Trent came to Hall and Hall in the spring of 2003 after spending eight years with The Idaho Nature Conservancy where, as Lands Program Director, he was responsible for overseeing the chapter’s real estate activity around the state. Trent also served as the Conservancy’s field representative for central Idaho where he worked with local communities and landowners to preserve working ranchlands and resolve natural resource conflicts. He became a partner of Hall and Hall in March 2004 and holds real estate licenses in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. A native of Virginia, Trent graduated from Woodberry Forest School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Hampden-Sydney College. Trent and his wife, Cecile, moved west to Idaho in 1994. Enjoyment of the outdoors is evident in Trent’s dedication to fly-fishing and upland bird hunting. Trent maintains strong ties to the southeast and is a trustee of The Duke Endowment based in Charlotte, NC and a committee member of the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation in Durham, NC. He is a current board member of the Idaho Rural Health Association and past president of the board of directors for the Wood River Land Trust and was an original board member of the Blaine County Land, Water, and Wildlife Program. Trent and Cecile have two children, a son Parker and a daughter Airey.
Offered for the first time in more than four decades, Headwater Ranch represents one of the Northwest’s largest contiguous ranch holdings. Long operated as part of a highly regarded family ranching enterprise, the ranch reflects generations of sound stewardship and a commitment to premium beef production – values embedded in its well-maintained infrastructure, productive irrigated farmland, extensive grazing resources, and exceptional set of water resources. The ranch is located east of the Cascade Range in central Oregon’s high desert, approximately 70 miles southeast of Prineville, the county seat for Crook County, and just over 75 miles from the outdoor recreation hub of Bend.
The physical footprint of the operation is impressive, encompassing approximately 72,000 total acres, including 17,085± deeded acres and 55,000± acres of surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land under a grazing permit to the ranch. With an emphasis on sound stewardship and premium beef production, Headwater Ranch can run 1,200± breeding cows plus bulls on a year-round basis, with capacity up to 1,500± cows, while raising hay and pasture on 2,300± irrigated acres, including 1,560± acres under nine center pivots.
Defined by its water, the ranch is home to a unique natural spring complex that is the source of the South Fork of the Crooked River. These headwater springs feed several lakes and ponds and ultimately coalesce to form the South Fork, which flows north for over eight miles through the ranch. Extensive wetland areas and sub-irrigated meadows are associated with the springs, while additional water resources include reliable irrigation and stock water wells and strategically placed range developments.
The ranch headquarters features a complete set of recently upgraded structures and facilities designed to support year-round, turnkey ranch operations. Building improvements include three remodeled homes, a renovated bunkhouse, a new shop building, equipment storage, tack and storage barns, and rebuilt corrals and cattle working facilities. The ranch supports an array of western wildlife, including elk, mule deer, and pronghorn as well as an impressive variety of waterfowl and other migratory bird species that take advantage of the property’s diverse water features. In addition, the lakes on the property also offer excellent fishing for bass, while the South Fork provides habitat for native redband trout that inhabit the Crooked River system.
Headwater Ranch stretches across an expansive, wide-open landscape, extending more than 20 miles from north to south and nearly 10 miles from east to west. The ranch combines multiple parcels of deeded land with a BLM grazing allotment held by the ranch to create a single contiguous operating unit. Over its large footprint, the ranch encompasses irrigated hayfields, creeks and riparian areas, sub-irrigated meadows, rocky canyons, native grasslands, improved pastures, and juniper-covered buttes and ridgelines. Elevations range from 4,000 feet at the north end, where the South Fork Crooked River exits the ranch, to nearly 5,600 feet atop Cougar Mountain in the southwest portion of the ranch. Glass Butte, a prominent landmark rising over 6,500 feet, dominates the southern skyline, while U.S. Highway 20 serves as the boundary of the ranch’s southern range. A well-maintained, graveled county road traverses the ranch from north to south and provides convenient year-round access to the communities and services of central Oregon.
