Greg and Lynn Gardner started G & G Livestock; daughter Brittany Cathey and son-in-law Wacey Cathey later launched Cathey Cattle Company as their own direct-to-consumer beef business. Located on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the family works together to manage cattle and care for the land. Efficient range management is the family’ s focus with efforts including weed control, grazing management and water development. By implementing a deferred rest rotation system, the family has seen their pastures develop deeper roots, rebound more quickly from grazing, and increase grass production year to year. The family is active in the community and supports conservation causes that improve natural resources. They partnered with USDA-NRCS to install additional fencing and livestock watering systems, treat invasive weeds, improve pasture and range conditions through forage plantings, and develop grazing management plans leading to measurable improvements to rangeland health.

I learned early on that we are in the business of grass more than we are in the business of cattle. If you don’ t take care of your ground, your cattle aren’ t going to produce their best.

-Brittany Cathey

Jeff and Connie Pribbeno and their son and daughter-in-law Logan and Brianna Pribbeno own and operate Wine Glass Ranch, located in western Nebraska near the Colorado border. The Pribbenos believe long-term care for their operation’ s ecology translates to profitability, which is why they have married together the values of ranching for profit and environmental stewardship to make a living. The cow-calf, stocker and grain operation thrives despite the arid climate and fragile sandy soil. The family installed more than 200 miles of cross fence, creating 90 paddocks for their rotational grazing system. At any given point, 95 % of the ranch is resting, and this practice has increased plant diversity and the return of native grasses such as Sand Bluestem and Indian grass, a species difficult to grow in sandy soil. With a focus on soil health, the Pribbenos work closely with several state and federal agencies on conservation projects and those partnerships have helped them with their stewardship efforts.

This ranch has been in my family for 140 years, and we are the stewards of the ground. We are grazing the best and leaving the rest for the benefit of our soil health.

-Logan Pribbeno