Homeland - Spring 2020

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omeland FARM, RANCH & HOME REALTY

SPRING 2020 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F

MILLS HOME RANCH

BIDDICK RANCH

KOOPER GRASS RANCH

Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming 25,569± total acres: 19,995± deeded, 2,085± State lease, 3,539± BLM lease acres. 506± irrigated acres. Nice set of improvements.

Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming 13,146± acres: 12,826± deeded & 320± State lease acres. 4,060± irrigated acres, Owner-rated at 650 cow/calf pairs year-round. 8 miles live water.

Alliance, Box Butte/Morrill Counties, Nebraska 2,041+ contiguous deeded acres. Owner-rated summer grazing for 220 pairs. Reliable stock water from 2 windmills & 1 solar well. No improvements.

Contact Clark & Associates Land Brokers at (307) 334-2025

Contact Clark & Associates Land Brokers at (307) 334-2025

Contact Dean Nelson at (307) 340-1114 or Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

BUTTERMILK ROAD FARM

SHEPARD FARM &FEEDLOT

$11,500,000

$10,950,000

Reduced to $1,010,000

BOLLN RANCH

Wheatland, Platte County, Wyoming All-inclusive 6,000 head feedlot, four pivots, custom home and improvements on 545.76± deeded acres

Oehlrichs, Fall River County, South Dakota 21,810± total acres: 9.348± deeded acres & 12,462± USFS permit acres. Nice improvements.

Contact Michael McNamee at (307) 534-5156

Contact Scott Leach at (307) 331-9095 or Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Mark McNamee at (307) 760-95

OPEN AT FARM

FORBES WOOD TRUST

Lingle, Goshen County, Wyoming

747± deeded acres with 574± pivotirrigated acres. 89± acres of pasture.

$4,000,000

$5,400,000

$10,000,000

MEADOWDALE RANCH

Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming 1,515± total acres: 385± irrigated acres. 135± acre gravel pit. 1+ mile North Platte River frontage.

Hulett, Crook County, Wyoming & Alzada, Carter County, Wyoming 2,575± deeded acres. Options available.

Platte & Goshen Counties, Wyoming 5,371± total acres: 4,411± deeded, 320± BLM & 640± State lease. Ample water.

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Scott Leach at (307) 331-9095

Contact Clark & Associates Land Brokers at (307) 334-2025

Contact Scott Leach at (307) 331-9095 or Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

SYBILLE CANYON RANCH

PRAIRIE CENTER RANCH

MULESHOE LAND & CATTLE

$4,500,000

Wheatland, Albany County, Wyoming 4,751± total acres: 4,092 deeded, 559 State & 100 BLM acres. Several live water creeks, springs and well. Excellent wildlife habitat. Year-round access.

Reduced to $2,500,000

Contact Jon Keil at (307) 331-2833

$3,250,000

Reduced to $3,300,000

1,438.92± deeded acres with 120± pivotirrigated acres. Excellent improvements

Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming 6,224± deeded acres. 5 center pivots irrigate 693± acres. 5,531± acres of pasture.

Contact Clark & Associates Land Brokers at (307) 334-2025 or (307) 575-5236

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Logan Schliinz at (307) 575-5236

Jay Em, Goshen County, Wyoming

$1,850,000

Reduced to $6,000,000

Because it’s more than a deal.

View complete listings, videos and interactive maps at hewittlandcompany.com

Flat Top Ranch | Squaw Gap, ND 4867 Acres | $3,400,000

Bliss Ranch | Perkins County, SD 1,962.92 Acres | $2,356,800

Renner Ranch | Beach, ND 1,921 Acres | $2,100,000

South Central SD Farmland Mellette & Jackson Counties, SD 1,360 Acres | $1,768,000

20492 Crook Mountain Rd. Whitewood, SD 228 Acres & 4bed/3ba Home $1,460,000

K-S Ranch | Nisland, SD 280 Acres | $700,000

Red Rocks Farm | Vale, SD 240 Acres | $650,000

Stirling Ranch | Newell, SD 160 Acres | $535,000

194th St. Grass & Hayland | St. Onge, SD 100 Acres | $375,000

A Note from JD: Friends: The team at Hewitt Land Co. would like to acknowledge the changing events and environment we are all operating in for the time being.

We understand the anxiety and uncertainty prevalent in the markets at this time in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. So much of our perspective as a nation is a result of ever-changing information and we tend to react moment by moment. We empathize with those who will suffer loss of income and encourage any who might be more vulnerable to take all precautions necessary for your safety.

We also know that this too will pass and encourage you to take a long-range view in making decisions. We are pleased to report that Buyers are still calling, we’re still showing, and the farm and ranch real estate market seems to be holding up reasonably well – even strong in many regions.

We’re here working hard for those who have entrusted us with marketing property and those who have an interest in acquisitions.

Please don’t hesitate to give us a call to visit about the market or market factors. We look forward to the chat.

JD Hewitt 605-347-1100

Tyson Hewitt 605-206-0034

Tanner Hewitt 605-490-7952

Dan Todd 605-280-9214 TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

Homeland SPRING 2020

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G TIN LIS

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G TIN LIS

Davison Meadows – Four Corners, WY Picturesque rural setting in the valley south of Strawberry Mountain with incredible views. 160 acres which includes 120 acres of hay fields.

Easily accessible location just one mile to pavement. Ideal property for hay base, recreational retreat, or place for year-round living. $428,000

Alum Creek Ranch – Newcastle, WY Private Black Hills ranch bordering BLM and State land. 1,453 deeded acres and a 340-acre BLM grazing permit. Mixture of rugged canyonlands, wooded hills and high plateaus with amazing views. Large reservoir and springs along Alum Creek provide water for wildlife and livestock. $1,890,000

Kara Valley Ranch – Sundance, WY Scenic valley setting on 165 acres which includes 97 acres of irrigated meadows. Ranch headquarters with a sprawling ranch style home designed for entertaining, 7-stall horse barn, shop and loafing sheds. Easily accessible location with inspiring views of the surrounding hills. $995,000.

Beaver Creek Acreage – Aladdin, WY Amazing setting in the Bear Lodge Mtns. 136 acres with Beaver Creek flowing through the valley. Adjacent to National Forest & fronts Hwy 24. Picturesque setting with winding creek bottoms, open meadows, & wooded hills with pine, aspen & bur oak. This one has it all! $520,000. Owner financing.

Amerada Divide Ranch – Casper, WY Hard-grass ranch with 17,147± acres, including 15,540± deeded acres, and a 1,607± acre BLM Permit. Trophy mule deer in the 190+ class range and excellent antelope habitat. Numerous water sources including 14 wells, several reservoirs, windmills & springs. Corrals and a certified scale. $7,700,000.

Cottle Creek Ranch – Sturgis, SD Great location for potential development or Sturgis Rally property. 260 acres with rolling terrain and rural water on two sides. A reservoir along Cottle Creek is stocked with bass and bullheads.

Good headquarters with a ranch style home and numerous outbuildings. East of Sturgis next to the Buffalo Chip. $4,500,000.

Nelson Headquarters – Newell, SD Farm-Ranch headquarters with 157 acres that includes 93 acres of class four soil that can be irrigated under Belle Fourche Irrigation Dist. Headquarters includes modest 3-bedroom home with 2-car garage, Quonset and several older livestock sheds.

Fronts Hwy north of Newell. $395,000. Additional land available.

Oak Creek Retreat - Aladdin, WY Impressive 186-acre property with a one of a kind home that combines maximum efficiency with detailed elegance. The luxurious home has an open floor plan with many custom features.

Also has bunkhouse, barn & 40’ x 120’ shop. North of Aladdin with live water, meadows, woods and good access. $1,387,000.

Spring Creek Ranch – Sundance, WY A premier setting with 1,623 deeded acres and a 40-acre State Lease. The ranch combines live water and unparalleled privacy, with an impressive Black Hills landscape, excellent wildlife habitat, and incredible views. Four creeks, two solar wells, and several reservoirs. A first-rate Black Hills ranch. $4,700,000.

Bear Lodge Ranch – Sundance, WY An iconic Black Hills ranch with 880 acres in a scenic and remote setting in the Bear Lodge Mountains. A high country ranch with landowner elk tags and an incredible mountain landscape with excellent wildlife habitat. A well-known landmark which has been in the same family for many years. $2,288,000.

Deer Creek Valley – Hulett, WY Scenic 55-acres with a rustic log home. Custom 1.5 story home with walk-out basement. 3 bedrooms & 2.75 baths. Great room with stone fireplace is open to dining and kitchen. Lower level family room, bonus room, wrap around deck. 1-car garage and 24’x36’shop. Year-round living or a Black Hills getaway. $500,000.

2D Farm - Butte County, SD Irrigated farmland in western South Dakota between Belle Fourche and Newell. 161 acres which includes 119 acres of flood irrigated land with class 3 and 4 soil in the Belle Fourche Irrigation Dist. Has an electrical drop, Butte-Meade Water runs along the county road and it has a livestock reservoir. $297,000

505 W. Main St, PO Box 98, Newcastle WY

307-746-2083

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Homeland SPRING 2020

LICENSED IN WY, SD & MT

Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary!

