Since the ranch was founded in 1929, the key to our success and continued progress into the future has been hinged on the stewardship we give the ranch, the partnership with the people who live and work here, and the cattle and wildlife that call the ranch home.
Succeeding in pasture resource management and grazing livestock stewardship are critical to the sustainability of the Ranch. The quality of the beef produced, the health of the pastures that sustain the beef, and the success of the business as a whole are interconnected and depend upon how well we care for this incredible and diverse resource. We hang our hats on responsible and sustainable ranching practices that improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and promote biodiversity above and below the soil. These practices preserve critical habitat for an array of plants, insects, wildlife, and aquatic species. Ranch practices that are right for the environment benefit our yearling cattle operation.
We improve the health and productivity of the ranch through management-intensive grazing. When implemented correctly, grazing management that includes proper rest and rotation, improves the soil health, increases biodiversity in the soil, and optimizes forage production for our animals. To accomplish the pasture health and productivity we are striving for, our cattle are moved to fresh pastures on a daily basis.
Cattle are always handled horseback at Snake River Ranch. We believe that low-stress livestock handling is best accomplished on the back of a horse. Handling cattle this way, keeps us connected to our ranching heritage. When our cattle are calm, handled properly, and well-cared for, they experience less stress and are more productive. Caring for the livestock that live here is an amazing responsibility and we are constantly looking for opportunities to improve.
Our location adds to the unique challenges and opportunities for Snake River Ranch. Situated squarely within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Snake River Ranch preserves habitat, migration corridors, and critical open space for much of the region’s native wildlife. Animals such as elk, moose, and deer thrive on the same landscape as our yearling cattle. Large North American mammals such as grizzly bear, black bear, cougar, coyote, and foxes are often seen utilizing the ranch’s vast pastures. The ranch’s mountain streams and spring-fed creeks help support Snake River Cutthroat Trout and other important aquatic species. As stewards of the ranch, we care for the many ecosystems and natural life cycles that thrive here.
Snake River Ranch is proud to play a small part in preserving the valley’s Western ranching heritage, so that it may be experienced and celebrated for years to come. Almost half of Snake River Ranch is protected by conservation easements; our commitment to conservation and the Western ranching heritage is a commitment to the protection of the scenic value of the ranch into the future.