Conservation & Stewardship

Caring for the Land, Water, Wildlife, and Livestock

At Wessel Ranch, we believe that good stewardship is one of the most important responsibilities of ranching. Healthy rangelands, reliable water resources, and thriving wildlife are all connected to the long-term success of our cattle operation. Every improvement we make is intended to strengthen both the ranch and the land for future generations.

When our family purchased the ranch near Lavina, Montana, in 2008, it quickly became clear that one of our greatest needs was additional water infrastructure. We partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to evaluate the ranch and develop a long-term conservation plan that would improve grazing management while supporting the area's native wildlife.

A Planned Approach to Grazing

Working alongside NRCS conservationists, Wessel Ranch developed a comprehensive grazing management plan tailored to the ranch's landscape. The plan included the strategic placement of stock water tanks, pipelines, and fencing to improve livestock distribution and allow for a rotational grazing system across the ranch.

The first phase of the project included the installation of twelve stock water tanks and electric fencing to divide larger pastures into smaller grazing units. These improvements gave cattle reliable access to water throughout the ranch while allowing pastures to rest and recover between grazing periods.

Rotational grazing has transformed how the ranch is managed. Rather than continuously grazing the same areas, cattle are moved through a planned system that helps maintain healthy forage, encourages plant recovery, and improves overall range condition.

Even during years of below-average precipitation, these management practices have allowed the ranch to make more efficient use of available forage while reducing dependence on harvested hay.

Improving Wildlife Habitat

The open native rangelands surrounding Wessel Ranch provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including mule deer, elk, antelope, and the Greater Sage-Grouse.

Because the ranch lies within important sage grouse habitat, conservation practices were designed to benefit both livestock and wildlife.

Several improvements were made with wildlife in mind, including:

• Converting marginal cropland back to productive grassland.

• Installing wildlife escape ramps in stock water tanks.

• Using wildlife-friendly electric fencing that allows animals to move safely across the landscape.

• Maintaining large expanses of native rangeland.

These practices improve brood-rearing habitat for sage grouse while also benefiting many other native species.

Working with NRCS

In 2010, Wessel Ranch enrolled in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through NRCS. The ranch became one of the early participants in the Sage Grouse Initiative, a nationwide conservation effort focused on improving sage grouse habitat while supporting working ranches.

The partnership between NRCS and Wessel Ranch helped turn a long-term conservation vision into practical improvements that continue to benefit the ranch today.

Results That Matter

The improvements made through grazing management have produced measurable results.

Healthier pastures, improved grazing distribution, better water availability, and more efficient forage utilization have strengthened the ranch's operation while supporting the wildlife that shares the landscape.

Over the years, our family has also observed increasing numbers of sage grouse, elk, and deer using the ranch.

The conservation work is never truly finished. Wessel Ranch continues to look for opportunities to improve water distribution, grazing management, and rangeland health while producing practical Hereford cattle adapted to eastern Montana.

Looking Ahead

Stewardship is not a one-time project—it is an ongoing commitment.

Every generation inherits the responsibility to care for the land and leave it better than they found it. At Wessel Ranch, we remain committed to responsible grazing management, conservation, and producing quality cattle while protecting Montana's natural resources for generations to come.

Read the Original NRCS Feature

This page summarizes Wessel Ranch's conservation efforts in our own words. To read the original feature published by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), visit:

"Grazing Management Improves Grazing Land for Cattle, Habitat for Wildlife"
Published June 21, 2016 by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Read the original article →