MANAGING A LEGACY RANCH WITH THE ALLURE OF THE WEST
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“ Mr . and Mrs . King believed in doing things right and balancing future innovation with a grounded commitment to land stewardship ,” Eisele said . “ It ’ s that focus that propelled us to where we are today .”
Eisele ’ s operation is located just outside of Cheyenne where he raises Red and Black Angus cattle . The cows are separated into three distinct herds with each managed differently according to their respective environment : mountain cattle , a stay-at-home herd , and the family-trust herd with genetics that have been with the ranch since its inception .
Eisele said his goals for the ranch mirror those of many producers — to raise the best cattle possible and provide a high-quality product for consumers .
“ No matter how many head of cattle you ’ re raising , even if you have a small herd , you need to raise the best cattle you can in your environment and provide a great product for consumers . Everybody contributes and every head counts ,” Eisele said .
Along with a focus on genetics , environmental stewardship is front and center of their management plan , especially given the unique challenges of running cattle in Wyoming .
“ Grazing cattle in the grasslands of the West is actually somewhat complex . We must take into account wildlife habitat , changes in the seasons , the elevation , the amounts of moisture , and more . For example , the ranch sits at around 6,500 feet elevation ; it takes about 30 acres for a pair of cattle . A yearling requires about seven acres for the season . Cattle grazing in the forest have different requirements than those down at the ranch all year . So , we rotate our cattle to work in harmony with those factors and always try to anticipate future weather impacts . It takes time to learn the process , but once you understand it and learn how to work in sync with nature , it ’ s very rewarding ,” he said .
The ranch relies on grazing access near Medicine Bow National Forest , necessitating a careful balance between ranching needs and recreational use . Collaborating with the U . S . Forest Service , the Eiseles constructed gates and fences for cyclists while designating land for diverse wildlife habitat including species like countless bird populations , pronghorn antelope , whitetail and mule deer , elk , moose , bears , and mountain lions . Regular reviews of ranch management practices aim to enhance this wildlife habitat .
While working continuously to improve his operation and produce great beef , Eisele quickly found himself in a situation that could have led to everything crashing down around him . He became involved in
From L to R : Colton & Miranda Eisele , Kaycee Eisele , Genevieve Roberts , Mark & Trudy Eisele , Kendall & James Roberts . Photo courtesy of Jamie Leigh Photography
From L to R : Four generations of the Eisele family : Mark Eisele ; son , Colton Eisele ; grandson , Porter Eisele ; and Mark ’ s father , Ron Eisele . state legislative efforts , spurred by the Kelo v . City of New London case . This was a landmark decision in 2005 in which the Supreme Court of the United States deemed legal the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another private owner to further economic development . This controversial case led many states to strengthen their eminent domain laws , including Wyoming .
“ At the time of that case , there was a proposed 1,100 home development outside of Cheyenne , which would have devastated our ranch and burdened county services . Wyoming had poor protections for property owners , and our ranch was about to become an example of bad things that can happen because of development pressures ,” Eisele said .
He worked with his state livestock association and state legislators to develop a law protecting ranchers from eminent domain and condemnation threats . Through the process , all agricultural organizations banded together along with other stakeholders and a law was passed granting ranchers bargaining rights , fair compensation , and protection against urban development threats .
“ We found that we needed to have , in black and white , a dynamic definition of agriculture . Producers are always trying to adapt and improve , and that needs to be reflected in law . I also realized how important it was to start talking about ranchers ’ commitment to preserving open space , wildlife habitat , clean water and air . All the stuff we love is what the people coming to Wyoming want too . So , finding a way to work with the inevitable population growth but making sure it didn ’ t threaten ranchers ’ livelihoods was huge and a real learning process for me ,” he said .
This is just one example of the personal experiences Eisele will draw from to share his priorities for NCBA as he enters his term as president . He wants to advocate for opportunities that strengthen the industry for future generations and for producers ’ freedom to operate . A top priority will be protecting property rights and reinforcing the cattle industry ’ s position as an ally in preserving open space and wildlife habitat through managed grazing practices .
“ I manage both public and private lands and am often asked why public lands are such a big deal . Aside from it being just part of how we raise cattle in the West , it ’ s also an important place where the line is drawn in the sand . If they can take public lands away from us or regulate us into a position where we can ’ t use them any longer , it ’ s just a matter of time before they end up on your doorstep and come after your private property rights and water rights . I want
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