Follow the link below to read an interesting and positive article from today’s Wall Street Journal about the strengthening high-value ranch market:

“The market for large ranches is on the rebound. The recession and droughts dampened demand for wide swaths of ranch land in recent years. Dry conditions forced ranchers to sell off their herds, creating a glut that drove down cattle prices. Now, with easing drought conditions across much of the country and higher cattle prices, ranches that had been sitting on the market have started to sell. A boom in the oil and gas industry and current 2% interest rates on ranch mortgages are also fueling big land grabs.”

Billionaire Businessmen Buying Up Mega-Ranches

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A few weeks ago, I finished up my six part series: Ranch Broker Essential Characteristics.  Click over to the Mirr Ranch Group blog for Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6.

If you only read one, make sure it is Part 4.  It drills down into the fundamentals of valuing a ranch and explains why ranch values must be based on data, not on emotion or pie-in-the-sky hunches.  It’s an important subject that many in the ranch brokerage world do not (or choose not to) fully understand.

This past weekend, my wife and I spent a classic Colorado weekend in one of my favorite valleys in all of the American West – The Upper Arkansas River Valley.

On Saturday night, we attended the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust’s (“CCALT”) annual Sunset BBQ.  This year the event was held on the historic Hutchinson Ranch, just outside of Salida, CO.  The Hutchinson Ranch has been owned by the same family since the 1860s (seven generations!) and was recently preserved by a CCALT conservation easement, ensuring that it will remain a rural working landscape in perpetuity.  Great people, excellent food, in a wonderful western setting.  For more info, head to the Mirr Ranch Group blog: Ranch Brokers Attend Conservation Events

After the BBQ, we drove up the valley past Buena Vista, took a right up into the Sawatch Range via the Clear Creek drainage, and camped out for the night on the banks of Clear Creek.  The next morning, we began hiking up Missouri Gulch with the goal of summiting the 14,197-foot Mt. Belford.  Fall was definitely in the air as we ascended toward timberline, with some of the aspens already beginning to change.  There was some fresh snow above 13,000 feet, and it was chilly enough up top that we had to wear gloves, warm hats, and light jackets on the summit.  Despite the cooling temperatures, the valley floor was still green and lush with grass and wildflowers.

Another perfect Colorado weekend that combined conservation, ranches, and time up high in the big mountains!

Follow the link below to check out an album of some of my new photos from Crested Butte’s Promontory Ranch:

Promontory Ranch – Late Summer

Be sure to check out my latest post on the Mountain Khakis blog, a description of spring calf branding and how the tradition has remained mostly unchanged for the past 150 years:

Rocky Mountain Springtime Tradition

Head over to the Mirr Ranch Group blog for Part 2 and Part 3 of my continuing series on Ranch Broker Essential Characteristics.  Parts 4 through 6 are coming up soon!

Be sure to check out part one of my six part series on the Six Essential Characteristics to look for in a ranch broker.  Part One discusses the indispensable importance of experience.

It sounds simple and obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many times I come across residential real estate agents with absolutely no experience in ranch or land brokerage trying to represent landowners or buyers of multi-million ranches.

Given the ridiculously low barrier to entrance into the real estate brokerage business, the market is filled with clowns who generally have no idea what they are doing and bring no value to (or deduct value from) the sales process.

The bottom line is simple – Make sure your ranch broker has verifiable, applicable experience!

Click over to the Mirr Ranch Group site for information on my newest listings, Centaur Meadows Ranch.  Located just 30 miles from downtown Denver, the 456-acre property is one of the largest undivided ranches in Colorado’s Front Range.  It has abundant elk and deer, panoramic views of Mt. Evans, conserved open space, and county-approved, developable homesites.

I came across the following passage last week while reading TR’s The Wilderness Hunter.  It’s amazing how little spring cattle round-ups and brandings have changed in the 121+/- years since he wrote these words.  With the exception of a few small details, he could’ve been describing any of the spring roundups that are currently taking place throughout the American West:

“As soon as the herd was worked it was turned loose, while the cows and calves were driven over to a large corral, where the branding was done.  A fire was speedily kindled, and in it were laid the branding irons of the different outfits represented on the round-up.  Then two of the best ropers rode into the corral and began to rope the calves, round the hind legs by preference, but sometimes by the head.  The other men dismounted to “wrestle” and brand them.  Once roped, the calf, bawling and struggling, was swiftly dragged near the fire, where one or two of the calf-wrestlers grappled with and threw the kicking, plunging little beast, and held it while it was branded.  If the calf was large the wrestlers, had hard work; and one or two young maverick bulls, which had been passed by in the roundups of the preceding year-fought viciously, bellowing, and charging, and driving some of the men up the sides of the corral, to the boisterous delight of the others.”  – The Wilderness Hunter by Theodore Roosevelt.

