to ride and enjoy a horse safely. In doing so we have gained friendships and warm memories that help define us. A small selection of “trips” are highlighted here, narrowing it down was difficult. -Jenny

Land and Stream Care

Degraded land often leads to degraded streams. Many older ranches suffer from both simply because we humans don’t live long enough to see the cumulative results of our actions. In this age of awakened environmental concern we are gaining insight into how to restore these precious resources to their original balance. Controlled burns on grasslands, erosion repair on old logging operations, and stream bank restoration are a few projects that directly result in greater property value as well as tremendous owner satisfaction: A true win-win situation. -Sid

Ranch Construction Projects

There have been many construction projects: from restoring a historic barn to building a new barn, from small sturdy foot bridges to a fire tower lookout on a mountain top. I have used all of my carpentry and contractor skills in my ranch management. -Sid

Ranch Landscape

While this could have been the largest of the galleries, it is kept to a minimum showing a snapshot of some ranch operations. They are all in the Rocky Mountain area or Northern California. -Jenny

Wildlife Balance

I have always kept the endemic species of the area important as the ranch task or construction project that may overlap their habitat. In many cases I was able to improve on or repair habitat. This would include the stream restoration work, forest management, noxious weed management, farming, hedgerows, road building or maintenance, ranch animal grazing, fire, and general human traffic. These photos include some rehabilitated raptor releases and saving a mired elk who was disoriented from a wild prairie fire that flew through the area; and, years back, when I hunted elk, it was a time with reverence. –Sid

Johnson Family | Jenny's Art | Bread Baking

All three of us tend to run when the camera is pointed our direction. We are a happy family, I hope you can tell. My art is important to me as I have kept with it through many busy, hectic times. My main area is in ceramics but I will always keep the drawing and painting facet up too. Presently, I am incorporating them both in very large handmade, stoneware jugs, some of which you see pictured. My knack for bread baking is certainly a sideline but in guest situations it becomes very popular. –Jenny