Saving Tradition on Colorado Sheep Ranch
Family owned and operated since 1919, the Bair Ranch is one of Colorado’s oldest sheep ranches. But its long legacy of rural stewardship nearly came to an end in 2004 before the Bairs worked with the Fund on a plan to save their historic property. Instead of watching their scenic lands turn into subdivisions, the Bairs and the Fund sought help from federal, state and local partners in Eagle and Garfield counties to protect more than 4,000 acres of the property from future development.
Today, the Bairs’ working livestock ranch thrives alongside mountain meadows, graceful stands of aspen and oak, and safe migration routes for mule deer, black bear and elk. The protected lands include three miles along the Colorado River, where the public can raft, hike, fish and enjoy the rugged landscape and its wildlife.
“When I asked my children, they said they would rather stay, and keep up the tradition of hard work, than sell and go someplace else, and this project allows us to do that," said Craig Bair. "I hope this pioneering project helps other ranching families find a way to protect their way of life."
Photo: Herding time at Bair Ranch/Paul Conrad