Who We Are?
About us
Welcome to Emerald Mountain Ranch, stewards of the fifth-generation legacy of Stanko Ranch established 1907. Nestled in the stunning landscapes of the Yampa River Valley and Emerald Mountain, we share the challenges, commitment, and satisfaction of ranching in the Colorado mountains. Meet our beloved animals and learn about our Amazing Loyal Hardworking Livestock Guardian Dogs, including Turkish Boz Shepherds. Join us as we celebrate our way of life and the enduring spirit of ranching.
The Stanko Ranch sits nestled on the western slope of Emerald Mountain, also known as Quarry Mountain, in the picturesque surroundings of Steamboat Springs. Originating from a humble 160-acre claim staked by Patrick’s Great Grandfather in 1907, the ranch has flourished over the years, expanding to over 600 acres. Throughout its history, it has been a hub of agricultural activity, cultivating crops such as wheat and potatoes, and raising livestock including cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Today, the Stanko Ranch remains a labor of love for the family of Jim and Jo (Patrick’s Parents), Patrick, and Jan. Their commitment to preserving the legacy of the ranch extends to the careful selection of livestock guardian dogs. In response to the proximity of wolves in neighboring Wyoming, Jan embarked on a quest to find capable guardians for their livestock. After thorough research, the family settled on Turkish Boz Shepherds, renowned for their effectiveness in protecting livestock.
At the heart of their operation is a dedication to producing top-notch working Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs), meticulously trained and exposed to various aspects of ranch life, from protecting cattle and sheep to safeguarding poultry. The Stanko Ranch stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of family farming and the timeless bond between humans and animals.
Emerald Mtn. Ranch
(opens in a new tab)Emerald Mtn Ranch | 5th Generation Stanko Ranch Est. 1907 • 700-acre Yampa Valley working ranch. Purpose-bred Turkish Boz Shepherds, raised and proven under predator pressure.Advocates for LGDs, land & livestock. 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗠𝘁𝗻𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵.𝗰𝗼𝗺
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Little More Ranch Education: Vet Day!
These replacement heifers have their freeze brands and adult ear tags, but there's still a little more to do before they rejoin the herd.
Our veterinarian is out to give them their Bang's vaccine, officially known as the Brucellosis vaccine. It's given to eligible female cattle to help protect against brucellosis, a disease that can cause abortions and reproductive problems and can also spread to people. Vaccination is regulated, so it has to be done by an authorized veterinarian under the applicable requirements.
Next comes a tattoo inside the ear and an EID tag, which uses electronic identification to help us accurately track each animal and maintain her health, vaccination, and breeding records.
You might be wondering why we need so many forms of identification. Each one serves a purpose, from a visible brand to official vaccination identification and electronic recordkeeping.
And just to clear up some cattle terminology:
🐮 Calf: A young bovine.
🐄 Heifer: A female that hasn't had her first calf.
🐂 Cow: A female that has had at least one calf.
🐃 Bull: An intact male.
🐂 Steer: A castrated male.
Once the work is done, these girls are released back into the herd to get on with being cattle!
There's a lot more to raising cattle than putting them out to pasture. Good records, preventive care, and careful selection help us build a healthy, productive herd for the years ahead.
#CattleRanching #RanchEducation #VeterinaryCare #WorkingRanch #ReplacementHeifers
Wrapping Up Another Year with the Cow Herd!
The calves have shipped out, but we're not quite done with our fall cattle work!
After weaning, we've kept back several replacement heifers. A heifer is a young female that hasn't had her first calf yet. These girls are our future cows, and they'll help replace older cows or cows that came up open, meaning they weren't pregnant this year.
Before heading back to the herd, these young ladies make another trip through the cattle chutes. In this video, we're freeze branding their identification number on their ribs and putting in their adult ear tags.
That brand gives us a permanent, easy-to-see way to identify them out in the pasture, while their tags help us keep track of individual animals and their records.
It's not just about keeping the cows sorted. We're keeping records on the future of our herd!
Questions? Just Ask 🫶
Next up, the vet is coming to finish their processing before these girls head back out to pasture.
Ranch life is a whole lot of planning for the next generation! 🌾
#RanchLife #CattleRanching #ReplacementHeifers #WorkingRanch #RanchingTraditions #SteamboatSprings
Over the last several generations here in the Yampa Valley, our family has poured our hearts into this land, our cattle, sheep, goats, and our working Boz Shepherds, and every single person who has crossed our gates. From the kids who came out for Ranch Days to neighbors helping us get the hay down, families welcoming a livestock guardian dog into their pastures, and folks stopping by just to talk LGD training, advocacy, and keeping livestock safe.
You all have become family to us.
Reviews mean the absolute world to a multi-generation family ranch like ours. They help folks who are searching for honest dogs, good hay, and real-world ranching answers find their way to our door. If our dogs, our ranch days, or our advocacy have touched your life or your operation over the years, we would be deeply and genuinely grateful if you could take a few minutes to share your story with others.
You can drop a review right here on our Facebook page. And if you have a spare minute to help our family operation on Google too, just head straight to Google Maps, search for Emerald Mtn Ranch, scroll down to the summary section, and leave your thoughts there.
From Jim, Jo, Pat, Jan, Taylor, and Justin, thank you for standing with us, supporting our heritage, and letting us be part of your lives. Your support keeps us going every single day. XXOO