The headquarters for the operation lies within the northern half of the ranch and features nine center pivot-irrigated hayfields as well as the ranch’s residential and agricultural improvements. Structures include three recently remodeled homes, a renovated bunkhouse, a new large shop, equipment storage, tack and storage barns, and the main cattle shipping and working facilities. A newly rebuilt entrance road connects the improvements with the county road, three miles to the west.
Defined by its water, the ranch is home to a unique natural spring complex that is the source of the South Fork of the Crooked River. These headwater springs rise just west of where the ranch buildings are located and feed several lakes and ponds before coming together to form the South Fork. The South Fork flows north for over eight miles delivering water to the ranch’s flood-irrigated hay fields and pastures. Beyond the ranch, the South Fork joins Beaver Creek to form the mainstem of the Crooked River approximately 15 airmiles to the north near the small community of Paulina. Extending south from the headquarters for over three miles is an expansive set of sub-irrigated meadows that follow the ancient course of the South Fork riverbed. In addition to providing exceptional seasonal grazing, these meadows offer important perennial and seasonal wetland habitat for a variety of wildlife.
The southern and western portions of the ranch are comprised of large native and improved pastures that naturally integrate deeded acreage with the BLM grazing allotment. The terrain is vast and varied, consisting of broad plains that rise to low foothills and juniper-covered mountains bisected by dry canyons. Cattle graze easily across the landscape, taking advantage of abundant forage and strategically located water resources. In addition to multiple stock wells on this part of the ranch, a spring development delivers water to numerous stock ponds, troughs, and tanks through a buried pipeline system that supports efficient livestock distribution.
Headwater Ranch lies within central Oregon’s high desert, approximately 70 miles southeast of the ranching community of Prineville, the county seat for Crook County. Prineville is home to approximately 10,500 residents and offers a full range of services and amenities, including quality healthcare at St. Charles Medical Center and an excellent jet-capable general aviation airport, Prineville/Crook County Airport. The ranch is accessed from Prineville via the Paulina Highway/Route 380 and well-maintained, all-season county roads. Redmond Municipal Airport is located a half-hour west of Prineville and is the nearest commercial airport to the ranch. Redmond features daily flights to multiple West Coast cities on Alaska, American, Delta, and United Airlines. Running east to west along the ranch's southern boundary, U.S. Highway 20 provides convenient year-round access to Bend, approximately 75 miles to the west. With a population of approximately 100,000, Bend is central Oregon’s largest city and has become one of the West’s premier outdoor recreation destinations, drawing visitors year-round for its skiing, trail systems, golf courses, river recreation, and thriving dining and cultural scene.
Situated in the geographic center of the state, Crook County occupies nearly 3,000 square miles of mountain ranges, river canyons, grassy plains, and juniper and ponderosa pine forests. Roughly half of the county is federally managed, split between the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM, with the Ochoco National Forest anchoring the county's northern and eastern reaches. The Crooked River is the county's primary drainage, formed when the South Fork of the Crooked River and Beaver Creek join near the small ranching community of Paulina. From there, the river flows west through the Paulina Valley before cutting a dramatic desert canyon on its way to the Deschutes River near Madras. Ultimately, the Deschutes joins the Columbia River upstream of The Dalles.
Prineville, the first settlement in central Oregon, was established in 1868, while Crook County was formally organized in 1882 out of the original Wasco County territory. The first settlers arrived in the early 1860s, driving cattle east over the Cascades to graze the rich valley bottoms and surrounding foothills and mountains. By the late nineteenth century, this part of Oregon had become one of the most important livestock-producing areas in the Pacific Northwest. Conflicts between cattle and sheep operators eventually contributed to the development of the federal grazing allotment system that continues to shape public land ranching throughout the American West today. Agriculture remains the foundation of the local economy, with many farms and ranches remaining in the same ownership for generations. In recent years, the area's combination of productive agricultural resources, abundant public lands, recreational opportunities, and a favorable operating environment has attracted ranch investors from across the country seeking income-producing cattle operations and long-term land ownership.