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

ArnoldRealty.com

23020 CR Q, Fort Morgan, Co

Morgan County RD G & 30

SOLD

17863 CR 16, Fort Morgan Co

Under Contract

160 Acre Pivot Irrigated Farm, 32 shares FM RES & Irrigation Ditch Co, 1120 SF House W/Outbuildings

160 +/- Acres Dryland Farm $188.000

4 Bed Brick Home 135 Ace pivot & flood irrigated farm, 136 Bijou District Acres. $1,375,000

CBT

14805 CR 12, Fort Morgan, Co

Washington County RD JJ & 30

SOLD

45 Shares of Colorado Big Thompson Water - $61,500 per share

485.5 Acres - 25.05 Bijou Dist Acres, 1 Riverside PR, 2 Morgan-Prewitt, 25 Bijou Cap Stock. $2,500,000

325 Acres +/- of Dryland Farm ground located in Washington County. Well on the property & fenced on all four sides.

17032 CR 44, La Salle, Co

23200 Co Rd 28.5, Snyder, Co

17385 Co Rd V, Fort Morgan, Co

2072 SF Home w/Heated Shop & Outbuildings, situated on 4.35 Acres $359,500

4073 SF Two Story Home w/Basement, situated on 32.3 Acres Fenced Pasture $570,000

Under Contract

322.17 Acres, 2 Pivots,5 Wells (augmented through GMS in CCWCD) 2 Farm Houses $2,600.000 12031 Co Rd X.5, Weldona, Co

Kristin Lindsey Broker 970-768-3579 4428 SF Two Story Home, w/Heated Shop situated on 47 Acres of Pasture $675,000

Monty A Thomas Associate Broker 970-768-2530

Shane Baum Associate Broker 970-467-9090

Kelly Murkins Associate Broker 970-768-2128

Looking to buy or sell Real Estate? We specialize in: Farm & Ranch, Residential, Commercial, & Income Properties

Visit Us: 801 Main St., Fort Morgan, Co Call Us: 970-867-7816 or Visit Our Website: www.arrowrm.com

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

Homeland SPRING 2020

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I CALL MONTANA MY HOME AND YOU CAN, TOO.

LARGE ACREAGE WEST OF HELENA 1440 acres of mountain property. Timber has been cruised at $1.5M. This land has been in the same family since the 1940’s. Beautiful acreage with Hope Creek frontage, several springs, mountain views, meadows and bordered by USFS. Great hunting area with plenty of wildlife, and recreational activities. Currently used as livestock summer pasture, (150-175 AU). Sellers have been very active in good stewardship for fencing and weed control. The property is in 160 acre tracts, but selling all together. $3,456,000

PRIVATE PEACEFUL PARADISE AVON, MONTANA

A spectacular destination. 236+ acres, two parcels, year around access, timbered, large rock outcroppings, meadows, and outstanding views. Surrounded by large ranch holdings, the elk and deer are often grazing the meadows. The highlight is the large custom home of nearly 4000 sf. of log and frame construction. 3+ bd, 2.5 bth, family room., well designed kitchen with a butcher block island, granite tops and dining area.

The living room has a floor to ceiling stone wood burning fireplace, exposed log and a wall of windows to the deck.

Service buildings include a heated shop/garage, guest quarters with bath and attached cold storage garage. The attached barn area has hay storage and stalls with runs. Other amenities include an outdoor wood boiler backup furnace, riding arena, pond, two wells, springs and the property is fenced and cross fenced. Many more amenities to share. Call for your private showing today. $1,485,000

JULIE R. ABNEY, Broker/Owner CRB, CRS, GRI

328 West Custer Avenue | Helena, MT 59602 Cell: 406-459-3200 | Email: jabney@mt.net | www.montanawesternrealty.com

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Homeland SPRING 2020

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

- THE FLAG RANCH | SIOUX COUNTY NE 1 Block - 15,300 Deeded Acres

15,300 All Deeded Acres w/1100 Acres of Sub Irrigated Meadows Heart of Cattle Country - Hard Grass Lands & Abundant Water

- Outstanding Cattle Working & Calving Facilities -

HENDERSON FARM | MITCHELL NE 262 +/- Acres w/90 irrigated farmland 102 irrigated pasture & 70 dryland 740ft2 2 bed & 2 bath Cabin

Outstanding Waterfowl Hunting Live water/Spotted Trail Creek Listing Price - $585,000

STRECKER RANCH | MORRILL NE 610 +/- Acres w/56 under pivot. 540 acres in native pasture. Easy year round access w/ wildlife for the hunting enthusiast.

Listed Price $555,000.00 Cross listed w/Sloan AgLand

GOT PROPERTY? - We Get Buyers

307.532.4447

Premier@wyo-realestate.com

www.wyo-realestate.com

1942 East D Street - Torrington, WY TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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ANGLERS ENVY RANCH

Curving along the banks of the Little Snake River in Dixon, Wyoming lies the 280-acre ultimate outdoorsman ranch with spectacular fishing opportunity with 1.25 mile of riverfront access along the Little Snake River, abundant wildlife and lush hay meadows. $2,200,000

ELLIS RANCH Large outstanding livestock operation located in southeast Montana, 46,040+/- acres, all in one contiguous block.

The ranch has excellent live water creeks, irrigation rights and improvements. Offering a variety of terrain providing habitat and protection for cattle and wildlife. $20,500,000

BIGHORN RIVER RANCH Located on the Bighorn River in the heart of northwestern Wyoming. 715+/- acres deeded lands of which 541 acres are irrigated by four Valley pivots, the property is ideally suited for and in current operation as a winter feed base growing feed crops for regional ranch operations. $2,250,000

RIERADON HILLS RANCH Near Sterling, CO 4,100-acre grass ranch includes a custom home and extensive working facilities including a new shop, custom calving barn, covered working facilities and pipe corrals. Paved highway access and excellent water characteristics with wells, pipelines and drinker locations. $3,850,000

TROUT RANCH

ROCKING HORSE RANCH

6,858+/- acres with 640-acre state land lease located on western edge of the Nebraska Sandhills. Operated as a 425 AU year round cow-calf ranch, with center pivot and excellent water resources that shores up the winter feed base. $3,800,000

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An amazing property loaded with potential and featuring a mixed-use opportunity involving commercial, equestrian, residential and lifestyle fronting on US Highway 60, five miles south of Wickenburg, Arizona. Consisting of 189+/- acres and nearly 12,000 square feet in two residences. $3,500,000

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

303-536-7571 www.RanchLand.com

Celebrating our rural lifestyle.

What ranchers read.

1501 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 101, BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA 57717 | 1 (877) 347-9100 | (605) 723-7013 | www.tsln.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: (877) 347-9100 Publisher: SABRINA “BREE” POPPE Cell (605) 639-0356 | Office (877) 347-9104 spoppe@tsln-fre.com GM of Sales & Marketing & Fieldman: DENNIS GINKENS Cell (406) 670-9839 | dginkens@tsln-fre.com

SPRING 2020

Editor: CARRIE STADHEIM (605) 622-8935 | cstadheim@tsln-fre.com

Contents

Digital & Sections Editor: MARIA TIBBETTS (605) 484-4488 | mtibbetts@tsln-fre.com

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Digital Engagment Editor: LIZ BANMAN MUNSTERTEIGER marketing@tsln-fre.com Graphic Designer: CHRISTA VANDYKE

Off-Grid Opportunities

BY TAMARA CHOAT

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Special Projects & Major Account Coordinator: DIANNA PALMER Northern Black Hills Territory (605) 723-7010 | dpalmer@tsln-fre.com

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Nebraska Account Manager: GAYDAWN ROGERS (970)301-2190 | grogers@thefencepost.com

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Greeley/Fort Collins Account Manager: MARY ROBERTS (970)301-2192 | mroberts@thefencepost.com

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Commercial Account Manager: LEAH BRENCE West River Territory SD/ND (406) 839-1097 | lbrence@tsln-fre.com

Driveway Planning and Building Native by Nature

BY RUTH NICOLAUS

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Foothills-West CO Account Manager: VALERIE RODRIGUEZ 970-590-0412 | vrodriguez@thefencepost.com

Account Manager: KRISTEN SCHURR Montana-Wyoming-National (406) 498-6022 | kschurr@tsln-fre.com

Fence to Last

BY KAYCEE MONNENS

BY TERESA CLARK

Southeastern & Western Colorado: CHRISTINE MCGEE (970)301-2191 | cmcgee@thefencepost.com

Account Manager: SUSAN CABLE SD–S. of I-90 Rosebud East Territory (605) 840-1986 | (888) 648-4449 | scable@tsln-fre.com

Earth, Water, Wind and Sun

BY TAMARA CHOAT

Getting Moving

BY MEGAN SILVERIA

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Floored by Flooring Options

BY SAVANNA SIMMONS

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Weinreis Family Builds Business on Hard Work & Team Work

BY MARIA TIBBETTS

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Advertiser Index

Commercial Account Manager: TRACY L. HAUK East River SD/ND Territory (406) 951-3211 | thauk@tsln-fre.com Cattle Marketing Assistant & NE Territory Account Manager: CARISSA LEE (877) 347-9114 | clee@tsln-fre.com Director of Field Services & Ringman: SCOTT DIRK West of River ND & SD Territory (605) 380-6024 | sdirk@tsln-fre.com Field Service & Ringman: DAN PIROUTEK (605) 544-3316 | dpiroutek@tsln-fre.com Field Service & Ringman : MATT WZNICK MT & WY Territory (406) 489-2414 | mwznick@tsln-fre.com Field Service & Ringman: DREW FELLER CO & NE Territory

COVER PHOTO COURTESY

KATHY CHASE Days Gone By Photography www.kathychase.smugmug.com

CLASSIFIEDS: CLASSIFIEDS@TSLN-FRE.COM COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ERRORS: The Tri-State Livestock News & The Fence Post shall be responsible for errors or omission in connection with an advertisement only to the extent of the space covered by the error. Opinions stated in letters or signed columns do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Tri-State Livestock News & The Fence Post .

