Stewards of the Land

By Anna Silvka

Conservation Throughout Generations

The Hanh Family Talks Sustainable Agriculture

Just south of Townsend, Montana, the Hahn Ranch bustles with activity. The ranch has been owned and operated by four generations, and soon, the fifth will take the reins and continue the work started in 1908. 

“We’re primarily a cattle, hay, and grain outfit where we’ve been family-owned for all those years,” says Chuck Hahn, who is a third-generation rancher on the operation. “We value the land, the environment around us, and the family being able to be involved in the operation right now.”

For Hahn, it’s vital to focus on the big picture when it comes to a family-operated agricultural business. In this case, “the big picture” means ensuring that the opportunity to produce quality beef, grain, and forage will exist for future generations. By working alongside the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Montana Fish and Game Department, the Hahns have built efficient irrigation systems that reduce sediment, water flow problems, and damage to fish populations in Deep Creek and the Missouri River. Their actions have also improved cattle pastures, protected wildlife habitats, and promoted clean water. 

“We’ve always been conservation-minded, and through that—along with a ranching operation—you realize how everything fits together,” explains Hahn. “It’s not just one part of it all that works to improve the land. It's not just us that does it. It's a collaboration of a lot of people here in the county and those who help us out.”

The strong values and hard work ethics in the Hahn Ranch were recognized in 2018, when the operation was selected as 1 of 6 regional honorees of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program. The award honored the Hahn family, recognizing their outstanding environmental conservation efforts for Region V. It was also announced at the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting: an event hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Integrating Values

 Since receiving the Environmental Stewardship Award, the Hahns have continued pursuing strategies to maintain water quality, build healthy ecosystems, and improve soil health for crops and grazeland. Given how these choices directly affect the productivity of both the ranch and the farm, the operation’s management decisions are of the utmost importance—especially in times of drought. In order to gain a higher level of scientific knowledge on riparian zones, the Hahns continue to collaborate with a variety of natural resource organizations.

“We work with different partners through our operation, like NRCS, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and other government agencies to continue improving the environment and prove the efficiency of the ranch,” says Chuck. “As far as the farming operation, we do a lot of no-till farming and use ‘cover crops’ to boost soil. With our cattle operation, we constantly work to find the most efficient animals and improve the herd. We run a moderate-sized cow herd that works for our ranges: we run on some very rough, rugged, dry rangeland, so we have to have cows that fit that—along with smart selection. We primarily keep all of our own heifers, and bring in good, registered bulls to put in the herd.”

For the Hahn family, raising quality livestock goes hand-in-hand with being stewards of the land, and working to leave future generations with better resources than the one before. Balancing values and management strategies against a big picture mentality is what has allowed their operation to remain successful for such a long time. “That [balancing] is kind of what agriculture is, at least in our family,” explains Hahn. “We look at the value of the land. You know, they say ranchers are cash-poor and land-rich—and we want that land to continue to produce, and to produce the lifestyles and needs of our family for years to come.”

Communicating Values

Since the summer of 2018, the Hahn family has had several opportunities to share their story through news reports, school tours, and even a feature on the Public Broadcasting Service. Through their connections with others, they hope to continue showing the public what agricultural values are, and how they can be implemented responsibly.

The number one industry in Montana—agriculture—relies on the sustainability of natural resources. The Hahn family recognizes this urgency, striving to protect and preserve ranching in Montana with the hopes of encouraging others to do the same.

Although he never expected such recognition, Hahn describes his family as being “incredibly grateful and humbled” by winning the Environmental Stewardship Award for Region V.  He explains, “Agriculture is something more than just a business, it's a way of life, and values in life. That feeling of leaving something better than you got it, and trying to get that across to the public, is humbling. Everyone needs to take time—take a bit of time—and slow down a little bit. Look at what's around you; look at how everything fits together and the whole process. I think if people would do that, they would get a much better understanding of how everything in this world runs together in one big picture.”