A fifth generation Montanan, Wes was born and raised on his parents’ ranch in the Judith Basin. Since graduating from Montana State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Business, Finance Option and a minor in Economics in 1987, Wes has been involved in grain and livestock marketing throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest including nearly a dozen years with CHS, Inc. in Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota. During his eight-year stay in Minneapolis, he spent time as a floor broker at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and served as president of CHS Inc.’s subsidiary, Country Hedging, Inc. Wes is also a past Director of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Wes has been with Hall & Hall Inc. since 2000 and has been a principal and director of the firm since 2003.
The Two Furrow Ranch has not changed hands in over a half-century. That ownership continuum reflects well in the fine condition of the ranch and the improvements. The developed stock water, which consists of five wells, five miles of pipeline, and 15 tanks, should be considered well-located, well-built, and well-cared for.
The ranch sits astride the boundary between the Langs Fork of Big Dry Creek and Duck Creek, which feeds into Little Dry Creek. Most of the ranch is considered a gently rolling country with sandier soils on the south end and more clay to the north. Much of the farmland has been seeded to permanent pasture, but there is farmland on the south end that is currently in a crop/fallow rotation and utilized for producing winter forage.
There are flood-irrigated meadows in the northwest part of the ranch that have been seeded to annual forage crops and put up for hay. Consider average yields in the one-and-a-half to two tons per acre on these meadows, depending on water availability. Historically, dryland winter wheat yields an average of about 40 bushels per acre. The ranch is estimated to carry 2,400± AUMs of grazing plus what winter forage can be put up on the dryland and irrigated fields. If one were to feed for four months and graze for eight months, the ranch would come close to balancing at nearly 300 Animal Units.
The Two Furrow Ranch is one of those ranches that may come on the market every couple of generations, a buy-and-hold ranch if there ever was one.
Two Furrow Ranch is home to the headwaters of Lang’s Fork Creek. Lang’s Fork flows through the ranch for about five miles in a northwesterly direction to its confluence with Big Dry Creek. The headquarters are situated near the high point on the ranch near the south end. From there, one can view a high percentage of the ranch looking in a northerly direction. There is a second set of improvements toward the north end of the ranch beside Lang’s Fork, commonly referred to as “The Jacobson” in reference to a longtime former owner. The main road that runs through the ranch is well cared for and makes the ranch very useable for man and machinery.
The ranch fences and layout are conducive to an easy ranch operation. Cattle are moved easily without needing hauling or long trails. Shipping out of the ranch headquarters is complemented by well-planned traps and corrals.
Historically, yearlings in this part of Montana will gain between 1.6 and 2.0 pounds per head per day. The grass greens up in early May and grass cattle should be ready to ship in late August or early September.
Two Furrow Ranch is a classic buy-and-hold ranch with income generation via agricultural production and hunting. It is ready for someone to move in and operate – as a stand-alone ranch or as an expansion of an existing enterprise. The ranch is the embodiment of how an eastern Montana grass ranch should operate – quality grazing, ample stock water, and just the right amount of winter forage production to balance the ranch.
The Two Furrow ranch lies 21 miles southeast of Jordan via Montana Highway 59 and Two Furrow Road. The ranch is 70 miles northwest of Miles City via Montana Highway 59 and Two Furrow Road. Billings, Montana’s largest city and home to Billings Logan International Airport is 190 miles southwest of the ranch via Montana Highway 59 to Miles City and then Interstate 94 West.
The ranch lies approximately 45 miles from the Hell Creek Marina, which serves as the local access point to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. One can hunt, fish, and recreate on Fort Peck Reservoir, the nation’s largest hydraulically filled dam.
Cohagen is a small unincorporated community located in Garfield County. In its heyday, Cohagen was home to a post office, school, grocery store and bar.
There are few – if any – towns in Montana or the west that could be more accurately described as a “cowboy town” than Jordan. Nearby Jordan is home to all of the area’s services such as schools, banks, cafes, hotels, groceries, churches, and healthcare. The Garfield County Health Center in Jordan serves the medical needs of the area providing a range of services including primary care, emergency care, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, and long-term care. Like many rural hospitals, it plays a crucial role in providing accessible healthcare to residents in the area.
Garfield County was established in 1919 from parts of Dawson, McCone, and Prairie counties. It was named after James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The county's economy has historically been reliant on agriculture, particularly ranching and wheat farming. Like many rural areas of the American West, Garfield County experienced the booms and busts associated with agricultural cycles and economic shifts.
Miles City, home of the world-famous Miles City Bucking Horse sale which is held the third weekend in May each year, is about 70 miles from the ranch. Nearly all commercial and personal services are available in Miles City including numerous implement dealers, a very successful livestock auction, and a plethora of other services.
Southeastern Garfield County is considered semi-arid with annual precipitation averaging about 12.5 inches. The wettest months are May and June, while the driest months are January and February. Normal summer high temperatures will average in the 80’s, while normal winter high temperatures will average around 30 degrees. The ranch is relatively flat with elevations ranging from 2,672 to 3,045 feet above sea level.
