The Beginner's Guide to Running a Ranch

When you buy a ranch, you and your family are set to experience a different kind of lifestyle that can be rewarding if you plan well. Whether you're buying a ranch as a business investment, planning to raise livestock and grow crops as your source of livelihood, or want to buy a private ranch that will become the ideal retreat for your family, it is important to be prepared for the challenges life on a ranch may pose.

Farming and ranching work are often underestimated by many buyers. Never entertain the idea that anyone can perform these jobs easily. Considerable amounts of research need to be performed—from growing forage and managing cattle, to marketing and business management. Without knowledge in these areas, you're liable to make mistakes in areas such as fertilization and grazing management (which both come under growing forage). These mistakes can be very costly.

You should also arm yourself by attending educational meetings. Many programs that reach out to people who are trying their hand at agricultural matters are being offered by the local government and other support groups. Widen your network by consulting helpful professionals.

Avoid disappointment by not overestimating the value of your annual production. Since your ranch will focus on rearing livestock, understand that prices are bound to fluctuate based on supply and demand on a national and international level. Hence, you should be prepared for inconsistencies in your yearly gross income.

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Questions to Ask Before Buying a Ranch

The thought of spending days riding horses over expansive landscapes is so appealing that many city folks are willing to vacate their suburban homes just to experience rural living. With many ranches awaiting their prospective occupants, it shouldn't be difficult to turn such a dream into a reality. Before you decide to buy your own ranch, however, you'll need to ask yourself several questions:

What is the ranch's purpose?

Are you planning to set up a working ranch, a private ranch, or a dude ranch? If you're thinking of establishing a working ranch to raise livestock such as cattle, sheep, elk, or bison, then you should consider purchasing ranch properties that are large enough to support herds of animals. If you want to purchase a private ranch for your family, then you should consider smaller, more intimate ranch properties.

Should the ranch home be renovated?

If the ranch comes with a house, assess the ranch home to determine if it needs to be renovated. If the ranch home is rundown, you may need to renovate structural components such as roofs and walls, and update fixtures for gas and plumbing. You may also need to consider modern upgrades, such as Wi-Fi and cable.

How about property taxes?

Aside from paying for the ranch, you'll have to deal with the property tax. Property tax on real estate is usually levied at a municipal or county level. Know the rules surrounding this matter beforehand so that you can adjust your budget accordingly.

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Investing in Dude Ranches

If you've invested in a ranch, you'd certainly want to see sizable returns on your investment. This means transforming the place into a wonderful dude ranch. However, depending on the ranch's overall condition at the time of purchase, it may take some time to transform the ranch into a suitable income generator. Dude ranches are split into a few broad categories:

Basic Dude Ranches

The basic dude ranch will be geared towards horseback riding activities. Ranch personnel can train guests on the finer details of riding and taking care of horses. Just like the cowboys of the Old West, you can also learn a thing or two about throwing lassos.

Resort Dude Ranches

Resort dude ranches will require upgrading the house with hotel-style amenities, and the management will organize activities for the guests, some of which will be relevant to the region.

Working Dude Ranches

Working dude ranches, as the name implies, will have much labor awaiting intrepid guests as a prerequisite to their stay. Guests are often engaged in herding livestock. If you are looking for horseback riding excursions, the ranch management will limit them to work-related activities.

Identifying the dude ranch that fits your preferences can help stretch the value of your investment. It is also a test of your people and financial skills.

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Financing a Ranch in Oregon

Investing in a ranch requires a lot of money. When you're considering a modestly sized house, utilities, a barn, and potentially thousands of acres of pristine wilderness, the price alone could run anywhere between six and eight digits. That amount may not even factor in the property tax and closing costs, plus the upkeep for employees. Financing may be the way to go when you are looking to buy a farm but do not have enough cash on hand.

As with every other financial endeavor, a lender will first study your credit history to determine your ability to pay them back the loan. It is important to look for reputable lenders that specialize in transactions for the specific type of ranch land you want to buy. For example, lenders that exclusively do commercial farmland transactions may not entertain you if you want to buy private farm property.

Some private lenders, especially credit unions in the general area where your property is located, may have a full range of ranch financing services. However, they might have specific credit scores you must reach. At the same time, take note of the maximum number of acres they may be willing to help you finance. Taking out a loan for ranch property carries some advantages. All it takes is willpower and financial management to make the payments on time.

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To Fence or Not to Fence Your Ranch?

Wyoming state law requires ranchers to build fences around their respective ranches to benefit from the law itself. To be accurate, Wyoming doesn't strictly require fences for demarcation, but as a fence-out state for cattle, ranchers that don't have fences on their properties can't hold other ranchers liable if the latter's livestock enters their territory.

If the ranch came with the fence, however, then any trespassers would hold its owners liable for any damage inflicted. A fence-out, also called an open range, means ranchers can have their livestock roam free across the Wyoming heartland save for areas enclosed by a lawful fence. State statutes define a lawful fence as fencing strong enough to keep livestock in and out. They don't have to be the pole and board fences that are typical of ranches in popular culture. Even barbed wire fencing three layers thick are considered under state law to be legal fencing.