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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Off-grid Opportunities Smaller, grid-tied solar energy systems can start around $5,000, depending on the goals and purpose.

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Homeland SPRING 2020

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

L

iving off the grid may sound romantic and environmentally friendly – the perfect setting for an HGTV show.

For some ranchers, it’s their only option.

In remote areas where power is not available or feasible, life without an electric bill – and the conveniences of power – has been a way of life for generations. For those original off-gridders, as well as landowners who are building new operations on remote land – or simply looking at alternative energy – the cost of solar power has become highly competitive.

Buddi Waddington is familiar with off-grid solar systems. The ranch his family owned north of Custer, Mont., was several miles from electric power lines, so he, his parents and his brother’s family all utilized solar energy systems to power their three homes and ranch operation. The main system at the ranch headquarters consisted of a free-standing 36-panel solar rack and a separate utility building to house the remaining components. This system could handle a 220-volt system and powered an average-sized house, mobile home, barn, shop and indoor riding arena, and included a 15,000-E#AZW4`kilowatt diesel generator for backup.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

Homeland SPRING 2020

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST RIVER ELECTRIC

By Tamara Choat

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“It really powered a lot, but bigger things like the welder we would have to turn the generator on for,” he says.

ed. He said his parents were able to operate a microwave on their system and it ran – it just didn’t work as well.

Waddington, who has since moved to Abilene, Texas, says it would have cost about $100,000 to bring utility lines in to their main location; it cost them about $30,000 to improve on the existing solar panel system.

At both places the Waddingtons had water cisterns on nearby hills, using solar power to fill and gravity flow to disperse when needed.

Waddington’s solar system at his home 10 miles away was smaller; a 110v system that powered a small house and water pump. He estimates it cost about $13,000 to put in place. “It wasn’t the same as being on regular power – there were small adaptations we made like lower watt light bulbs, but for the most part, they were minor adjustments,” he says. He ran a 110v propane clothes dryer and would supplement the furnace with the generator if need-

Even with their relatively advanced systems, Waddington said he still had ongoing costs. “I tell people you pay what equates to a monthly bill, it just comes in larger increments over a longer period of time.” He estimates with the 16 batteries in his system that need to be replaced about every seven years, and the costs of running a 6,000watt propane generator in the winter, he paid an average of $100-$150 a month.

Solar energy can be a fit for residential, commercial or off-grid sites.

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Homeland SPRING 2020

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

PHOTO COURTESY HARVEST SOLAR

The sunny days of the arid, upper Midwest make great locations for solar panels.

---Country Quiet -- Big City Access -Country Quiet City Access Country Quiet Big City Access 3+ hours from Denver near the North Platte River,

Located Fort Located from near the the North North Platte Platte River, River,Fort Fort Located3+ 3+ hours hours Historic from Denver Denver Laramie National Site is just minutes away.

Property Laramie just minutes minutes away. away. Property Property Laramie National National Historic Historic Site is just consists fenced quality pasture. consists ofof292+ 292+ acres of hills, trees trees and and fenced fenced quality qualitypasture. pasture. consistsof 292+acres acres of of hills, and Corrals with stock shed.

Improvements: 2300 sq ft home, detached Corralswith withstock stockshed. shed. Improvements: Improvements: 2300 Corrals 2300 sq sqftfthome, home,detached detached garage, RV/Vehicle Barn with garage,40x40 40x40Heated HeatedShop, Shop, 60x40 Insulated garage, 40x40 Heated Shop, 60x40 Insulated Insulated RV/Vehicle RV/VehicleBarn Barnwith with 14 ft overhead door.

1200 sq ft Guest Quarters plus a 480 sq ft Log 14 ft overhead door.

1200 sq ft Guest Quarters plus a 480 sq ft Log 14 ft overhead door. 1200 sq Quarters plus a 480 sq ft Log Bunk BunkHouse.

House.

Bunk House.

Diamond Realty Diamond BB Realty Diamond Realty 2309 West C St.

PHOTO COURTESY HARVEST SOLAR

2309 2309West WestCCSt. St. Torrington, WY Torrington, WY Torrington, WY 307.532.1717 307.532.1717 307.532.1717 www.ownwyoproperty.com www.ownwyoproperty.com www.ownwyoproperty.com

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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“But one of the good things was when other people were out of power, we weren’t – we were our own power company,” Waddington says.

regular, good old-fashioned Montanans now have the choice for renewable energy as well due to more reasonable entry costs.

Brad Van Wert is co-owner of Harvest Solar, a thriving solar installation company that specializes in residential, small commercial and off-grid systems in the Bozeman and Billings, Mont., region.

Van Wert says, “Not just in Montana but across the country, people’s desire for solar power is one of the most non-partisan issues there is.”

Van Wert says his company has seen tremendous growth year after year since launching in 2012, and the cost of solar power has been reduced by over 25 percent in the last few years alone. “People understand this is the direction energy is heading as a whole, and they are interested because it makes sense,” he says. “The general ethos of Montana is self-sufficiency. Ranchers especially understand how much of a valuable resource the sun is.”

PHOTOS COURTESY HARVEST SOLAR

Traditionally solar was reserved for affluent, early-adopters who embraced it as an environmental pedestal. However, over the past five years Van Wert says

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When considering solar energy power, there are two main types of systems – grid-tied and off-grid. Off-grid systems are for those who, like the Waddingtons, do not have the option to tie to a power supply and must be self-sufficient.

Grid-tied systems provide supplemental energy to a home or business during sunny days, but remain metered to an electric company for use during non-sunshine times. In many locations during the day the solar system creates more energy than the location consumes and the meter runs backwards, creating an energy credit.

When solar energy is low, the system returns to pulling

Larger solar energy systems often utilize a separate building to house storage batteries and other components.

Homeland SPRING 2020

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

PHOTOS COURTESY HARVEST SOLAR

Harvest Solar was founded in 2012 by Brad Van Wert and Kyle MacVean with the mission of helping people understand solar power was within their reach.

from the grid. Utility companies and state regulations differ in protocol on what is called “net metering,” the difference in energy consumption from the grid compared to energy contributed to the grid from the solar system. Most commonly the solar power contributed is credited toward the cost of energy pulled. Solar energy system designers seek to match the production of the solar system to the needs of the household or business, thus creating a net-zero energy consumption.

Harvest Solar, like most high-caliber solar installation companies, is committed to answering questions and doing extensive pre-work before construction.

“We work with you to analyze your annual energy load, talk about the goals of your solar project, discuss what technology would be the best match, and then plan the actual components,” says Van Wert.

Most grid-tied systems don’t require storage batteries or a backup generator, unless a power outage creates a critical situation. Off-grid settings usually include these main components: photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, a racking system for designing and securing the panels – either on a roof or other structure or as a stand-alone, inverters (which convert the direct current (DC) from the panels into alternating current (AC) required to power homes and businesses), storage batteries, and a backup generator. The size, capacity and quantity of the components can vary widely depending on the needs of the system.

Van Wert says costs vary extensively depending on components, but technology is improving rapidly offering more sophisticated options for less money. He says some ballpark examples of solar system costs would be a small, off-grid cabin in the woods could range from $5,000-$10,000. A residential, grid-tied system for an av-

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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PHOTOS COURTESY BULLSEYE FEEDLOT

erage urban home would be around $18,000. An expanded off-grid system for a large home or business could go up to $100,000.

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Currently, any new solar energy systems installed in 2020 are eligible for a 26 percent federal tax credit. Most states offer additional tax credits as well. The federal credit will decrease to 10 percent by 2022, but even if you don’t have enough tax liability to claim the entire credit in one year, you can “roll over” the remaining credits into future years as long as the tax credit is in effect.

Gene and Ronna Klamert opted to install a solar energy system not only in their residential home, but in their backgrounding feedlot west of Billings, Mont., as well.

Homeland SPRING 2020

In 2015, Gene and Ronna Klamert of Billings, Mont., began to investigate solar energy systems for both their residential home and their custom

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

An added incentive, Gene said, was a lot of financial assistance for the project. He estimates they were awarded around one-third of the total cost of their systems through USDA’s Rural Energy for America program. “We

mostly use our solar system at the feedlot to power the water pumps,” Gene says. Their family’s newest venture, Swanky Roots, is a 60-acre fully aquaponics greenhouse that grows lettuce and other leafy greens. The family plans to utilize solar energy on this location in the future as well.

For a long time solar has been trendy, but not affordable. As people of all backgrounds, politics, generations and locations move more toward sustainable and independent lifestyles, solar energy is a shining fit.

Harvest Solar designed and installed the 42kW solar system at the feedlot. The solar energy system is used primarily to power water pumps to water the 3,000 head capacity Feedlot.

PHOTOS COURTESY HARVEST SOLAR

feedlot, Bullseye Feedlot, west of the city, where they background around 3,000 head of cattle. “We just wanted to cut something out in life; we’d rather use the sun for energy,” Ronna said. After looking into options, Harvest Solar designed and installed a 25kW system for their home and a 42kW system at the feedlot.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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PHOTOS COURTESY RON ASKIN DRILLING

Earth, water, wind and sun

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, IMPROVES WATER SUPPLY

By Tamara Choat

I

n the 18th century the Great Plains were referred to as the “Great American Desert,” unfit for cultivation.

There was water – but it was 300 feet under the earth. The development of the metal windmill to supply water for livestock, gardens and home life opened up the entire frontier to settlement.

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Water has always been a limiting factor in land use.

