Race King is the hard-working ranch manager at the La Cense Ranch. When I talked to him today, he had just come in from getting more straw bales out to the cows for shelter from the wind. He said that it had been below zero last weekend, getting down to 30 below at night, and they were preparing the best windbreaks and strawbale shelter for the cows and calves in the lowlands. In this interview, Race talks about the La Cense Ranch, the value of rotational grazing, how grass-fed practices preserve the heritage of ranching, and the quality of character found in the ranching community.
What makes the La Cense Ranch unique?I think it’s a combination of many things that make us unique. It’s the landscape, the size of our operation, the managed intensive grazing, the high quality forages found in our area, the low-stress animal handling, the natural resources available for the wildlife that provide a natural well-balanced system, the Angus genetics, the time honored ranching practices we utilize. One of the big things we have is the strong commitment from the people here at the ranch, from the management to the people out doing the every day things. We have an operation where we can raise the animals, and package them and send them on, and that’s very unique.
How is grazing necessary to maintaining a healthy ecosystem on the La Cense Ranch?
Well first of all, we’ve been able to use managed rotational grazing to increase plant health and plant density while increasing grass production on the ranch and additionally have a positive impact on the creeks and streams. It’s just not realistic to not rotational graze. It’s totally necessary. Otherwise we’d have rampant wildfires. Grazing needs to be managed and we do that by allowing rest periods between grazing. We believe grazing is important for the overall health of the landscape. If we can ensure a good quality pasture to where it stays healthy, we will also help the wildlife as they pass though. They’ll have good quality forage, with our warm and cools season grasses. With the managed grazing, we’re also able to put more pressure on noxious weeds.
How did you know you wanted to go into the ranching profession? Did you grow-up on a ranch?
I did. I grew up on a family farm and ranch operation. From a very early age I knew that my passion lied in ranching. I liked working with livestock. I admire the strong moral character and work ethic of ranching. I enjoy it, and it allows me to raise my family in the midst of that, and it’s something they can share as well.
What barriers may prevent other Montana ranchers from being able to produce or sell grass-fed beef?
I think the biggest thing is the marketing side of it. I think many of the ranchers in the state could produce the product. The costs are a little higher, but we could get more out of it. As the market grows I think there will be more who could step up and produce it.
When we talked recently, you said the La Cense Ranch is “preserving the heritage of ranching.” What wealth lies in the heritage of ranching?
Well it’s part of our lifestyle. My family has been involved in agriculture as have a lot of us in this country. When you step back and look at how to do things in a more sustainable manner, and then you do research on the history, you’ll find out you’re doing it a lot like they did fifty, or a hundred years ago. We’re focusing more on the range and the pasture. We really have become grass-farmers, if you will. If you look back, they had a little bit of hay put up for feed in the winter and that was all. I think this is how we’ll be able to preserve the heritage. It’s allowed us to come back to the roots of ranching.
There have been technological developments that have allowed us to blend old and new and come up with a sustainable concept. And with that, we’re able to lower costs, we have less inputs, and we can increase animal health and performance. There have been some good technologies to build on the roots of our heritage. I think the bottom line is that ranchers and farmers in this country are good people; we care about our animals and the quality of our products. As we produce more of these sustainably raised products, people will be board and more family farmers will be able to switch over to sustainable production. People will have to pay a little more to get this, but for now we’re satisfied to reach a few folks who share our philosophy.
What do ranchers bring to a community?
Well first of all, ethics, values, they’re just strong people. If you live in a small town it’s nice to have the scenery, but it’s the people around us who affect who we are. It really takes a whole community to raise a child and the kids who come out of these communities do a great job wherever they go. There’s a strong work ethic they come out with.
The number one industry in Dillon and Montana is still agriculture. Not only is it the heart of the economy, but it's also socially who we are. I guess you’d say it’s the backbone. I don’t want to see us getting to the point where all our food is imported. I know the people who are making our food and I think that it’s important to keep that industry here in America.
La Cense Ranch cowboys and kids at the recent Ranch Christmas Party, photo by Armelle Buvron