As we enter Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial beginning of summer, I wanted to offer up a few book recommendations for your summer reading list.  I love reading, particularly non-fiction, and I try to read at least 40 substantial books per year.  I’m fortunate that many of the subjects that interest me are also directly related to my work as a ranch broker in the American West… I guess I’d be out of luck if I were an I.P. attorney or a corporate finance cubicle jockey.

Here are five book recommendations that are interesting, entertaining, and will hopefully provide some new insights into and appreciation for life in the American West:

Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands, by Roger Di Silvestro – If there’s been a book written about or by TR, chances are that I’ve read it.  TR in the Badlands is one of my favorites.  It focuses exclusively on the time he spent ranching, hunting, and living in the Dakota Territories during the mid to late 1880s.  On Valentine’s Day 1884, both TR’s mother and wife died within hours of each other, from unrelated causes.  This tragic event led the young TR to take a break from political life and devote his time to “the strenuous life” of the American West.  There’s no question that TR’s time in the Badlands shaped his views on conservation, hard work, and love of the western landscapes and people.  Great book, easy read.

The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan – Anyone who’s spent time in southeast Colorado, western Oklahoma, or northwest Texas needs to read this book.  It’s the story of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and it describes the settlement of the Great Plains, the boom and bust of the wheat markets, and the eventual drought that destroyed the land and the people who were trying their best to homestead the area.  It is truly unbelievable what these people went through, and it’s shocking to learn about the huckster businessmen and government crooks who lured hardworking people into this disaster.  It’s definitely a cautionary tale about speculation and disrespect for the land.  (I’d also recommend Ken Burns’ documentary The Dust Bowl, but be forewarned that it’s depressing!)

For the Love of Land, by Jim Howell – On the cover, this book bills itself as a compilation of “cases studies of grazing,” but it is a far cry from some dry, boring, academic discussion of cows eating grass.  The book starts with an overview of North American natural history, describing the way grazing herbivores and grasses evolved together and formed a symbiotic relationship.  These grasses evolved to depend on large grazing animals to remove old growth, stimulate new growth, and plant their seeds.  Howell argues that even though the large herds of grazing animals have disappeared, modern day ranches can use their livestock to mimic this pattern of grazing in “nature’s image.”  It’s a compelling and necessary read, especially for those who may think that all grazing is bad or unnatural for our western landscapes. (Check out my post regarding this book over on the MRG Blog.)

The Wire Than Fenced the West, by Frances and Henry McCallum – Who would ever think that a book about nothing but the history of barbwire could be interesting?  I have to admit, I was skeptical, but since reading it, I’ve found myself thinking about this book on a weekly basis.  Yes, the first 25% is about the actual businessmen who patented and manufactured barbwire and can be a little tedious.  However, once you push through, there is the fascinating story of the settlement of the west, private property rights, the rise of the cattle industry, and how the west became an economically viable landscape.  Information gleaned from this book has given me a deeper understanding of some of the other history books I’ve read, and it gave me a new appreciation for barbwire – one of the most influential, game-changing, and highly underrated inventions of the last 200 years.

Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry – At most, I read one fiction book for every thirty non-fiction books that I read – but this one is mandatory.  One of the best books I have ever, or will ever, read.  You should know this already, but it’s the story of a massive cattle drive from Texas to Montana during the late 1800s, and it describes the settlement of the American West in a way that no non-fiction book could ever do.  There’s no point in my trying to describe the plot, the characters, or anything about it, because I can’t do it justice.  Don’t watch the movie.  Go buy the book and read it immediately!

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Do you have any good recommendations? If so, contact me and let me know!