Windmills were the original “off-grid” solution, but as new solar technology becomes available, turbines are slowly starting to join horse-drawn wagons and black powder rifles. Even with the advent of electric water pumps, most places where water is desired on ranches were – and still are – far from electricity.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

PHOTO COURTESY RON ASKIN WELL DRILLING

Over the years, solar wells have slowly replaced windmills across the scenic plains of Eastern Montana.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

Homeland SPRING 2020

17

PHOTO COURTESY RON ASKIN WELL DRILLING

18

Ron Askin Well Drilling estimates they have drilled over 5,000 new water wells in Eastern Montana in their 110 years in business.

Homeland SPRING 2020

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Lon Reukauf and his family, owners of Cherry Creek Ranch north of Terry, Mont., have replaced many of their historic ranch’s windmills with more efficient solar pump systems.

Doug Askin is the third generation to run Ron Askin Drilling in Miles City, Mont. His grandfather, George Askin, began running a rig at 14 years old during the homestead boom. The family estimates they have drilled more than 5,000 water wells in Eastern Montana.

Today Askin still repairs windmills, but the new water systems he puts in place are all solar. “It’s been a long time since we put in a new windmill,” he says.

Solar pumps are able to pump deeper and get more water. Windmills tend to be limited to 200-300 feet in a lot of areas, but solar can go 500 feet deep and beyond. And where a windmill would pump 2-4 gallons a minute, solar pumps get 5-12 gallons.

“Solar has opened up a lot of new areas and deep aquifers where ranchers were not able to get water in the past

with a windmill unless they had a generator and a submersible pump,” he says.

Solar pumps are not only more efficient, putting out more water in less hours a day, but the pump mechanism is different, with less metal parts to rust out. Additionally, solar pump systems are about half to one-third of what a new windmill would cost. An average system he estimates runs around $6,000, but can vary depending on the size of the pump and depth of the well. Askin estimates he has put in just under 100 new solar pumps in the last year alone.

He says the nature of the area and the people he works with make for some memorable sites. “Those pastures way back in the hills, where you turn off the county road and it still takes two hours to get to the location, and the

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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PHOTO COURTESY MONTANA STOCKGROWERS ASSOCIATION

rancher has been working for a week to build us a road to get there – those are the sites you remember.”

Lon Reukauf, with his family, owns Cherry Creek Ranch north of Terry, Mont. Eight years ago the Reukaufs started installing solar panel water pumps, slowly replacing the windmills on their ranch that is one of the last remaining homesteads in the area. At one point they had 13 windmills on the place; today there are only six or seven left.

“Wind doesn’t blow. It sucks,” says Reukauf.

“If you think about it, the windy seasons tend to be around both the spring and the fall equinoxes. Mid-summer is not a very windy time. And the more hours of sunlight you have, the more water animals need.”

Any rancher who has watched cattle crowd a stock tank waiting for a breeze can agree wind is not reliable. “But solar lends itself pretty good to meet this need,” Reukauf says. He estimates that to rely on a windmill a rancher will need 20 times the daily livestock water intake in storage. “Solar is a lot less – maybe five times, not even that much, in reserve.”

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The Reukaufs continue to make stewardship improvements in their land, even as the third generation moves home to continue their ranching legacy.

Ironically, at one of his windmill sites Reukauf had installed a 25-foot concrete-bottomed water tank, designed to stockpile water during the summer.

Today, on a solar system he says the storage tank has almost become unnecessary. “The solar pump can keep up with 250 head of cow-calf pairs; the storage really isn’t as critical anymore.”

In their remote location, electric wells have never been an option.

“We have large stretches of our ranch that don’t have powerlines, and even if you could run a new power line, they cost $40,000 per mile,” he says. They do have some sites connected to power, but they aren’t exactly feasible.

“Our wells that run off of electricity have a $400 access fee before we even pay any power. The access fee is almost always more than the cost of the electricity we use,” he says.

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Homeland SPRING 2020

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

PHOTO COURTESY MONTANA STOCKGROWERS ASSOCIATION

The Reukaufs use a well-planned pasture conservation rotation (they were finalists in the 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award Program)

With use of solar energy comes gained wisdom, and adaptations to make the systems work best for their needs. The Reukaufs use a well-planned pasture conservation rotation (they were finalists in the 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award Program) and have designed some of their solar panel systems on trailers so they can pull them to the next well site when they move the cattle. This allows them to maintain fewer panel systems. They have also installed electric switches on all their solar pumps which let them convert to a fuel-powered generator and pump all night if needed. Most of their solar arrays consist of three or four 300-watt panels.

Even before adapting to solar, Reukauf has worked his lifetime to implement better water dispersion systems. On the top of a hill they set half of an old railroad car, reconfigured into a 10,000-gallon storage tank, with pipelines running to different pastures tanks. The lift from the bottom of the well to the tank

is about 330 feet. “That takes a pretty hefty set of solar pumps to run that,” he says.

Reukauf says the cost of a solar pump is higher than a regular electric submersible pump – around $2,000 compared to $500 or so, and he says with the heavy use theirs get they only seem to last four to seven years. The electric generator converter is about $600, and he estimates a full system costs around $3,500.

Using the resourceful management that has kept him on the land for three generations, Reukauf has partnered with several neighbors in the area to form a solar pump dealership so they are able to buy them at wholesale prices.

As solar continues to become a viable option for ranch water, those who utilize it will likely view it as just another way of making things better in their way of life that, for generations, has always been “off the grid.”

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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Fence to Last

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

PHOTOS BY KRISTEN SCHURR.

By Kaycee Monnens

T

he old saying “good fences make good neighbors” may always ring true, but perhaps even more relevant is “good fences save time.” As technology and ideas evolve, the process of fencing is ever-changing. Naturally, the fence must serve its purpose based on livestock type, location, longevity, and needs of the rancher.

The accessibility of social media and the internet brings the sharing of ideas and tools that help everyday tasks on the ranch run more smoothly. One such avid poster is Malcolm MacLean of Bonnyville, Alberta. His YouTube series is called “Ranch Hacks.”

His video of a homemade gate latch went viral on social media. He explained that it was built by welding two horseshoes together, the bottoms of one attached to the round top of another. One horseshoe serves as a smooth handle, while the other fits neatly over the wire gate post. The slip-on contraption is attached to the solid post with two heavy-tension springs. For anyone tall enough to reach the handle, opening the gate is a cinch.

MacLean builds his own fencing pliers/hammers, dubbed “plammers,” his own T post pounder with stops on the inside, and several other contraptions to help the everyday rancher fence with less headache.

Of course, one of the best hacks for fencing is not a trick at all, but a philosophy. Robin Ferguson of Crawford, Nebrasa says, “As with most things in life, build it right the first time so you don’t have to redo it.” This is interpreted differently based on a rancher’s needs, but many ranchers in the Tri State Livestock News area are in agreement on larger points of building fence.

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“If you can afford pipe corrals, do it over wooden ones that may rot,” says Ferguson. Terry Kudlock of Belle Fourche, South Dakota said, “Pipe corrals, pipe corners.

Do it once, done for a lifetime.” Pipe, though more expensive, is a good choice in working corrals. Livestock have less of a chance of doing damage to the fence and themselves, which is less of a headache for all involved.

Longevity in a rancher’s fence is important. Fixing fence will always be part of the job, but if the fence can last decades instead of years, the cost of time and materials may be worth it.

Jacob Mader of Stillwater Fencing and Ranch Service in Columbus, Montana provides a good rule of thumb when considering building a fence: “Don’t consider the cost of the fence up front but consider the cost per year the fence does its job. The fencing industry is evolving rapidly with new technology that can extend the life of your fence and lower the time needed for upkeep. A winwin situation,” he says.

As a professional fence contractor, he is on the cutting edge of ideas tailored to longevity. A newer advance in the fencing industry is triple-galvanized fencing wire. Mader says, “The old stuff kind of has 5 to 10 year life expectancy on it. This newer wire I’ve been getting has a 20-40 year life expectancy in our dry climate, which is huge cost savings.”

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Gaucho Wire was recently popular because the thick, high-carbon wire required fewer posts. However, Mader explains that it’s “nasty stuff to work with. It springs back.”

Instead, he uses Tornado Wire. It has the same benefits and none of the disadvantages of working with Gaucho Wire.

“Instead of having a T-post every 10-12 feet like on a cheap wire, you can go to 20-24 feet. Your cost savings right there is huge if you’re putting in half the posts,” he says.

Down to the nitty gritty of building fence, corner posts and H braces are an integral starting point. Mader has worked out his own formula for the foundation of his fences: “When I drive a steel pipe, I’m putting it 5.5 ft in the ground. It sounds super excessive, but it’s not. I’m allergic to concrete, because I don’t put it in anything.

Depth, in the undisturbed soil, driven, is proven to be stronger than concrete.” He says that the 5.5 ft of soil will outperform 3 feet of concrete every time.

“I use an angle brace over a traditional H brace. It’s stronger and the testing backs it up,” he says. The cross brace on his angle braces are 2.5 times the height of the fence. “If the height of the fence is 4 feet, the cross brace should be 10 ft long, at a minimum,” he says.

Ideal materials for posts may vary, based on location.

“In our climate, we can get away with using drill stem pipe to extend the life of the fence, over wood, because we

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

try to split a pasture in ways to keep as much of the water sources in use at a time as possible. Rather than putting one tank in every pasture we split it up so they can drink from multiple sources at the same time.”

have readily available stem pipe. In wetter climates, you can get ahold of a galvanized high tensile steel post. It’s thinner and lighter,” Mader says.

