Home / Environment / Montana Ranch Preserved for Future Generations
Montana Ranch Preserved for Future Generations
2 Oct
Summary
- 884 acres in Montana's Paradise Valley are now under permanent conservation.
- The ranch protects 1.5 miles of vital Trail Creek habitat.
- The Anderson family has owned the ranch since the 1930s.
The Anderson family has permanently protected 884 acres of their historic ranch in Montana's Paradise Valley through a conservation easement. This ensures the land will remain available for agriculture and prevents it from being converted to residential or other nonagricultural uses. The property is located in the Trail Creek area, featuring productive farmland, native rangeland, and approximately 1.5 miles of Trail Creek, which supports diverse wildlife including elk and sandhill cranes.
The Anderson family's connection to this land spans generations. Ancestors of Bob Anderson, the current owner, first settled in Paradise Valley in the 1870s, and his grandfather acquired the ranch in the 1930s. Bob has owned and operated the ranch since 1980, continuing a legacy of stewardship. The decision to place the ranch under a conservation easement was driven by a desire to keep the property intact and safeguard its agricultural future against development pressures.
Working with Northern Yellowstone Open Lands and supported by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the family donated a significant portion of the property's value. This protection extends beyond the ranch's borders, preserving open space, supporting wildlife movement, and safeguarding water resources in the Upper Yellowstone River watershed. The conservation ensures that the fields will continue to produce hay, cattle will graze, and Trail Creek will flow through the property, preserving a way of life for generations to come.
