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VIDEO GALLERY

VIDEO GALLERY

The Pankey family’s resilience was put to a test when a wildfire burned nearly half of their ranch in 2018. Among the devastating impacts of the fire was livestock and wildlife could no longer drink from ponds because they were covered in ashes. Keith and Shelley Pankey raise beef cattle with their sons, Kevin and Justin and their families, in Moffat and Routt counties. They have a history of doing right by their land. Following the fire, they cleaned the ponds and aerially reseeded native grasses on 900 acres in the fire’s path. It’s not the first time investing in conservation practices has paid off for this family and the landscape they share with livestock and wildlife. Keith’s great grandfather homesteaded an area of high desert known as Great Divide. The Pankeys are still able to graze cattle in the drought-prone region from spring through fall thanks to improved water distribution and rotational grazing systems. They replaced windmill-powered wells with solar pumps. New water storage tanks and nearly three miles of natural flow pipelines were also added. By expanding the number of watering stations (from six to 12) the Pankeys increased their ability to properly graze cattle while creating wildlife habitat across the ranch. Precipitation, range conditions, and animal performance all impact how the Pankeys plan pasture rotations and stocking rates. They analyze pasture rotations to determine which areas benefit from early, middle or late season grazing. They’ve also found that some areas benefit from longer or shorter periods of grazing, while others benefit from being grazed twice in the same season. When cattle widely disburse themselves, the Pankeys find that grass recovers at a faster rate, and taller grass is left behind when the cattle are rotated to another pasture. The ranch’s wildlife populations have greatly increased thanks to rotational grazing and the improved water system. By working with neighbors to control noxious weeds, desirable grasses have become dominant across the ranch. Pankey Ranch borders Colorado’s largest Greater sage-grouse lek, a breeding ground for this declining species. The Pankeys hosted Colorado State University students to study grasses, insects, and Greater sage-grouse habitat in the Great Divide range. Their study was helpful in determining which conservation practices to adopt. The Pankeys fenced off a large area around a natural spring to provide cover. They also equipped water storage tanks with overflows that provide water and prolonged green vegetation to encourage production of insects that grouse chicks consume. The Pankeys are involved with a large-scale conservation effort led by Trout Unlimited to stabilize Elk Head Creek’s riparian corridor. They have installed rock toe and erosion control mats, and reseeded stream banks to prevent erosion. Hundreds of willow trees have been planted in corridors to preserve wetlands and fish habitat. Less erosion in the creek means cleaner water downstream in the Elk Head Reservoir and Yampa River. This family’s leadership in raising awareness of the creek’s impaired health, and commitment to on-the-ground conservation practices, is inspiring other landowners to follow suit. The Pankeys also provide public hunting opportunities on their land. In 2011, they obtained a conservation easement on their Routt County property through the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust to ensure future agricultural uses on the land. As a longtime volunteer with the Moffat County Fair, Keith shares his land ethic and conservation practices with youth, neighbors and the general public.
Private lands are critical to wildlife populations. Ensuring that migration corridors, functional habitat, and large landscapes remain intact are all benefits of investing in private lands conservation efforts.
The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust works to conserve Colorado’s western heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations. Hear the hopes for the next generation from landowners near Meeker, CO.
Enjoy the Hill Family Conservation Legacy, CCALT, The Trust for Public Land, Great Outdoors Colorado - GOCO , and the NRCS and learn about the impressive, decades long conservation effort throughout the Saguache Creek Corridor. This group of partners has more than 22 years invested in this working landscape.
The Leopold Conservation Award Program recognizes agricultural landowners actively committed to a land ethic. In Colorado, the award recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by private landowners, inspires countless other landowners by example, and provides a prominent platform by which agricultural community leaders are recognized as conservation ambassadors to citizens outside of agriculture. In addition, the award program builds bridges between agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry, and academia to advance the cause of private lands conservation. In Colorado, the Leopold Conservation Award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust, and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. Congratulations to the 2021 recipients, the May Ranch and May Family! Video: Preston Hoffman
Welcome to Cold Mountain Ranch - a conserved, cow/calf operation near Carbondale, Colorado. Cold Mountain Ranch is owned and operated by Bill Fales and Marj Perry. We hope you enjoy the tour!
On October 23, 2020 CCALT partnered with the Propst family to conserve the Bar Three Ranch near Merino, Colorado. After the final paperwork was signed, Koger Propst shared a toast. We’re excited to share Koger’s message and a look at CCALT’s closing process with you.
Welcome to Jenkins Creek Ranch - a conserved, cow/calf operation in northern Colorado. Jenkins Creek Ranch is owned and operated by Carolyn Durand. We hope you enjoy the tour!
Join us for a virtual tour of the conserved Fetcher Ranch in Northwest Colorado. Jay Fetcher and his family have been instrumental in both the conservation community and in the formation of the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT). We hope you enjoy this inside look at the Fetcher Ranch. #ForeverColorado
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