P
ICTURE THIS: CITY SLICKERS MEETS DOWNTON ABBEY. THROW IN A LITTLE A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, AND THAT’S THE VIBE JUANITA VERO ’91 SAYS HER GUESTS FEEL WHEN
THEY VISIT HER FAMILY’S E BAR L RANCH, SITUATED ON 8,000 ACRES ON THE BLACKFOOT RIVER, AN HOUR EAST OF MISSOULA, MONTANA. IT’S A LOCATION THAT’S FAMED FOR ITS BEAUTY, AND IT’S LAND THAT VERO IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PROTECTING FOR THE FUTURE.
VERO GREW UP ON THE RANCH,
WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER, O.W. POTTER. POTTER WAS AN ENGINEER AND A SURVEYOR WHO’D BEEN BROUGHT UP IN CHICAGO, WHERE HIS FAMILY WAS IN THE STEEL BUSINESS. AFTER GRADUATING FROM M.I.T., HE “WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE HE WANTED TO
Ranch
BE.” SO, LIKE SO MANY YOUNG MEN AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY, HE HEADED WEST,” VERO SAYS.
1 9 ’ o r e V a t i of Juan By Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow ’84