For ranchers raising sheep and domesticated buffalo, keep in mind that Wyoming is also a fence-in state. Unlike cattle, lamb and sheep need to be supervised by the ranchers in or out of their property, so make sure not a single sheep veers away from the herd. The difference between a fence-in and fence-out is that the fence-in principle respects property boundaries, regardless of the presence of fencing.

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Excellent Farmland & Cattle Ranches in Wyoming

In Wyoming, anything beyond the capital city of Cheyenne is open land. In fact, the nearest city, which is Laramie to the west, is almost 50 miles away. You may not see land more expansive than in Wyoming, and the state's economy relies heavily on agricultural and livestock production. Among its greatest exports include sheep; the state ranks fourth in sheep and lamb production, and produces around 400,000 lambs and sheep, and 3.12 million pounds of wool a year.

However, sheep and lamb production is rather modest when compared to the state's cattle production—the latter produces over a million annually. The vast expanses of Wyoming and its excellent farmland makes it an ideal environment to raise a lot of cattle. Milk production, according to statistics, amount to more than 100 million pounds every year, with each cow capable of producing over 20,000 pounds. Also, farms close to Wyoming's southern border have easy access to dairy processing plants in neighboring Colorado.

Wyoming may not be as populated as other states, but it doesn't need to be. Its agricultural economy virtually feeds the entire United States with quality meat and dairy products. Agricultural production and livestock production are made possible with good farmland and cattle ranches, as well as proper management. Wyoming is cool with the rural life, as long as its livestock have grass to eat and space to roam.

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On Living the Pioneer Life in Utah to the Fullest

According to a 2012 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau, Utah is the 10^th least populated state in America. Additionally, around 80% of its citizens live along the Wasatch Front surrounding Salt Lake City, meaning a lot of the state's lands remain unoccupied. Some people see such territories as barren and inhospitable landscapes; however, others see opportunity and the perfect retreat from the stresses of modern life.

It's possible to live the life of a rancher in Utah, particularly in the northern quarter of the state. Eastern Utah is defined by its wealth of plateaus and basins, which makes the region appear rugged. Those seeking to emulate the cowboys of old will find such accommodations very much welcome as they set up their ranches near the basins.

Ranchingin Utah might just be the perfect option for those who wish to retire gracefully. The slower, easygoing pace of country life is suited for those who have trouble keeping up with modern complexities. It's rather therapeutic (and nostalgic) to tend to cattle while in the midst of a desert, much like the cowpokes of old. Whether you're a fan of spaghetti westerns or you simply need a place to quietly come home to, Utah' desert wilderness is always open for reservations.

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Living in a Well-Managed Ranch Community

Many cities these days are getting more and more congested and the resulting pollution can sometimes be unbearable. Living in an urban area no longer holds the same appeal that it did years ago when city life was less stressful. Today, many people are looking for better lifestyle alternatives like transferring to suburbs or buying ranches for sale.

In the U.S., there are many such real estate properties especially in areas with wide open spaces and sparse population densities. A number of ranch real estate companies have developed vast tracts of land into highly efficient ranch style communities typical of the old West. In fact, many people have become attracted to buying real estate in these various rural areas.

The reasons behind this appeal are legion, foremost of which is the desire to escape from the urban jungle. Living in the suburbs is not enough for many, since most suburbs have become just as congested as the cities. A ranch community provides a drastic change in lifestyle; something which more and more people want to experience.

The good news is that these communities have been developed not only to allow residents to commune with nature, but to provide better quality of life in a managed ranch setting. Buying ranch real estate from a reliable developer will ensure a comfortable life on a ranch without any hassles.

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The Irresistible Ranch Lifestyle in Colorado

Oscar-winning director and actor Kevin Costner is no stranger to the Western genre as it is his roles in these type of films where he first earned prominence. He is also one of the numerous celebrities who has shown his  devotion to the ranch lifestyle both onscreen and off screen. In a 2012 issue of Men's Journal, he referred to his 165-acre ranch in Aspen, Colorado as his “heaven on earth.”

So what is it about Colorado that inspire a ranch lifestyle? Well, for one, Colorado is a state that is known for its diverse geographical features such as mountainous terrains, vast plains, and desert lands, which all provide a great backdrop for a ranch. Colorado also has a wide landscape area, which is ideal for those who wish for more secluded living environments, away from plain sight of intruders or curious bystanders.

Those who want to unleash their inner hunter and gather their own food can go fishing in the Colorado River and catch their own dinner like largemouth bass fish. Those who simply want to watch beautiful creatures have a lot to keep an eye out for in Colorado, the home of hundreds of wildlife species; both locals and tourists can catch a glimpse of mountain lions, deer, elk bears, and Colorado's state mammal, the bighorn sheep. These creatures are a source of fascination for people who have grown tired of the skyscrapers and iron bridges that are typical of urban settings.

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