The climate at Headwater Ranch is best described as semi-arid with low humidity and total annual precipitation of approximately 10 inches. Annual Precipitation is supplemented by snowmelt from Cougar Mountain, Long Barn Butte, and Hampton Butte, all part of the Hampton Buttes Range. This part of central Oregon generally enjoys four seasons with open winters in the valley bottoms and heavy snowfall in the higher elevations. The average daytime high from December through February (the coldest months of the year) is 37 degrees. The average winter low is about 20 degrees. Summers are warm with temperatures consistently reaching the upper 80s and low 90s during July and August and cooling to the low 50s at night.
It is estimated that Headwater Ranch consists of over 72,000 total contiguous acres, including 17,085± acres of deeded land and an associated BLM grazing allotment covering 55,000± acres. The deeded acreage breaks down approximately as follows:
Headwater Ranch features a complete set of well-maintained structures and improvements to support year-round operations. The current owners made a significant recent investment in renovating existing buildings and adding new facilities, resulting in a well-appointed ranch headquarters suited to both comfortable living and efficient livestock operations. Buildings are clustered together in a private setting adjacent to the headwater springs and lakes that form the South Fork of the Crooked River, and a newly rebuilt private road connects the building compound with the main entrance three miles to the west. Residential and agricultural improvements include the following:
In contrast to many western ranches whose irrigation water depends solely on winter snowfall, Headwater Ranch relies on abundant underground water to support its irrigation wells and the springs that form the South Fork of the Crooked River. This underground resource is remarkably consistent year to year and largely independent of seasonal precipitation, making Headwater Ranch virtually drought-proof in a region where water reliability defines land value. The inventory of irrigation water rights held by the ranch includes multiple surface and groundwater certificates. A complete tabulation of associated water rights is available from Hall and Hall or the Oregon Water Resources Department at www.oregon.gov/OWRD.
All mineral and subsurface rights owned by the seller will transfer to the new owner at closing.
Annual real estate taxes are approximately $27,000. There is no state sales tax in Oregon.
At the heart of Headwater Ranch is a unique wetland system fed by the headwater springs of the South Fork of the Crooked River. In a high-desert environment such as this, water is life, and the ranch's extensive shallow wetlands, spring-fed lakes, and year-round creeks act as a magnet for wildlife, providing food, water, and shelter for hundreds of species across every season. Situated within the Pacific Flyway, the ranch serves as a vital layover for waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors that depend on aquatic habitat to rest, breed, and refuel during their annual migrations. The springs' constant temperature ensures abundant open water through the winter months, drawing thousands of ducks and geese when surrounding waters freeze. Few ranches in the West offer wetland resources of this scale and diversity, and a new owner will find compelling options, from enhancing habitat for world-class waterfowl hunting to managing the property as a private wildlife and bird sanctuary. The spring-fed lakes also offer excellent fishing for largemouth bass, while the South Fork supports native redband trout throughout its eight-mile reach across the ranch.
In addition to aquatic resources, the expansive and varied upland terrain around Headwater Ranch supports a rich natural environment that is home to elk, mule deer, and pronghorn, along with a variety of small game, including upland bird species such as Greater sage grouse, chukar partridge, and California quail. Unlike some other western states, Oregon offers a favorable landowner preference program. In the case of Headwater Ranch, the landowner potentially qualifies for up to six elk tags and six deer tags for hunting on the ranch’s deeded footprint. The ranch spans the Silvies 22 and Maury 36 hunt units and is located fully within the CR-01 deer unit. Contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for more information at www.dfw.state.or.us.
