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 âĒ 700-acre Yampa Valley working ranch. Purpose-bred Turkish Boz Shepherds, raised and proven under predator pressure.Advocates for LGDs, land & livestock. ððšðēðŋðŪðđðąð ððŧðĨðŪðŧð°ðĩ.ð°ðžðš
ðū
Busy stretch around the ranch lately getting everything picked up, spreading out the aged compost pile to build up the soil, and laying fresh straw down in the barns and huts before winter settles in. Now we are watching the weather and trying to decide the exact right window to reseed our dry hard clay pastures.
âWhen you are working with tough high-altitude ground that has to handle cattle, sheep, and goats without irrigation, plant choice is everything. Here is why we are going with the mix we chose:
âMeadow and Mountain Brome: Incredible cold tolerance, fast recovery after grazing, and deep roots that break up hard clay.
âPubescent and Crested Wheatgrass: Outstanding drought resistance and toughness when the summer gets dry.
âLadak Alfalfa and Cicer Milkvetch: Great for fixing natural nitrogen in the soil, helping build organic matter, and giving the livestock a protein boost.
âHoping mother nature cooperates with a timely snow or rain to get everything established.
â#EmeraldMtnRanch #RegenerativeAg #pasturemanagement #soilhealth DrylandFarming
PJ and Onyx don't help much with the actual heavy lifting, but they take their job as backhoe supervisors very seriously. While I was scraping out old wet hay, Pat made a run to town with a load of sheep and came home with a brand new ram. Never a boring day
ððŪð―ð―ð ðŪðŧðą ððķðŋððĩðąðŪð ððž ðĢðžðŋðð°ðĩðē ðŪðŧðą ð ðēðŋð°ðēðąðēð! ðĶīð
We made sure they celebrated their big day the right way with some giant birthday bones.
#coloradoboz #giantbreed