Stewardship and Sustainability

The goal of every ranching family is to keep the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch. We are no different, and our daily acts of responsibility and stewardship help us maintain that goal. We strive to be good stewards of the land by focusing on wildlife conservation, invasive species removal, water conservation, native grassland restoration, and soil improvement. Ultimately, we are making an effort in sustainability and ensuring the natural resources we have today will be accessible generations later.

Stewardship can have a lot of different meanings and look a lot of different ways. Part of our family's roadmap to a more sustainable future can, at first glance, look like destruction. In November of 2020, we began a battle against a Red Cedar infestation on a recently acquired piece of property. Due to the overgrowth of cedars, native grasses and forbes were nearly non-existent, and only one water source was available for livestock or wildlife on the entire property. Cedar trees monopolize the vast majority of moisture in the soil, which caused existing ponds and water holes to dry up. A lack of available water, proper shelter, and food resources caused a reduction in the presence of wildlife, such as bobwhite quail.

Shortly after acquiring the property, we began our efforts to remove the Red Cedar. Using a varied group of heavy machinery, acres upon acres of cedar trees are cut, moved, and stacked. Some piles are turned into mulch, which is then spread in other areas. Other tree piles are left to dry and are later burned. The drying piles offer shelter for birds, wildlife, and varmints. Due to this practice, we have begun to see an increased hatch and survival of bobwhite quail. With the massive return of moisture after removing cedars, we have seen native grasses restored and a return of small game, songbirds, and other native species. As we remove Red Cedars, we make a conscious effort to leave the cottonwoods, elms, and willows that provide excellent habitat and cover for wildlife.

A tree saw attachment is used with a skid steer to cut cedars at the base.

An average of 60 man-hours per week are spent in the woods cutting, moving, stacking, mulching, and maintaining equipment. We removed cedar trees for three years before signing an EQIP contract with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Our EQIP contract gives us very specific plans for ceder removal in specific areas. Alongside cedar removal, the contract items include prescribed burning, Bermuda grass sprigging, and prescribed rotational grazing. These highly detailed plans tell us where to do what and then help subsidize the work when the contract items are completed.

So what's the point? The cedar removal, rotational grazing, prescribed burning, and Bermuda sprigging are a large financial expense, and Jeremy and Steven spend most of their days in the woods working with cedars. It's a long process, and our EQIP contract isn't scheduled for completion until 2030. However, we are already seeing the short-term effects of our stewardship.

Since beginning our efforts on this specific property, we have re-established perennial warm season grasses on converted farm ground. We rehabilitated nine different watering facilities with windmills, solar panels, pond cleanouts, pond construction, and wetlands reestablishment. This allows wildlife such as quail, small rodents, deer, and turkey to live without traveling far distances to find water. The elms, cottonwoods, and other trees are flourishing now that they are not competing with cedars for water. The removal of the trees has also allowed for safer travel across the property in some areas. The most valuable resource that has come from our efforts has been the grass stand coming back. Our cattle are on grass most of the year, and the increase in grazing ability has allowed us to let other properties rest, further increasing our grazing capacity.

Something our family talks about quite frequently is yes, having short term goals, but prioritizing the 30-year lens. We know that our actions today are going to affect 30 years from now, and the next 30 years, and the 30 years after that. We currently have two generations working on the ranch— the first generation and the second. Our daily acts of responsibility will directly impact the third, fourth, fifth, and continuing generations. Just like we value our methods in caring for our animals, we pride ourselves on caring for the ecosystems, grasslands, and soil entrusted to us. We believe in ownership for the long term, preserving the land and lifestyle for the generations to come.