Learning How To Ranch
When ranchers first made their way to the Park County area in the early 1860s, ranching the land came with a slew of problems for which the settlers had to rapidly discover answers. The most immediate concerns stemmed from the harsh climate and the pressing needs of the livestock themselves.[1]
The climate of Park County presented an issue in that the winters were severe enough (with their cold winds and large deposits of snow) to potentially kill livestock. With this concern in mind, ranchers selected cold-hardy cattle to raise on their lands with a select few ranchers daring to raise sheep. These cold-tolerant animals could survive the winters without needing to be relocated and they provided meat for ranchers and miners alike.
The Park County climate is also very dry, bearing many similarities to a high desert with droughts that can sometimes last weeks and months. This extreme dryness necessitated the presence of water, not only for the animals’ water needs but also for the irrigation of land to support grazing.[2] Even in the early days of Park County ranching, disputes arose over these precious water sources. Water rights are a contentious issue to this day.
If, however, a rancher was fortunate enough to possess both livestock and ready access to a water source, caring for their animals was simple. From the very first recorded observations of Park County, there were noted to have been ample wild herds that roamed the land. This plenitude of wildlife was predominantly due to the presence of incredibly nutrient-rich hay.[3] Park County hay (as it became internationally known) is a grass that grows naturally on the land, and the nutrients it provides allow for healthy and well-fed herds.[4]