Race King, La Cense ranch, Dillon, Montana
Race King, La Cense ranch, Dillon, Montana

This week’s episode of the Agriculture Proud Podcast features a rancher from Dillon, Montana. Race King and his family manage the La Cense Montana ranch, which spans 88,000 acres in southwest Montana. According to their website, “the ranch is located just east of the Continental Divide, on the northwestern edge of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and its highest point (Gallagher Peak) rises 8,477 feet above sea level. La Cense Montana’s headquarters enjoys panoramic views of the Blacktail Mountains from our state-of-the-art facilities. There is a 60,000-square-foot indoor riding arena, two large outdoor arenas, livestock working facilities, and 3,500 irrigated acres of pasture that are 5,300 feet above sea level.”

Race King has been very involved in the ranching business, is a quiet guy, but if you get to know him, he has some great stories to share. I sat down with Race at the recent Winter Grazing Seminar in Missoula to discuss some of the challenges of ranching in a mountainous, dry climate.

A few of the topics discussed in the podcast:

  • Grazing year round in a dry, cold winter climate
  • Ranching on public lands, including working with the Bureau of Land Management
  • Coexisting with wildlife, working to be sustainable and conserve the environment
  • Managing cattle around wildlife and the threat of diseases like Brucellosis
  • A conversation with a vegan at a San Francisco meat counter
  • Listening to consumer concerns and adapting ranch management
  • “Progress is made from the insight of those outside the box”
  • Being a leader in the ranching business through involvement

Learn more about the La Cense Montana ranch on their website. Be sure to check out their Vimeo page for great videos from the ranch. Let me know what you think of Race’s comments or if you have any additional questions for him!

I hope you enjoy this episode of the Agriculture Proud podcast. Check out all my episodes at AgricultureProud.com/podcast.

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Check out more photos from my visit to the La Cense ranch via Montana Stockgrowers on Facebook
Check out more photos from my visit to the La Cense ranch via Montana Stockgrowers on Facebook

Published by Ryan Goodman

Ryan Goodman works in grassroots advocacy as a communications consultant with beef cattle farmers and ranchers across the United States. He is a proud alumnus of Oklahoma State University, with studies focusing on cattle reproduction and nutrition. Ryan's experience in the beef industry range from family farms and ranches in several states to large feedlots and non-profit policy organizations. Ryan is an avid trail and ultrarunner, proudly showing how beef can be an important part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Find Ryan on social media as @BeefRunner.