Shadow Wild Ranch + Circle Lazy R Ranch = One large, contiguous, private ranch, centrally located in Colorado’s Front Range.  Head over to the Mirr Ranch Group blog for more information:

Front Range Ranch Assemblage Opportunity

One of the many advantages of owning a ranch in Colorado is that  landowners can receive preference when applying for hunting tags for elk, deer, and pronghorn.  Colorado’s Priority Landowner Preference Program gives landowners a better chance of securing a big game tag, even in areas that are popular with the general public.  Head over to the Mirr Ranch Group blog for more information:

Landowner Hunting Preference on Colorado Ranches

Back in 2008 and 2009, I spent the months of May up in Alaska, doing my best to reach the summit of Denali (aka Mt. McKinley).  In 2008, terrible weather and sick teammates forced me to turn back just 1,000 feet from the summit.  In 2009, our rope team was strong, the weather (mostly) cooperated, and I was fortunate enough to finally make it to the top.  All told, I’ve spent somewhere around 47 days on that mountain; 47 of the most challenging and rewarding days of my life.

I just came across this well-produced video from the National Park Foundation about exploring Denali National Park, featuring many scenes of climbers making their way up the 20,320-foot mountain.  The Alaska Range is an awe-inspiring landscape, and this video does a great job showing the hard-to-comprehend scale of the glaciers, mountains, and weather.  Take four minutes to enjoy some scenes from the highest peak in North America:

(At the top of the page – My 2009 summit photo – From the top looking over Denali’s summit ridge, with Mt. Foraker in the background and the Kahiltna Glacier stretching out below.)

In the Rocky Mountain West, “whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting over.”  So, to avoid finding yourself on the receiving end of a cowboy beatdown, you should fully understand the wells and springs on Colorado ranches.  My new post on the Mirr Ranch Group blog shows you how:

How-To: Researching Well Permits on Colorado Ranches

I’m very excited to attend tomorrow’s “Ranching and a West That Works” conference at Colorado State University.  Mirr Ranch Group is sponsoring the event, and is free and open to the public.  The agenda looks extremely interesting, so anyone involved in northern Colorado’s ranching community should definitely plan on attending.  Be sure to RSVP.

Ranching and a West That Works

When researching ranches, I’m always suspicious of bold claims of “world-class fishing!” – “blue ribbon waters!” – “trophy elk!”  More times than not, the truth is being stretched, so I always make sure to verify any fishing or hunting claims with unbiased third parties such as guides, Parks & Wildlife officials, or local residents.  I’m sure other experienced outdoorsmen and landowners share some of my skepticism when it comes to these ever-present “fish tales.”

That’s why I was thrilled when Freestone Outfitters, an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide service, entered into a lease agreement to fish one of my current listings – Three Creek Ranch.  Freestone’s desire to bring paying clients to the property speaks volumes about the caliber of the fishing, and Freestone’s longterm commitment to fishery management ensures that the property will continue to remain an excellent, productive fishery for years to come.

Orvis-Endorsed Guides Choose Three Creek Ranch

Check out my most recent post on the Mountain Khakis blog where I discuss several running, climbing, and fishing adventures that can be found only a mile or two from some of Colorado’s major thoroughfares:

Rocky Mountain Roadside Adventures

A relatively dry subject, but 100% mandatory to understand when conducting due diligence on a ranch that adjoins or surrounds BLM land.

How-To: Researching BLM Master Title Plats

As usual, the Colorado Coalition of Land Trust’s annual conference – Conservation Excellence – was a huge success.  Every year, the event is a great opportunity for Colorado’s conservation leaders to convene in a central location and discuss the successes and failures of the previous year and plan for the opportunities and challenges of the year to come.

I had the pleasure of speaking at one of this year’s sessions with friends from the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, and Mirr Ranch Group was a sponsor of the event.  For more information, head over to the company blog:

Mirr Ranch Group Sponsors Annual Conservation Conference

Check out my newest blog entry on the Mirr Ranch Group site, where I discuss the 2014 Farm Bill and how it will help landowners conserve over a million more acres of working, productive farms and ranches.

2014 Farm Bill: Its Effect on Ranches and Conservation

If you’re in Boulder on Thursday (3/13) evening, be sure to stop by the Nature Conservancy’s office for an interesting panel discussion about last September’s historic flooding.  The event is being presented by the Nature Conservancy’s young professional’s group, The 13ers – Emerging Leaders in Conservation.  I serve on a committee that helped to plan this event, so I’m very excited with how it has come together.

We’ll be hearing from three different conservation and water professionals about not only what happened when 19 inches of rain fell in 48 hours, but also about what opportunities for conservation have been created as a result of the flooding.  It’s definitely going to be an interesting and informative event.

Click the link below for more information and to register.  Free burritos by Dish Gourmet and beer by Upslope Brewing!

Colorado Floods: The Conservation Community’s Response to Last September’s Historic Flooding