Generations of families have shaped the Western Slope of Colorado through farming and ranching, building lives rooted in hard work, stewardship, and a deep connection to the land. Despite modern challenges, this enduring spirit continues to preserve a legacy of resilience and care for the land that sustains us all.
Jerad Cotten, from M4 Ranch Group, explores the heritage, values, and challenges of farming and ranching in the West…. in his own words
Read on to Learn More…
Roots and Values
My family’s roots run deep into the Western Slope of Colorado.
Generations before me took part in settling this area, building homesteads and infrastructure out of rugged landscapes, and living lives shaped by the land, grit, and a desire to build a new life out west.
And though times have changed with new innovation, new ideas and a nation that no longer knows where or how the food gets to their table, the values of the west remain the same:
“Stewardship, Hard Work, and a Love for the Land that Sustains us”
Farmers and Ranchers
First off what is the difference between a farmer and a rancher?
Quick Answer: A Farmer grows a crop to be sold, whereas a Rancher grows crops to feed livestock of some sort.
Being a farmer or rancher is not an easy life. It’s a lifestyle filled with early mornings, unpredictable seasons, financial uncertainty, and relentless labor. But ask anyone who’s lived this life, and they’ll tell you, there’s nothing more rewarding.
Raising livestock, cutting hay, spreading water across the landscape and growing crops aren’t just tasks; they’re traditions that connect us to grandparents and great grandparents that poured their lives into the land.
Few family ranches and farms are still in the original family name. A name that goes generations back that saw a unique potential in some untouched ground and had a vison of what the land could be and what it could produce for a budding nation that was relying on hard working folks to forge a reliable supply of beef, lamb or grains.
“There’s nothing more Rewarding”
Stewards of the Land
To be a farmer or rancher is to be a steward of the land.
Being a steward of the land is caring for the land in way that it is sustainable for generations to come. Managing the resources from the water and soil to the vegetation, forests and wildlife, in a way that improves the property over time.
However, not all farmers and ranchers are true stewards of the land. Today we are seeing a large number of farmers and ranchers beginning to implement new stewardship practices like:
- Holistic property management
- We see them using rotational grazing programs and high intensity grazing practices to impact invasives
- We see them leaving forage behind to allow for root development, which will pay them back in the future as forge get more established
- Some ranchers are taking down page wire fence and putting up wildlife friendly fence in areas that fawns, and calf elk are being raised
All these things are ways that we see farmers and ranchers being true stewards of the land
Challenges from the Outside
Today, ranchers face increasing challenges from forces beyond the weather and market prices. There’s a growing public misconception about the role of livestock in agriculture, often fueled by those far removed from the realities of rural life.
Now, with the recent reintroduction of wolves in Colorado a measure that passed by the slimmest of margins, ranchers are facing new threats to their herds, to their way of life and to their family’s legacy.
The emotional and economic toll of losing livestock to predators is causing many ranchers to ask, “why”?
- Why do we have to take the hit for a choice made by people far removed from the realities of what it takes to sustain a ranch and keep the margins on the plus side?
- Why do we have to stand by when the actual wolf is at the door?
- Why can’t we protect what we have spent generations building and growing?
Then to top it off the state has not provided adequate tools or support to help ranchers prepare for or respond to these losses. Once again, it falls on the ranching community to bear the burden, while continuing to provide food, habitat preservation, and open space that benefit everyone.
Ranchers are forced to implement ineffective strategies drawn up by college graduates that have never had to feed a family for a year off the calf crop.
Why It Still Matters
Despite the hardships, farming and ranching endure you see determined hardworking Americans pushing through and joining together to fight for their way of life.
Why? Because it’s more than a job, it’s a calling, it’s engrained so deep in their DNA that they couldn’t change if they wanted to.
It’s about teaching their kids the value of hard work, living close to the rhythms of nature, and preserving a way of life that feeds the nation while caring for and preserving the land.
To those unfamiliar with this lifestyle, we invite you to learn more, ask questions, and understand the heart behind what ranchers do. They’re not just raising crops and cattle, their nurturing a heritage, rooted in resilience and driven by an enduring respect for the land and its future.
“They’re not just raising crops and cattle, their nurturing a heritage, rooted in resilience and driven by an enduring respect for the land and its future”
Interested in how these values translate into real financial decisions? Contact me
Author: Jerad Cotten
Jerad Cotten is a Christian family man, adventurer, and dedicated outdoorsman with deep roots in Western Colorado. As the sixth-generation Cotten to call this land home, his connection to the West runs deep.
Jerad’s childhood living on the land as a rancher is more than just his way of life, it has instilled in him his beliefs — a deep respect for the land, its resources, and the ranching lifestyle— creating a strong foundation that drives his passion for land stewardship, conservation, and preserving the heritage found here in the West.
Jerad’s lifetime has been filled with experience in ranching , hunting, farming, and outfitting which gives him an unmatched edge in identifying premium hunting properties and understanding the needs of sportsmen, ranchers, and landowners alike. Jerad offers more than just market expertise; he provides a genuine understanding of what it means to own and work the land. His reputation for integrity, professionalism, and innovation sets him apart in the ranch real estate world, ensuring every client receives unmatched service tailored to their vision.
M4 Ranch Group
Jerad and the M4 Ranch Group, are here to find you the perfect piece of land, alongside securing you a lasting legacy. Our dedicated brokers are ready to assist you in realizing your dream, contact us to learn more.
View our Colorado Ranches For Sale, New Mexico Ranches For Sale and Wyoming Ranches For Sale
A Sample of Ranches For Sale
Red Mountain Ranch
$18,495,000
Red Mountain Ranch features two 7±-acre lakes, over 3 miles of improved trout streams, and Red Mountain Creek, which flows through the entire length of the property. This Colorado Ranch For Sale, also includes an Engelmann Spruce log cabin, a second log cabin for guests, and a barn with a caretaker’s apartment located above.
Ragged Spur Ranch
$15,900,000
Ragged Spur Ranch encompasses 3,760± acres in Gunnison County with irrigated ground, historic water rights, and premier hunting in GMU 521. With creek frontage, public land borders, and year-round access, it’s a rare Western Slope ranch offering both recreation and productivity.
Arrowhead Ranch
$14,950,000
Arrowhead Ranch is an outdoorsman’s paradise with five magnificent Heritage Ranches that can be bought individually or as a whole. Superbly located in Central Colorado, this Colorado Ranch For Sale is ideal for ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, anglers, and hunters alike. Nearly seven miles of trout stream meander through the idyllic grassland plateau with picturesque snow-capped peaks surrounding you.