For off-ranch activities, the city of Bend, approximately 75 miles to the west, has established itself as one of the premier destinations in the western United States, drawing visitors year-round for a range of outdoor recreation, dining, shopping, and cultural events. Mount Bachelor, 22 miles west of Bend, is the second largest single-mountain ski resort in the country behind only Vail, Colorado, offering over 4,300 acres of skiable terrain with a season that typically runs from mid-November through late May. In warmer months, Bend anchors more than 300 miles of mountain biking trails, while the Deschutes River provides a backdrop for paddle sports, fishing, and other river recreation. Golf is another hallmark of the region, with nearly 30 courses in the area, including Tetherow and Pronghorn, both nationally ranked. Beyond recreation, Bend offers a thriving dining scene anchored by the Old Mill District along the Deschutes River. This award-winning mixed-use area combines riverfront restaurants, galleries, boutique shopping, and the Hayden Homes Amphitheater, an outdoor concert venue that draws major national acts throughout the summer season. For those accustomed to an active outdoor lifestyle with access to genuine urban amenities, Bend's proximity to Headwater Ranch places a world-class destination within comfortable reach.
Offered for the first time in more than four decades, Headwater Ranch has been operated as part of a reputable family ranching enterprise emphasizing sound stewardship, premium beef production, and profitability. The commitment to quality is reflected in the ranch's long-term association with one of the nation's largest rancher-owned cooperatives and a leading provider of natural beef to Whole Foods Markets. The cooperative operates under RaiseWell Certified for Beef standards, which are the highest benchmarks for livestock welfare. This distinction adds market credibility and aligns with the growing consumer demand for responsibly raised beef. Following current management practices, a new owner could reasonably expect a productive, income-generating operation from the outset.
Under current management, the ranch can run 1,200± breeding cows plus bulls on a year-round basis, with capacity up to 1,500± cows. The ranch raises hay and pasture on 2,300± irrigated acres, including 1,560± acres under nine center pivots, and utilizes over 1,600 acres of sub-irrigated meadows. The ranch typically feeds hay for 45 to 90 days, depending on weather patterns and fall feed conditions, and budgets for 1 to 1.5 tons of hay per cow. Around the first of March, cows are turned out on spring pasture at the south end of the ranch, where they begin range-calving by mid-month. Upland portions of the ranch are divided into approximately 15 pastures that combine both deeded and BLM lands in accordance with the ranch’s BLM grazing permit. Cows and calves rotate through these pastures until mid-summer, before moving to irrigated and sub-irrigated meadows and pivot-irrigated fields in the northern half of the ranch. After calves are shipped in the fall, interim grazing is available on deeded pastures and aftermath hay fields. Weaning rates are traditionally in the mid-90 percent range, with weights in the mid-500s for steers and the low 500s for heifers.
The ranch’s productive pivot-irrigated hayfields are typically planted to pasture blends of grass and alfalfa suitable for aftermath grazing. Under a management approach focused on commercial hay production, the ranch could produce in the range of 7,000 to 7,500 tons annually, with three cuttings yielding four to five tons per acre. Irrigation water for these fields is more than ample, originating from a substantial aquifer underlying the ranch and delivered by eight reliable irrigation wells. Well logs indicate that the wells pump between 1,000 and 3,000 gallons per minute with depths not greater than 400 feet and static water levels less than 30 feet. Irrigation infrastructure, including the center pivots, pumps, and motors, is regularly maintained and in excellent working condition. The original pivot on the ranch was installed in approximately 1994, with the other eight pivots installed between 2000 and 2006.
Annual use of the BLM grazing allotment is coordinated through the BLM’s Central Oregon Field Office in Prineville. The grazing permit provides for approximately 4,000 active animal unit months (AUMs) with flexibility to utilize the AUMs over the course of a twelve-month grazing season.
I have purchased four ranches through Hall and Hall over the past 20 years.
I have purchased four ranches through Hall and Hall over the past 20 years, and there is simply no other team in the world like them. They have navigated complexity, professionally attended to every detail, operated with fairness and integrity, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to me–...
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