Wickens Ranch — Our Land Base
A fourth-generation family operation in Winifred, Montana
Montana Working Lands Project thrives thanks to the incredible land, animals, ingenuity, and expertise of the dedicated owners and managers of Wickens Ranch in Winifred, MT.
Wickens Ranch is a fourth-generation family operation currently managed by Eric and Emma Wickens. The ranch produces regenerative beef while emphasizing sustainable ranching practices and building resilient rural communities through interconnected agricultural systems.
Regenerating the Land
Since implementing health-focused land management practices, Wickens Ranch has observed remarkable ecological improvements. Formerly dry areas have developed through improved water cycle management. Native plant abundance has increased significantly, and wildlife species absent for years have returned to the landscape.
Ecological Improvements
Since adopting holistic management practices, Wickens Ranch has documented:
- More Forage - More forage for cattle in a virtuous cycle
- Restored water cycles — Formerly dry areas developing signficantly
- Increased native plant abundance — Greater diversity and coverage of native grasses and forbs, including warm season ones
- Wildlife return — Species in decline for years coming back to the landscape
- Beneficial insect populations — Growth in dung beetles, ants, and other beneficial species
- Ecosystem recovery — Overall improvement in nutrient cycling and landscape function
Recognition
Wickens Ranch received the 2024 Montana Leopold Conservation Award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to land stewardship and conservation.
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Train at Wickens Ranch
Wickens Ranch hosts our hands-on EOV monitoring and Holistic Management training programs.
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