Honoring the Past, Nurturing the Land: Steve and Rita Mueller's Ranching Journey
Steve and Rita Mueller work with NRCS to create water sources throughout their land.
For over four decades, Steve and Rita (Cossitt) Mueller have been partners in both life and their shared love for ranching. While their current chapter unfolds in Powder River County of southeastern Montana, their ranch's history stretches back to Rita's grandfather, "Shorty" Daly, who homesteaded the land in 1911.
“Once he arrived in Otter, his plan was to raise horses for the calvary,” says Rita. “And in 1911 that made all kinds of sense.”
Daly left to serve in World War I but returned to the ranch after receiving citations for valor. She also fondly recalls her grandfather's colorful life, from his youthful antics to his time working at various ranches. These stories, passed down through generations, have become cherished family lore.
The year 1932 saw the construction of the house, and it remains a vital part of the Mueller family's history. After Shorty passed in 1960, Rita's grandmother maintained the ranch with a hired hand for several years before leasing it to a nephew for nearly three decades.
Rita was born while her family lived on the ranch. Although they later moved out due to space limitations, they returned each year for branding, a memory highlighted by Rita’s grandmother's donuts.
“That was one of my favorite memories as a little kid,” she says, recalling how donuts back then were not an everyday treat.
Today, the ranch house is filled with treasured memories, adorned with family photographs spanning generations. The original screen door, despite its noisy closure, remains an integral part of the house's character. “The bang is part of it,” Rita says laughing.
Nearby lies a small family cemetery where Rita's grandparents and other family members found their final resting place, a poignant moment in their deep connection to the land.
The story of acquiring the ranch reflects determination and hard work. The Mueller family continues to cherish the land due to its rich history and their dedicated efforts to nurture it.
"Three generations have worked damn hard to get it where it is," Rita emphasizes.
While their primary residence is in Wyoming, the Muellers began their ranching journey together by raising "10 old cows" in 1987. Steve admits they didn't quite know what they were doing at the time, attributing their inspiration to watching too many Roy Rogers movies. They spend their summers at the ranch near Otter, just outside of Broadus.
In 1993, Steve and Rita purchased the ranch to ensure it stayed in the family. Over the years, they added bunkhouse-style guest cabins to accommodate their children and grandchildren along with other family members and friends who love to come and visit.
Beyond the house, thanks to Daly's vision, the Muellers' conservation efforts, and the guidance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the ranch has become a habitat for diverse wildlife, including deer, elk, and various ground-nesting birds. The land has transformed into more than just a piece of land; it's now a living, breathing part of their family.
Cultivating a Healthy Rangeland: Water is Everything
In eastern Montana, water availability dictates livestock management, making proper water access essential.
“Livestock water really is our limiting factor for good grazing management,” says Kami Kilwine, NRCS Rangeland Specialist. “By providing the grasses with longer recovery times between grazing events, they have more time to get bigger, seed out, and make more litter.”
“Water is everything,” Rita agrees, citing the importance of placement in keeping both the cattle and the wildlife happy.
At first, finding enough water to meet their needs was a challenge when the Muellers purchased the ranch.
“With such little water, we couldn’t utilize the grass the way we wanted, so we approached NRCS,” Steve says. NRCS assisted the Muellers with putting in a pipeline and six stock tanks.
In 2012, the purchase of additional land brought similar water challenges. Steve added a solar water system on his own to improve access, but they were relying on a single well, which he realized would not be sustainable to run their desired number of cows in that pasture.
In 2017, the Muellers partnered with NRCS once more through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). With guidance from NRCS specialists like Shanna Talcott, an NRCS Earth Team Volunteer (and former District Conservationist), they recognized the need to adapt their livestock grazing methods and enhance water access. It was through this grazing management plan they became eligible to receive financial support from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). This grant was crucial in making infrastructure changes for rotational grazing possible.
“It was really a three-way partnership between the Muellers, ABC, and NRCS. The right funding, the right time, the right project, and everything has worked out really well,” Talcott says.
By providing grasses with longer recovery periods between grazing, the Muellers have witnessed rangeland improvements.
The Muellers' commitment to conservation has not only rejuvenated their land but also created a sanctuary for wildlife. Their efforts are evident in increased tree and shrub growth, reduced weed species, and thriving bird populations.
Nate Reid, a Great Plains Conservation Specialist with the ABC is impressed with how things are coming along. “One of the big things that birds need in this area is a diversity of grass heights,” he says, crediting the Muellers’ effective grazing strategy for the positive changes taking place on the land.
Family, Innovation, and Sustainability
As the Muellers reflect on their journey, they emphasize the importance of partnerships and innovation. They credit the ABC for providing essential financial support and NRCS for their technical assistance, which has played a vital role in their ranch's transformation.
“They bring a lot of knowledge to the table,” Steve says of the NRCS. “Any time we’ve had an idea, we sit down with them, and we hammer it out.”
For the Muellers, the future of the ranch is a family affair. Some of their children are interested in ranching, acknowledging the immense challenges and costs involved in starting from scratch.
Preserving this century-old ranch in the family is not just a desire but a necessity. The Muellers aim to make it more self-sustaining to secure its future.
While they are doing everything they can, Rita emphasizes there are no guarantees in life. “Further on all you can do is what you can do right now. But it’s not going to leave our hands.”
And with one family’s hard work and innovation, Shorty’s legacy continues on.