Another professional contractor, Devin Reppe of Frontline Construction in Lewistown, Montana, has a similar approach: “I switched to all pipe braces about 2015.

I’m kind of old school and still weld mine.

I have seen too many of the bolt-together ones fail or pull. Put a brace at every significant elevation.”

Naturally, a fence done “right” should be easy to work with and easy to look at.

Naturally, a fence done “right” should be easy to work with and easy to look at. Wace Snook of Hulett, Wyoming maintains that after the fence is built, a good gate is crucial. “It’s what everyone sees and what you deal with the most.” He recommends pre-stretching the gate wire and avoiding twist-on gate stays.

Reppe is also conscientious of land and cattle needs while installing perimeter and cross fences, which decreases the chance of having to rebuild fence out of necessity for grass or water. “On cross fences we Page always 0972.cc63.ad.qxp_Layout 1 2/24/20 10:47 AM 1

Mader adds a final tip to building fence with the least headache: “And of course the easiest way is just higher: Have me or one of my colleagues do it for you.”

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PHOTOS BY KRISTEN SCHURR.

R

By Teresa Clark

ural living comes with its perks, but homeowners have a lot to consider when making that move to the country.

Along with locating drainage and electrical, is designing a functional driveway.

The first step is determining what regulations the homeowner may need to follow. Jesse Tippmann, owner of Groundbreaking Construction in Piedmont, South Dakota, says homeowners who build in the country may need to obtain an approach permit with their county. An approach permit indicates where the county would prefer the entrance to the driveway be located, and if there is a particular setback.

Another consideration is storm water flows. “If a person has a piece of property and the only access to that property is from an existing road with a low spot, they may need to consider putting in a large culvert or some stabilization material, like large rock, in the soft or wet areas,” Tippmann explains.

Failing to consider low spots that can become flooded is one of the biggest mistakes Tippmann has seen landowners make when putting in a driveway. “In late August

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DRIVEWAY planning and building considerations

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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One of the considerations in planning a driveway is considering what kind of vehicles the road will need to accommodate, how much they weight and how frequently it will be traveled.

32

or September, no one is thinking about spring rains because it is dry. They may not take into account that they are building their driveway in a low spot that will later hold water. When they drive around it and through it, the driveway will fail and rut up. You will lose your gravel and push it right into the muck. It is a loss of time, gravel and money,” he says.

How much will it cost?

Similarly, it’s important to observe where the snow typically blows, and lays. In some cases, a wellplaced curve or moving the driveway a few feet can help avoid snow removal issues.

The next consideration is determining the makeup of the subsurface material. If it’s clay, gumbo or sand, the homeowner may need to purchase four, six or 12 inches of stabilization material.

Stability is crucial. Tippmann recommends building a driveway right the first time. “It might require investing a little bit more money, but in the long run, it could be beneficial and will prevent a lot of future maintenance,” he says.

If the homeowner is building a driveway to a single family dwelling, only an eight to 12 feet wide driveway is needed. But if it is a rural ranch or farm where a lot of large farm equipment will be using the road, they may need a driveway that is 14-16 feet wide.

Homeland SPRING 2020

When determining how much the driveway will cost, homeowners need to consider the length of the driveway. It determines the amount of material that will be necessary for the project, and how much topsoil will need to be stripped off.

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Pick a material suitable for the area In order to establish what material to use to build the driveway, the landowner will need to take a sample of the material that is just below the topsoil or sod. “In our area, we have varying materials from one mile to the next,” Tippmann says. “What I recommend is getting an idea of what the subsoil looks like six inches to a foot below the topsoil. The very best situation would be finding a gravely, sandy, stone-type material. If you’re dealing with a situation like that, less top material would be needed,” he says.

However, if the subsoil is a clay or gumbo-type material, Tippmann says he would recommend a material like three-inch minus rock placed first, to a thickness of 4 to 6inches, and then topped with finer, three-quarter inch road gravel.

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Preparation is important Tippmann advises homeowners to make sure the topsoil and organic material is removed before putting down rock for a driveway. Topsoil can be squishy and soft, and as the organic material breaks down, it almost turns into a slime. “If you put the gravel right over grass, you are asking for future failure, possibly as soon as six months to a year,” he says.

“What we typically do is scrape off all the top soil and then build on top of the subsurface material. We loosen the subsurface, and then put rock on top of it. We pack the rock into the subsurface after we apply it,” Tippmann says.

Materials are readily available Driveway materials, like crushed stone, are usually available. However, in Nebraska and some other areas, homeowners may opt for screened river rock.

River rock is dug out of the ground and sized with a mechanical screen to make a consistent product.

If homeowners wish to use products other than gravel for their driveway, they may be looking at more expense. Tippmann says asphalt can cost around $6-$7 a square foot, installed, and 4 inches thick. “Heavy vehicles would be a concern with asphalt. Fourinch asphalt doesn’t typically hold up well under heavy tractors and vehicles,” he says.

S

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ue yerS, ALC Re/Max Real Estate Group 719-209-0364 Cell/Direct gorgeouscolorado.com 34

Homeland SPRING 2020

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

For rural residents who live in areas where the soil is fragile, like the Nebraska Sandhills, options are available.

One is Geotextiles, which can help stabilize roads that are susceptible to blowouts, sink holes, and ruts.

Geotextiles are similar in texture to a thick, heavy duty, feltlike material, Tippmann says. It allows water to travel through it, but locks the surface gravel together. Another type of Geotextile is a nylon mesh with three-quarter-inch square holes.

Tippmann says both types of materials can last more than 60 years. “With the vinyl material, I don’t know if it would ever degrade,” he says. Geotextiles come in big rolls that are 12 feet wide and 200-300 feet long, and can be purchased at local contracting supply businesses.

Helpful hints for DIY

The product can be used to bridge soft spots on the road. “We use it quite a bit in road construction if there is a soft spot or an area we can’t get to dry out. The Geotextile locks everything together,” he says. But, preparation is key. Tippmann recommends stripping off the topsoil before putting the Geotextile down, and then placing six inches of gravel over the top of it.

Many contractors are also willing to share their resources with a person who is trying to be a general contractor building their own home. “A contractor will be able to tell you where you can get gravel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hire them. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to give you a helping hand,” Tippmann says.

For the do-it-yourself homeowner, building a driveway may seem a bit intimidating, but Tippmann says resources are readily available. “I would start with some of the local contractors.

There are a lot of guys out there who are willing to come out to your home site and do a test hole for you. I have done that for people in the past to give them an idea of what the subsurface conditions are,” he says.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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Native by Nature When Gary and Carol Bodeen lived near Maxwell, Neb., their yard was a mix of buffalograss and blue grama. The native grasses required very little input, and even though they watered them, very little mowing.

Native and low-maintenance species are becoming popular choices for lawns

S

By Ruth Nicolaus

pring and summer time bring a plethora of outside chores. There’s the usual work around the farm and ranch, and then the lawn requires more time, too.

Low- and no-maintenance lawns can offer the appeal of requiring less time and money.

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The most common low-maintenance grass for the Great Plains is buffalograss.

Native to America’s mid-section, buffalograss varieties have been developed to grow well as lawn cover.

Paul Thorson, along with his sister and their parents, run Todd Valley Farms at Mead, Neb., and start buffalograss, selling it across the nation.

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Buffalograss offers many advantages for low- and no-maintenance lawns, Thorson said. Mainly, it requires less water and mowing.

“In general, with bluegrass or tall fescue, you mow once a week,” he said. “With buffalo, it depends on what type of look you’re going for. If you want to keep it more tight and manicured it can be mowed every two weeks. But if you’re looking for groundcover, or for a short prairie-type look, you can mow it as little as once a month or let it go all year.” If it’s mowed only once a year, Thorson said, vegetative varieties of the plant will get six to eight inches tall. For the seeded varieties, the seed heads grow a bit taller.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL BODEEN

Buffalograss comes in several varieties. Todd Valley Farms offers three main ones: Legacy, Prestige and UC Verde. The first two varieties were developed by the University of Nebraska Turfgrass Research Program; the third one was developed by the University of California and is a better fit for hot climates.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL BODEEN

Prairie lawns can add aesthetic variety to an environment and require little or no watering.

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Planting buffalograss can be done in one of three ways: sod, seeding and plugs. Buffalo sod is more expensive than bluegrass or fescue sod and “more of a pain,” Thorson said, because it tends to fall apart. Seed is hard to establish, he said, because “buffalo is pickier about how it germinates.” Todd Valley Farms sells buffalograss via sod or plugs. The plugs, which are 1 ¼ inches around and two inches long, are planted every twelve to eighteen inches apart. Over the course of three months, they will fill in.

Another choice for low-maintenance lawns is zoysia grass. Zoysia, which isn’t native, requires less water than bluegrass but more than buffalograss. It grows thick and chokes out weeds, Thorson said, but can be very invasive. “It spreads underground through long rhizomes that pop up anywhere: in flower beds, even under the sidewalks, from one side to the other.” Buffalograss

spreads by stolons, which are plant runners that take root at points along its length to form new plants.

One of the biggest advantages to buffalograss is that it requires very little water. When drought hits, as it does every few years, buffalograss survives when bluegrass lawns might not. “The one big advantage, and it’s a big one, is that in a lot of situations you don’t need sprinklers at all,” Thorson said. In general, bluegrass or fescue requires an inch of water a week. Buffalograss is onefourth to one-half inch a week, Thorson said.

It does have some disadvantages, mainly cosmetic.

