Admission by Donation │ Doors open at 5:30

Ranching families have shaped Chaffee County since the first homesteaders arrived in the Arkansas River Valley in the 1860s. Drawn by fertile grasslands, mountain water, and new opportunities, they built cattle and hay operations that became the foundation of the local economy. Despite isolation, harsh winters, and disputes over land and water, these pioneers established a ranching tradition that continues to influence the county today.

Local ranchers helped create a culture rooted in stewardship, self-reliance, and deep multigenerational connections to the land. Many ranches have remained in the same families for more than a century, passing from one generation to the next while enduring mining booms, railroad expansion, droughts, fluctuating cattle markets, and increasing development pressures while preserving the region’s agricultural heritage and rural character.

Today, ranching in Chaffee County remains both an economic activity and a living heritage. While tourism and recreation now dominate the local economy, hay meadows, cattle operations, the county fair, and 4-H programs continue to connect residents to the valley’s frontier roots.

Join us for a casual lecture with some local ranchers. Hear their stories, learn about life on the ranch, and enjoy a laid-back, friendly conversation.

With:

• Bruce Cogan of Cogan Ranch

• Ken McMurray of McMurray Land & Livestock

• Lee Rooks of Rafter 26 Ranch

• Nancy Roberts of Arrowpoint Cattle Co.

• Suzy and David Kelly of Kelly Ranch