Left to Right: Troy Griffin and Kyle Barber, Bitter Root Land Trust conservation director, worked together to complete the process to conserve the Griffin Ranch near Stevensville, Mont. Not only does the easement preserve the land for wildlife habitat and open space, it also helps Griffin's son Garrett get a start in ranching. Photos and story by Bitter Root Land Trust.
Not too long ago, a couple hundred acres of hay ground and wild meadows lay tucked away in the Burnt Fork area of Stevensville, with an unclear future.
The land was neglected, fences falling down, and the landowners of long ago a distant memory.
That was until Troy and Dena Griffin found this diamond in-the-rough, and spent a number of years breathing life back into the soil and grasses, repairing fences and irrigation infrastructure.
The dream to bring this ranch back to life, some would say, came from an unlikely place. At a young age, the Griffin’s son, Garrett, joined 4-H and fell in love with raising animals and working the land. It became his passion to have his own ranch someday.
More often than not, young people are seeking out careers outside of agriculture, creating uncertainty for many long-standing Montana farms and ranches.
That’s not the case with the Griffin family.
The Griffin Ranch conservation easement protects a couple hundred acres of working ranch lands from development in the Burnt Fork neighborhood near Stevensville, Mont. |
“It’s my son’s dream to have a ranch. The odds of that happening are low. He started 4-H, kept steers at the neighbor’s, and showed them in competition. We wanted that for him. We want to help him fulfill his dream. With help from the land trust and the conservation easement funding, now we can,” Troy smiles warmly.
Thanks to $200,000 in funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Land Easement program, in conjunction with a $200,000 match from the local Ravalli County Open Lands Bond program, and private donations, Griffin Ranch in Stevensville was conserved in December 2018. The Bitter Root Land Trust did a lot of work with NRCS to coordinate and complete the easement process. They will also hold the easement.
Now, what was once a big unknown, is a sure thing. Garrett is a Bitterroot rancher, and Griffin Ranch is protected, forever.
Elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, fox, American kestrel, and red-tailed hawk are frequent residents of the property. “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” like the great blue heron, and Sandhill crane, can also be found on the ranch.
Stream, wetland and riparian habitats associated with South Swamp Creek, Spring Creek, Sapille Creek, Mill Fork and a variety of springs, are home to westslope cutthroat trout, Clark’s nutcracker, and pileated woodpecker.
Not only does the Griffin Ranch conservation easement fortify the ongoing conservation in the agriculturally and historically significant Burnt Fork neighborhood, it stands as a beacon of hope for the future of Bitterroot Valley farms and ranches, and the young folks who desire to work them.
With resolve in his voice, Troy Griffin softly says, “When we’re gone, it’s over. But if we can leave something that lives on—we’d know that it will always be here. That’s a legacy to leave behind.”