As a warm season grass, it doesn’t green up till May and goes dormant in September or October, so it looks brown for longer than bluegrass. Its natural color is light green, not the dark green that comes with bluegrass or fescue. It’s not as soft to walk on, and it doesn’t grow as

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thick as bluegrass or fescue, which means more issues with weeds.

Buffalograss also likes sunlight. It does not do well in shady areas, Thorson said.

In the 1980s, the University of Nebraska’s Turfgrass Research Program worked with the U.S. Golf Association to identify and propagate alternate grasses for use on golf courses. Those grasses were to require less management input, including water and fertilizer.

Buffalograss was a perfect fit for the Great Plains, said Keenan Amundsen, associate professor and graduate chair of agronomy and horticulture.

In addition to the Legacy and Prestige varieties, the university has developed other varieties, like Cody, Bowie and Sundancer.

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Amundsen said buffalograss is usually pest-free.

Leaf spot disease sometimes afflicts it, but buffalograss “naturally grows out of it itself,” he said. The disease “can damage it but it will be fine.”

The biggest pest for buffalograss is chinch bugs, Amundsen said.

Chinch bugs are nearly impossible to see, Thorson said, and a damaged lawn is proof of their presence.

He has a way to find them. “Put a coffee can cylinder with the bottom cut off, stuck an inch or so in the ground. Fill it with water, wait a few minutes, and you’ll start to see bugs float to the surface. They’re really tiny little things and hard to see with the naked eye.”

Thorson said buffalograss can withstand the bugs if they are treated with an insecticide. The grass “is pretty resilient. You might think it’s all gone but the next year it will come back. It might take a while, but usually you won’t lose it unless you wait a long time.”

There aren’t too many other bugs that affect buffalograss, he said. The root system is deep, so there are no issues with grubs, June bugs and Japanese beetles.

Carol Bodeen and her husband Gary had a low maintenance yard when they lived on their acreage near Maxwell, Neb.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL BODEEN

The Bodeens, Maxwell, Neb., seeded their lawn to a mixture of buffalograss and blue grama. The blue grama grows in bunches which seemed to stabilize the soil and allowed the buffalograss to take hold.

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PHOTO COURTESY KEENAN AMUNDSEN AND THE UNIV. OF NEBRASKA TURFGRASS RESEARCH CENTER.

Prestige buffalograss is one variety developed by the University of Nebraska Turfgrass Research Center.

It was a buffalograss/blue grama mix, which Bodeen said worked well. The blades from the two grasses are similar, she said, which made it look like the same kind of grass.

The blue grama, which is native to the Great Plains, grew in bunches which seemed to offer more soil stabilization and helped the buffalograss establish.

It was very, very time consuming to plant them and I just didn’t feel like they took off as nearly as well as seeding.”

As for maintenance, she and her husband chose to spend more time on their lawn than it would have needed. They chose to pull weeds by hand, instead of spraying them. “We babied it, and it was gorgeous.”

The mixture of the grasses, for the Bodeens, was a good fit. “The colors are about the same and the growth rate was about the same,” she said. “We did an equal mixture. We hand seeded and then raked it in and watered.”

What was an advantage to them was less mowing. They chose to water it often. “We wanted it pretty,” she said.

“Even when we watered it, we probably mowed three or four times through the whole season, when everybody else is mowing their bluegrass every five days.”

Seeding worked for her and her husband. “We had worked on a couple of projects where they planted the plugs of buffalograss, and I didn’t think it was worth it.

The Bodeens had a piece of prairie lawn, seeded with native grasses, and after a few years, other natives they hadn’t planted returned, she said, including lead plant,

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL BODEEN

Gary and Carol Bodeen’s buffalograss and blue grama yard was low maintenance, requiring three or four mowings a season.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL EAKINS

Daryl Cisney, Ogallala, Neb., has a strip of prairie lawn in his back yard. It is low maintenance, requiring weeding three or four times a year and cutting back once a year, in the spring.

gray-headed coneflower, liatris, prairie clover, larkspur, little penstemon, and aster.

It also brought back an insect that became very useful to the Bodeens: the dung beetle. The couple has several dogs, and in the summer, the dung beetles took care of any “piles” the dogs left. “Their feces would be gone in a day.”

Daryl Cisney lives in Ogallala, Neb., and has had a bit of prairie lawn in his backyard for the past fifteen years.

A 12-foot by 18-foot strip of his backyard was planted to a variety of native grasses: switch grass, big bluestem, Indian grass, eastern grama grasses, and more.

It has flourished, with rainwater only; Cisney has never watered it, even in the first few years as it got established. The biggest part of maintenance for his prairie lawn is weeding.

“You’ll inevitably get some kochia and sunflower, and the milkweed will drift in,” he said. He weeds it three to four times a year, but usually leaves the milkweed for bees and other pollinators. “I try to get the kochia out because it can start to over-compete with other grasses.”

Once a year, usually in mid to late-April, Cisney cuts the lawn back to about six inches tall and takes off much of the organic material. “A lot of people don’t understand that if you just plant grass and leave it alone, in a matter of years, it will cease to be pro-

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ductive grassland. You have to do a bit of work with it every year. You don’t have to remove all the stuff but it has to be a fairly thin layer to decompose and keep soil health up.”

His neighbors had their doubts when his strip of prairie lawn first started growing. “Most of the neighbors probably thought there’s a guy who doesn’t give a rat’s bottom about what goes on” in his yard, he said. “A lot of people aren’t excited about the wild appearance.” Other neighbors were worried that the native grasses would spread across the street, which it didn’t.

Cisney says the day is approaching when the low inputs of native grasses will be more appealing to people for lawns. “I think we’ll get to the point when water becomes the most precious resource we have and we’ll have a lot of people going towards native grasses that can survive on their own without the fertilizer and the additional water.”

Amundsen, associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, summed it up.

Native grasses, including buffalograss, “is really this low input management,” he said. “That’s important for every sector. We’re trying to cut back on irrigation, pesticides and fertilizer. Whether it’s related to a potential environmental concern or resource conservation or the economics of not having to pay for it, those are huge assets for native grasses.”

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Getting Moving

tips for taking the stress out of

THE MOVING PROCESS

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

By Megan Silveria

“I

’ve never met someone who likes moving,” says Tyler Thomas, assistant operational manager at Thomas and Sons Moving Company in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Thomas, like many others, knows that while moving may be tedious, it is a necessary process for many families.

Moving companies, like Thomas and Sons, are a great option for families both moving down the street or across the country, he said.

“There is a lot that all needs to happen simultaneously,” Thomas said. “We do our best to make the moving part of it stress-free.”

From closing on the new location to packing and changing utilities to the new address, Thomas said the list of necessary actions for the homeowner can be overwhelming. Thomas said the team at his moving company strives to simplify their customers’ lives by taking over the physical aspects of tasks like packing boxes and loading moving vehicles.

Thomas said his company is unique in the fact that they will assist in whatever tasks they can during the process so long as it does not put their employees at risk.

ifying that they have the proper insurance and Department of Transportation number. DOT numbers can be searched online, and Thomas suggests doing so.

The DOT publishes a pamphlet that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the moving company and the customer. This pamphlet is online at fmcsa.dot/gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/ files/docs/Rights-and-Responsibilities-2013.pdf.

While hiring moving company has its high points, it’s just not an option to everyone. In this instance, Thomas offers some suggestions to help make the moving process easier.

As families begin to pack their household items away, Thomas said they need to take whatever time is necessary to properly care for them.

“We’re just here to help,” he adds. Thomas said this is part of the benefit of hiring local moving companies – besides being eager to work with customers, local companies are also able to go above and beyond.

When it comes time for a family to select a moving company, Thomas suggests checking out former customers’ reviews, and ver-

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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“If you care about your belongings, take the time required to make sure they’re safe,” he said. This means using extra paper on fragile items or taking extra care when moving items around.

As individuals begin to place those items in boxes, Thomas said the process becomes even more technical.

He said boxes should be packed by which room the items shall be placed in at the new home rather than the room they came from.

Thomas also said fragile items should be packed with other delicate items, and all heavy items should be boxed up together. Boxes should be labeled on the topside and at least one side, he added, with labels stating what room boxes belong in as well as what’s inside.

When packing the boxes in a vehicle to be moved, Thomas said heavy boxes should be placed on the bottom of stacks while fragile and lightweight items are placed on top. Thomas said families should also think through their travel route while packing boxes. All boxes should be secured with straps, ropes or twine to prevent shifting or falls during the moving process.

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Farther distances will bring more bumps and rough roads, Thomas said, making the stacking and packing of boxes even more crucial to the success of moving.

As individuals begin to move boxes, Thomas said it’s important to lift correctly to help prevent injury.

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“Lift with your legs and lift square.

Don’t be reaching down or bending awkwardly,” Thomas says. “Don’t hurt yourself. That’s typically what people hate the most about moving.”

While not professionals, some of our friends on Facebook have moved enough times to be considered professionals, and offer these tips they’ve learned from their own experience.

To help save boxes, Amanda Fetters suggests leaving clothes in dressers and taping drawers shut.

She also suggests using a trash bag with a small hole cut in the bottom to move clothes on hangers. A shower curtain rod can be extended across the back seat of a vehicle, and the clothes on hangers in trash bags can be hung there.

Lindsay Wade suggests packing things as tightly as possible, and evenly distributing the weight. “When you pack stuff in perfectly tight, there’s less room for jostling and falling,” she says. “Everything arrives intact.”

Barbi Dailey says it’s worth the extra time and expense to use consistent-sized boxes, so they stack evenly. She also suggests loading a row, then strapping or tying those items down, so if one thing shifts it doesn’t move the whole trailer.

