Investing in the Ranch Means Investing in the Future

More than 130 years ago, Fred Esplin’s great grandfather Henry W. Esplin utilized the Homestead Act of 1862 to acquire land in southwestern Utah. This century-old, working ranch first began by grazing sheep and farming corn, potatoes and other vegetables. Today, it continues a long-standing tradition of grazing on public and private lands and is a commercial cow-calf ranch. The winter range is on the desert, northwest of Cedar City, while the summer range borders the beautiful sandstone cliffs and sandy soils of Zion National Park.

In 1954, the family switched from sheep to cattle production, and Henry’s son Charles put the business into a family corporation in the 1960s. Today, Charles’ grandson Fred and his relatives own and operate the ranch along with its other investments, and the fifth generation plays an active role in management and decision making. As many cattle producers know, family dynamics can be the best and the most challenging part of a farming or ranching business, especially with an operation like Charles H. Esplin & Sons Land and Livestock that has seen multiple generations of family growth. With more family members involved, decisions require more input and discussion before agreements are met. Decision making becomes complex as numerous family members have to collaborate on the best path forward for the success of the operation.

For the Esplin ranch, this was on display in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was clear that the majority of the family wanted to keep the ranch together, ensure it’d be profitable, and protect the longevity and use of the rangeland for cattle production. The history of the ranch was far too important to lose; it had been around before Utah became a state and it is one of the last undivided ranches in the area. As they explored various options, it became clear that the best path forward for their family and the ranch would be to put the summer range into a conservation easement.

“We looked at a variety of entities with whom to work with, and we settled on the Trust for Public Lands and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The summer range on Cedar Mountain was put in an easement through the Forest Legacy Program,” Esplin said.

Conservation easements are voluntary, legal agreements that permanently limit use of the land to protect its conservation values. It is one option to protect property for future generations. For many farming and ranching families, it provides the security of knowing the land cannot be sold for development or any other purpose than agricultural production.

“The most difficult part of the whole thing was trying to figure out how to do an easement in a way that everyone felt comfortable about. There were concerns, of course, about getting the federal government involved,” he added. “The decision to enter into a conservation easement was, without a doubt, the most important decision we ever made to ensure the long-term future of the ranch.”

For the Esplin family, this choice made the most sense for them to continue running the ranch while making possible the purchase of equipment needed to make improvements, and, over time, to make additional investments. With the financial stability they gained, it opened the door to explore new ways to market their cattle, too. Though the decision took years of research and agreement amongst the family, it has made the ranch stronger than before and allowed family members to remain active participants of the ranch.

Another notable decision for the operation was made in 2021 when the ranch became third-party approved and verified to raise and sell grass-fed cattle. In addition, the ranch also partners with a third-party company and is approved as non-hormone treated, source age and verified, and certified natural beef. This was an easy choice since their cattle have always been grazed on grass forage from the time they were born to weaning. They can continue raising quality beef and earn a premium for the care and nutrition they’ve been administering for decades.

“Since the transition, we have seen an average of 20% more per pound for our calves,” said Chae Nelson, Fred’s cousin and ranch manager.

These are just two examples of family-led decisions made to improve the profitability and future of Charles H. Esplin & Sons Land and Livestock Co. Looking forward, Fred doesn’t know what opportunities and challenges will come their way, but the longevity of the ranch is very much on their mind and the commitment to keeping it around for another 100 years.

Like the Esplin family, multi-generational farms and ranches face the daunting task of making the best decisions for their operation’s longevity and prosperity. Each family has a weighty responsibility to work together and find the solution that best fits their needs and goals. Fortunately, the cattle industry is known to help each other and offer guidance amongst peers to help one another succeed.