Working Ranch Magazine - Index

Working Ranch Magazine - magazine - Index

ith the legal papers signed, a hand-shake
placed a cow-country seal on the transaction.
Three years in the making, the deal transferred
development rights on Gooseberry Creek
Ranch to the Wyoming Stock Growers
Agricultural Land Trust. Landowner Dave
Slover, of Worland, says he and his wife are
confident in their decision to sell a conservation
easement on their ranch property.
“It benefits us financially, by allowing us to
expand our operation,” says Slover, noting that
an irrigated farm has been purchased to complement
the ranch’s grazing resources. “And the
easement’s restrictions prevent (commercial or
residential) development, keeping our ranch in
agricultural production.”
Slover admits that restrictions do apply to some
ranch-related pursuits. Construction of additional
residences, barns, shops and other out-buildings is
confined to a 25-acre “building envelope” and the
size of new or expanded structures cannot exceed
certain limits.
“But we could still build additional housing, a
bigger shop and a barn with an indoor arena if
we wanted to. We can have a feedlot with up to
990-head capacity, and we could add a center
pivot irrigation system,” explains Slover. “We
negotiated the terms pretty carefully and I think
our agreement is very pro-agriculture. It gives our
business room to grow, with some assurance that
it will remain a working ranch. That’s what we
want to pass on to the next generation.”
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 | WORKING RANCH | 63