Taylor Lynn Kenyon uses socks to pack fragile glasses, and uses t-shirts for packing between plates.

If you’re moving animals, Dianne Hodge says to plan to move them last, so you can get their new homes ready, and will then be on hand when they’re settling in. Keep in mind the necessities, like food, water dishes and medicine that may be needed on the way, or immediately upon arrival, and pack those where they’ll be easily accessible. She also recommends using a different color of marker to mark all the boxes from each room, and says to pack clothes by season, so you won’t have to worry about unpacking the clothes that are out of season until you need them later.

Ellen Sanderson says she tries to sort out the things she’ll need right away, like kitchen and bathroom essentials, and pack them last, so they’ll be the first unloaded and unpacked.

Thomas said moving isn’t exactly an enjoyable task for most people, but it does not have to spark fear in the hearts of new homeowners.

Whether individuals can employ the uses of a moving company or not, Thomas said by planning and working with care, moving can be a manageable process.

And if you really can’t face the task, take Anna Thomas’s advice, “Make two piles and burn them both.”

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FLOORED

Tile is an incredibly durable option of flooring, though the cost to install and installation process are greater.

BY FLOORING OPTIONS

Durable flooring that holds up in a ranch home

L

By Savanna Simmons

ike most things on the ranch, flooring in ranch homes, especially mud rooms and kitchens can take a beating, showing wear far sooner than those in urban homes. Tracking in of mud and small stones and consistent use yield worn-out surfaces, though carefully choosing a higher-quality material can result in a floor that lasts longer.

“This is a great time to be selling flooring,” said Theresa Hershey of CLT Floorings and Furnishings in Newcastle, Wyoming. “I couldn’t be more excited about the floorings we have now than any other time.”

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) was the most recommended flooring material by both Hershey and Desireé Monger, a project manager at Quality Floor Covering LLC, in Gillette, Wyoming, and Rapid City.

The readily-available material has replaced laminate flooring from days of old, but in more mod-

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ern patterns and colors. Most often, LVT is seen in rustic or rich wood tones, and some LVT has realistic wood grain imprints on the product.

“You’re able to do wilder patterns that you can’t typically do with hardwood like white-washes or grays,” Monger said.

The almost rubbery surface is soft and warm underfoot, unlike its hardwood counterpart, Monger said, and is waterproof, mold-proof, easy to install, and cost-effective. LVT can be installed over nearly any floor type or subfloor—just not carpet—and

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

Hardwood isn’t the most durable flooring option, but if it’s absolutely desired for the home, then hickory and oak are the strongest choices.

it requires very few tools for installation. It floats over other floorings and is not adhered to anything below.

“If you have flooring that is kind of a problem, but you don’t want to glue the flooring down, solid vinyl click flooring is great,” Hershey said. “The other thing is the core they put in it makes it to where it’s a lot harder to indent.”

The cost ranges from $1.89 up to about $5 per square foot. Most of the LVT products in stock at Quality Floor Covering have a 25-year to lifetime residential warranty, but Monger said, in a ranch setting, “Realistically, you can expect it to have its shine and natural luster and

still look good for about 15 years.”

Tile is Monger’s next recommendation in terms of flooring indestructibility, however, the installation of tile is a far greater undertaking versus that of LVT. “Tile offers a traditional look that increases value, is super resilient and strong, and doesn’t scratch very easily,” she said.

Installation of tile requires a tile saw to cut tiles to fit the space, then they are mudded to the subflooring below, leveled, spaced, and grouted. Grout is being

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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Luxury Vinyl Tile is the most recommended of flooring options for ranch homes due to the ease of install, cost, and durability.

Photos courtesy of Quality Floor Covering 52

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

offered as already waterproof, so the final step in waterproofing the grout has been eliminated. While tile is possible for a DIYer to install, it is not as easy to accomplish as laying LVT. Tile is sold in a variety of designs, sizes, shapes, and price points, and it can be taken up a wall to create a completely waterproof area, such as in a mudroom. It generally ranges from $6 to $15 per square foot, though cheaper options are available.

With tile, Monger said, you get what you pay for.

“Tiles are great and beautiful, but they’re kind of cold,” Hershey said.

Click-together tiles have entered the flooring scene in the last decade as a flooring option that is easier to install but has the durability and look of tile. The tiles are clicked together rather than bonded to the subfloor, but they still require a tile saw for installation.

The flexible grout that accompanies click-together tiles ensures they move as needed, but the porcelain tiles offer the durability to last. The click-together tiles run around $6 per square foot and concrete board doesn’t need to be laid below this product.

Hardwood options are as plentiful as colors of horses, it seems, but not all hardwoods are created equal. Hickory and oak are amongst the most durable of hardwoods, Monger said, and she recommends staying away from alder and pine in high-traffic areas of homes.

Monger advises against pre-finished hardwoods and instead encourages her clients to opt for installing unfinished raw woods that can be finished out after.

“If you go with the sand and finish option, you save money on the raw wood and you save money on the installation,” she said. “With the cost that you pay for pre-finished, you could upgrade your wood and still pay for it to be stained and sealed. If, in 10 years, you don’t like it, you can sand it and refinish it in a different color.”

Most pre-finished woods can’t be sanded and refinished or are more costly to do so.

Engineered hardwoods withstand conditions in this region better than in more humid-areas. When hard-

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WYOMING HOME ON 70 ACRES $1,250,000

Amazing home & property in NE Wyoming. Private location with great views. 3-bed, 2.5-bath home is top-quality in every way. Quartz counters, tile floors, open living area, large covered deck & much more, all on 70 acres. Robert Gerkin, Broker / Owner 605-645-0301.

48 ACRE EQUINE PROPERTY $650,000

State-of-the-art horse barns on 48 acres near Sundance, Wyoming. 3 barns set up for care of horses & livestock. Insulated barns, individual stalls w/electric, inside water, much more. Fenced paddocks. Outstanding property! Robert Gerkin, Broker / Owner 605-645-0301.

605.892.2113 • www.tristaterealty.com • Licensed in SD, WY, MT & ND TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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For areas where carpet is desired, choosing a highdense polyester carpet that matches the dirt to a degree can make for a flooring that can withstand ranch traffic.

woods dry out, Hershey said, they can separate, leaving hard-to-clean, dust- and debris-filled cracks.

“In a ranch house, find a hardwood with a lot of character, so it isn’t a real smooth, shiny finish,” Hershey said. “Otherwise it will show the scratches.”

Hardwood varies in cost up to about $10 per square foot.

Carpet is undeniably the coziest of flooring option, however, the cleanliness of it can be questionable. Monger recommends a dense carpet, whether short or long pile, in

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polyester, which is incredibly stain resistant.

She also recommends, for ranch houses, choosing a color that works with the dirt outside. “If you have a red mud color, pick that,” she said.

Hershey recommended Arrow brand by Mohawk as a great option for cleanliness.

The pad is already attached to the carpet, and it is the most hypoallergenic on the market, she said.

Carpet costs from about $2 to $4 per square foot, but generally must be professionally installed.

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

WHAT RANCHERS READ

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y l i m a f All in the

Weinreis family builds business on hard work & team work

C

By Maria Tibbetts

huck Weinreis and his six brothers never learned to cause conflict.

“Our father kept us so busy we didn’t have time to stand around and argue and hassle over stuff. We went and got the work done, and maybe another brother would show up to help you with it.”

That attitude carries through to today, 60 years later, when all seven are still in business together. Their business spans several states and recently added a 30,000-acre ranch in northwestern South Dakota.

“Everybody does whatever needs to be done. From what I see, that’s the only thing

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

that makes something work,” Chuck said.

Chuck is the oldest boy—their family also included five sisters. “I’m the chief ditch-digger. We don’t use titles around our outfit.”

Their outfit now includes the children of Chuck and his brothers, and the same attitude is being taught to another generation.

Weinreis Brother, LLC, started in the southwest corner of North Dakota on a place homesteaded by their grandparents. When their parents and grandparents started in the business, it was still the homesteader mentality. “You put enough groceries away for the winter and put away a few dollars to buy shoes and clothes. There weren’t any handouts in those days,” Chuck said. “I kind of yearn for those days now.”

The family business doesn’t much resemble the couple quarters their grandparents homesteaded. It’s still basically agriculture, but that spans from farming to finishing cattle.

Though they own segments of every part of the beef production chain, except packing, they face the same major challenge as everyone else in the business—a lack of control over the end product price. But being diversified helps even things out a little. “I guess just because you do a lot of this, from the farming to the cow-calf to the feedlot, doesn’t mean it’s going to be a success, because we don’t have much control over the pricing as it leaves our hands.”

What they do have some control over is their input costs. Their been able to grow their business by making sure their expansions were sustainable from a cost and

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management angle, and are supported by the whole family. ‘We do things as a unit,” Chuck said.

“Our father bought land when there was opportunity to do so, and that’s been carried on,” Chuck said. Their father ran his own place most of his life, and the boys all worked together to build their own business. Not long before their dad died, they took over his business.

Their most recent land acquisition, the Spear S Ranch in Meade and Butte County, South Dakota, is one they plan to use for running yearlings. It’s been operated as a cow-calf ranch, but with a few small changes, Chuck says it will suit its new purpose well. “The grass was excellent on it. It seemed like a good investment.” They don’t plan to make a lot of improvements or changes until they have owned it for a while, and see where changes need to be made for their purposes.

JD Hewitt, Hewitt Land Company, the realtor who facilitated the sale, said the place, which was sold at auction, is one of the biggest they’ve handled, and they were happy to see it pass into the hands of a ranch family.

