A NATURAL VISION

Today's owner of Flat Top Ranch has maintained the original vision of range improvement set out by the founder, Mr. Pettit, and has carried it further by limiting the impact of cattle grazing on the grassland by remaining under stocked with livestock.  The ranch is a venture in soil and water conservation through continuous rangeland restoration and erosion control from reservoirs.  A game fence was constructed around the perimeter in 1991 enabling a management program for the wildlife.  Both the Rocky Mountain elk and American bison were re-introduced to their native lands. Because the bison were belligerent to cattle fencing and threatening to the occasional pedestrian, the herd was later sold.  However, the elk have flourished.  The balance of domestic and wild animals is an ongoing management challenge.