About

The goal of our ranch is to implement sustainable farming and regenerative grazing principles while responsibly developing our silvopasture for all of our livestock - in a wooded environment with a micro-climate. We are not there yet, but we are working on it. We have started our ranch backwards it seems - animals first, infrastructure second. Though, this approach has enabled us to build to meet the needs of our livestock - and not build the infrastructure and find out the livestock does not fit...The livestock we selected is certainly not random - we do our research. Heritage breeds (or heritage crosses), smaller in nature and suited for small homesteads, with high foraging skills, low feed intake, and small footprint, are what we desire in our livestock. Currently our heritage breeds consist of American Guinea Hogs, Dexter Cattle, American Blackbelly Sheep, Black and Blue Slate Turkeys, and a multitude of Chickens. Most of our current heritage cattle and hog stock are able to be registered, and upon breeding being proven, they will be registered. All have amazing personalities, are efficient grazers, have at least 2 purposes, and do not require quick processing due to changes in flavor of meat. The Dexter cattle may be used for milk, meat, and oxen; the sheep for milk, meat, and fire mitigation; the pigs for meat, garden tilling and soil improvement; and, the poultry for meat, eggs, and tilling. We do have a couple of mixed breeds, one pig (American Guinea Hog cross - Miss Patty Piggy) and one cow (Half Dexter, Quarter Low-Line and Quarter Hereford - Miss Betty Rock) - both are as sweet as can be and are beautiful additions to our otherwise pure-bred livestock.

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Besides the livestock, we have produce from our garden (when it grows), a newly planted orchard with berries, and honey bees. We make homemade food items and when the opportunity arises will try our hand at making dairy products (very much in the beginning stages still), hopefully in the near future.

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The Ranch is also home to Julie's Cottage Creations, where numerous crafts, homestead items, and Cottage Licensed baked goods are available for purchase. 

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So why 2 separate businesses? Why not close Julie's Cottage Creations and operate solely under 4 Bear Ranch? It all comes down to the food items produced and Montana's food laws. For 2 years, Julie spent countless hours with the County health department to receive her Cottage Food License under Julie's Cottage Creations. A Cottage Food License allows for sales of homemade approved baked goods for public consumption. The homemade food made from 4 Bear Ranch is for private consumption only and is regulated by the Montana Local Food Choice Act. To ensure consumers know exactly what product they are buying, the decision was made to keep both business entities in operation.

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We might be slow to start, but are excited in providing our knowledge, products, and services to our local community. Our journey in ranching and silvopasture development, homesteading, crafts, and making homemade baked goods is not only a journey that involves us as a family, but one that is supported by our community. We love where we live, we love the community in which we live, and we love what we are doing.