Weinreis Brothers Back row left to right: Daniel Weinreis, George Weinreis, Lee Weinreis, Jerry Weinreis Front row left to right: Jim Weinreis, Gene Weinreis, Chuck Weinreis

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

“We’re delighted any time we can work with people who know ranching and are in the ranching business and looking to expand. They’re salt-of-the-earth and we’re tickled to be able to have them as clients.”

Your Dream Vacation Home Awaits!

Weinreis Brothers own another ranch about 1012 miles away, as the crow flies, so they’ll be able to use some of the same help to run both places.

The new ranch will be managed by a member of the family, as one of their business policies is that they never hire a manager.

“We’ve always worked fairly well together. The secret to it was we always had more to do than we could get done, so we appreciated everyone being there,” Chuck said.

More Condo for Your Buck Enjoy winters by the Sea of Cortez with this 2B2B condo on the beach and increase income during the high (hot) season thru on-site rental program. $259,000 Contact Sharon 638-384-4272 • walkshawk@hotmail.com or Lisa Morey 520-348-0348 • lisamoreymx@gmail.com TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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“Our father bought land when there was opportunity to do so, and that’s been carried on...”

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

E S T.

1 9 8 0

Local, national, and international livestock industry news

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www.theFencePost.com *$90 for 104 issues (2 years) and $50 for 52 issues (one year) rate valid for all new and renewing subscribers. Special rate not dependent on length of subscription. Must call 800275-5646 to subscribe at this rate. Subscribers will be billed one time at $90 for 104 issues or $50 for 52 issues. All subscriptions include full digital access to our online edition at www.thefencepost.com. A sincere thanks from all of us here at The Fence Post.

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Under All Is The Land

THE WRENCH RANCH

SHERIDAN COUNTY, WYOMING $14 Million  8,320 +/- Total acres Own a Very Transitionally Significant Ranch on the North Edge of Sheridan, WY; Endless Possibilities!

THE BIG HORNS MOUNTAIN RANGE

SHERIDAN WYOMING THE ICONIC WRENCH RANCH POWERS LAND BROKERAGE, LLC  PO Box 8, Sheridan, WY 82801 info@powerslandbrokerage.com  (307) 217-2777

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

NEBRASKA PANHANDLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE

MINGE RANCH-PRICE REDUCED: The Minge Ranch is located southwest of Gering with property size estimated between 790 and 800 acres. Close location to Town with good fencing, a good water system for cattle coupled with a modern 3 bedroom brick home in top condition. High quality B&C Steel buildings and sheds. This is a very well managed and maintained property in a beautiful area.

MORRILL COUNTY RIVER LISTING: 402 Assessor acres North Platte River ground, irrigated grazing, and accretion located just southeast of Bayard. Very accessible from Highway #92. About 9/10th mile River frontage, plus water rights on the grassland under Chimney Rock Irrigation. Deer, turkey and waterfowl plus a large tract of grazing land for income.

MELBETA PIVOT IRRIGATED FARM: 214+/- acres located just northeast of Cochran Lake on the east side of Wright’s Gap Road. Pivot is a 2008 Pierce system with drops that covers about 119 acres. There is also over 60 acres in a gravity irrigated field plus the field corners. Excellent location just half a mile south of Highway #92, and hard surfaced road on the west and south sides. Land under the pivot is 85% Class I/II. COMBINATION “80”: Small farm with combination of 25 acres of gently sloping gravity irrigated cropland, and 50 acres of canyon wildlife habitat. The habitat is in a canyon corridor from the south hills to the Valley which should be traveled by deer, upland game, and other species. The main house is a nicely updated 2 bed/2 bath home with basement. There is also a 2010 double wide mobile home in good condition. Outbuildings are set up to accommodate the horse lover with barn and large, open pen plus quonset, open front shed, shop building and detached double garage.

Striking view of the hills on the south Valley rim, and close location to Town.

76+/- ACRES: Located on East 42nd Street. Quality soils in gently sloping fields with long rows. Adjacent to existing subdivisions. Top producer with great location on the north side of Town. Investment Opportunity!

62 +/- ACRES: East 27th and Sugar Factory Road. 60.9 acres water right under Enterprise Irrigation. Outstanding location with good crop production. Close to services, and Highway #26. Investment Opportunity!

MORE INFORMATION, MAPS AND PICTURES ON THE ABOVE PROPERTIES ON WEBSITE!

Helberg and Nuss Auctions & Realty 1145 M Street, Gering, NE 69341

308.436.4056

www.helbergnussauction.com

LAND IS OUR SPECIALTY from

For Sale to Sold with integrity – fairness – honesty

Advertiser Index Clark & Associates Land...............Inside Front Cover Country Land And Homes LLC............................... 48 Diamond B Realty LLC............................................. 11 Dominic Heck............................................................ 20 Farm Credit Services ................................................ 33 Fischer Rounds Assoc............................................... 49 Gateway Realty, LLC/Wiggins.................................. 38 Gingerich Structures.................................................. 20 Goodman Realty Co., Inc.......................................... 63 Hall & Hall MT.......................................................... 45 Hayden Outdoors.......................................Back Cover Helberg & Nuss Auctions & Real............................. 63 Hewitt Land Company................................................ 1 High Plains Alcorn Realty........................................ 40 King Homes & Land Realty LLC.............................. 33 Liphatech Inc..................................................... 23 & 24 Mason & Morse Ranch Co.......................................... 6 Morton Buildings/Ft Morgan................................... 29 Nebraska Land Brokers............................................. 35 Powers......................................................................... 62 Premier Properties/Torrington.................................. 5 Remax Real Estate Group......................................... 34

Several Properties Listed for SALE SPECIALIZING IN FARMS & RANCHES & Rural ACREAGES

Schroeder’s All American Homes........Inside Back Cover Sharon Wardell Walks Straight................................. 59 Swan Land Company................................................. 64 Terra West Real Estate Service................................. 42 The Fence Post...................................................... 19, 61 Tri State Realty........................................................... 53 Tri-State Livestock News..................................... 19, 55

142 Main P.O. Box 402 AKRON, CO 80720

Phone: 970-345-2203

Western Realty LLV..................................................... 4

www.goodmanrealtyco.com TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST

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Genuine. Devoted. Proven.

PARKER RANCH | KEYSTONE, NE | NEW LISTING Extremely Well Watered with 47 Windmills & 67± Miles of Pipeline Servicing 120± Tanks WELL SITUATED IN ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE AREAS TO RAISE CATTLE IN NEBRASKA This 28,750± total acre ranch, of which 27,482± are deeded, has consistently supported 1,600± Animal Units. With the ideal combination of abundant grass, unlimited stock water, efficient cross fencing, welldesigned improvements, close proximity to cattle markets and convenient to abundant feed resources, Parker Ranch presents a unique opportunity to invest in one of the cleanest and most efficient ranches on the market. The opportunity to acquire a ranch in turn-key condition is rare in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Offered at $21,500,000 NEW LISTING

TOMAHAWK RANCH DOUGLAS, WY Working Ranch with Recreation

SCHRAUDNER RANCH LAVINA, MT In The Same Family For 100+ Years

THE FRYE PLACE LAVINA, MT Production & Hunting

UNDER ONE HOUR TO CASPER This reputation cattle ranch along La Prele Creek 11 miles southwest of Douglas offers a balanced agricultural operation and abundant wildlife. Carrying capacity is owner rated at 800 cows, plus replacement heifers, bulls and saddle horses on 17,500± total acres, with over 14,000± deeded acres. The varied terrain creates outstanding wildlife habitat.

WELL-BALANCED GRASS RANCH With an abundance of native grasses and plentiful water, this 6,904± deeded acres and 320 State-lease acres will carry 275± mother cows, 30-50 replacements and 15-20 bulls. Part of the Ranch lies in the Bull Mountains offering good biggame hunting. The three noncontiguous parcels can be purchased individually ranging from $900,000 to $2,250,000.

45 MINUTES TO BILLINGS This 2,717± deeded acres at the base of the Bull Mountains with year-round Painted Robe Creek has good big-game hunting and abundant water for livestock and wildlife. 160± pairs are turned out for the season on the healthy and plentiful native grasses. Competitively priced at $825 per acre, or it can be purchased in conjunction with Schraudner Ranch.

Offered at $14,250,000

Offered at $4,900,000

Offered at $2,250,000

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SWANLANDCO.COM | INFO@SWANLANDCO.COM | 866.999.7342 TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS | THE FENCE POST BOZEMAN, MONTANA | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH | BUFFALO & SARATOGA, WYOMING

Homeland SPRING 2020

Modular/Manufactured Homes & Land/Home Packages MOD Base Price without options

DELIVERED AND SET UP

$143,900 UBC/IRC

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Interstate 80 South from I-80 on Greeley Highway, East at the first light on Fox Farm Road one half mile to Schroder’s All American Homes

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ARROWSMITH NIOBRARA RIVER RANCH, NE

4,390 Acres • $4,995,000 • Keya Paha County TERRY CONE (308) 750-1681 and JADE STUNKEL (308) 730-7071

RED HILL RANCH, MT

1,000 Acres • $3,150,000 • Judith Basin Cty. SCOTT SCHULZ (406) 544-8455

SAGE CREEK RANCH, CO

1,056 Acres • $8,500,000 • Eagle Cty. DAX HAYDEN (970) 674-1990

GRAND RIVER LODGE, SD

4,471 Acres • $4,917,999 • Corson Cty. JAKE HYLAND (970) 227-8990

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