From a Montana perspective, this area is considered good winter country. Snowfall averages 24 inches per year. Winter grazing with protein supplements is a solid option, but having hay available is highly recommended.
The Two Furrow Ranch has been in the same family ownership for over 50 years. The sellers have been owner/operators since the beginning. They seeded quite a bit of the farmland back to grass in the 80’s and used that land to balance a cow/calf operation alongside a farming operation. The sellers worked closely with the Montana State University Central Experiment Station near Moccasin to develop seed varieties that were well suited to eastern Montana. They then raised seed to sell locally, as well as regionally.
Since purchasing the ranch, the sellers have owned their own livestock and equipment. While not new, the infrastructure has been upgraded as needed and is well maintained. The farmland is in excellent condition, as are the grazing resources and improvements. Pride of ownership is apparent throughout the ranch.
Virtually all the land that encompasses the Two Furrow Ranch is suitable for livestock production with recreation layered on top. The ranch boasts an ideal balance of eight or nine months of grazing on native and improved pasture with small grain and/or winter forage production. This all lends itself to a well-balanced ranch.
Personal Property: None
Conservation Easements: None
Sources/Footnotes (photo credits): Andy George
The owners’ home is a very well-kept 1,356± square foot split-level home built in 1990. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with one of the bedrooms currently being utilized as an office. The house is heated via geothermal forced air and cooled via central air. The yard is not fenced but does sport a very nice shelter belt, fire pit, and high-fenced garden.
Adjacent to the house, there is a detached 24’x36’ heated garage built in 1993. It has one oversized stall and a woodworking shop.
The ranch shop was built in 1975 and is 3,504± square feet with a concrete floor throughout.
The Quonset was built in 2001 and is 55’x121’ with a concrete floor and sliding doors on both ends.
The calving barn was built in 1976 and is 32’x78’ with a head catch, maternity pen, and jugs.
Just east of the ranch buildings is a bin site that consists of 27,500 bushels of grain in four bins with sweeps and air and 7,500 bushels of capacity in three hopper-bottom bins.
There are additional dry storage/livestock sheds that complement and fully round out the ranch’s infrastructure.
The ranch boasts an array of water features, ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the ranch for livestock and wildlife. The developed water on the ranch consists of five wells, nearly five miles of pipelines, and 15 stock tanks, which efficiently distribute water to various parts of the ranch. There are an additional 25 reservoirs that complement the developed water providing ample water storage and accessibility for livestock and agricultural needs.
Langs Fork meanders through a large portion of the ranch from south to north, offering a natural and scenic water source. Furthermore, the ranch holds irrigation water rights on 38 diked acres, allowing for additional crop production.
This comprehensive water infrastructure supports both the ecological balance and agricultural productivity of the ranch.
All water rights owned by the seller and appurtenant to the land for sale will be transferred.
All minerals and mineral and royalty rights will be retained by the Seller.
The annual estimated taxes are $9,687.
Big game hunting on the ranch is primarily mule deer and pronghorn antelope, but a small population of whitetail reside on or near the ranch. Occasional sightings of elk have also been documented.
Upland gamebirds include sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, and pheasants.
In Garfield County, 221 different species of birds have been documented. While the Two Furrow Ranch is not home to all the species, there are dozens of species that frequent the ranch and the surrounding area.
Aside from the big game and upland gamebird hunting on the ranch, one must keep in mind that one of the nation’s finest recreational areas, the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is a mere 45 miles from the ranch. It can be considered one of the true trophy areas for elk and bighorn sheep as well as one of the premier fisheries in the nation. Fort Peck Lake hosts more than fifty species of fish. The lake is over 130 miles long and up to 220 feet deep. It boasts almost 1,600 miles of shoreline and has a surface area of about 240,000 acres.
In addition to high-quality hunting and fishing, the lake offers a full range of watersports, including skiing and wakeboarding, amid the absolute beauty of “The Breaks.”
If you want to get lost in the lower 48, this may be one of the best places to go.
Historically, the Two Furrow Ranch has been part of a larger operation. The Sellers raised cattle and seed wheat for decades. All of the infrastructure is set to go to work; one would be hard-pressed to find much in the way of deferred maintenance.
The farmland is in excellent condition and could again be used for seed wheat production. The fields are clean and have been well managed for decades. The on-farm grain storage and hopper-bottom bins would complement this operation well. Historically, winter wheat yields would run in the 40-bushel range in a crop/fallow rotation.
The grazing resource could be used for a cow/calf operation with winter forage put up and fed on the ranch, which is how the ranch has been used for decades. One could easily convert the ranch to seasonal grazing with yearlings or pairs. Generally, there is enough green grass to turn out in early May and ship in late August or early September or calves in late October, depending on stocking rates. We estimate the carrying capacity at 250 to 300 Animal Units, but that could vary significantly based on weather, grazing management, and class of livestock. Given the quality of the fences and water sources, either scenario will work.
The ranch has a Bureau of Land Management grazing lease that provides 457 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) of grazing. There is also a state lease that provides 152 AUMs of grazing.
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