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Doug and Zena Ensign are good neighbors. For years, they've allowed history buffs onto their Park County ranch to see the original Crow Agency site, Fort Parker. More visitors may arrive with the approaching Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, since William Clark trekked along the Yellowstone River through what is now their Mission Ranch.
Despite the Ensigns' "open gate," visitors aren't always considerate. People take artifacts from the Fort Parker site, discard toilet paper and beer cans, and track in weed seeds. Zena says she has to make weekly trips to the area just to clean up. Though the Ensigns wanted to continue allowing access to the historic site, they needed help managing the influx of people. They also wanted to seize the opportunity to show visitors that ranchers are not the bad guys they're sometimes made out to be.
"We wouldn't be here all these decades if we hadn't taken care of the land," said Zena.
Eager to show people both the history and environmentally sound land management, Doug and Zena were among the first to sign up for the Undaunted Stewardship program, a partnership of Montana State University, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Bureau of Land Management and an unprecedented mix of other environmental, governmental and agricultural groups. Some of these groups include American Rivers, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, The Conservation Fund, Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Montana Land Reliance and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Named for the Lewis and Clark chronicle Undaunted Courage, the program helps private landowners preserve their lands while allowing access to historic sites and educating the public about agriculture in the 21st century.
With the help of the program, the Mission Ranch will display a kiosk that outlines the history of Fort Parker and other historic buildings. Visitors will also learn how cattle contribute to healthy rangelands and how landowners tackle invasive weed species. They'll find out why riparian areas must be sensitively handled and why grazing management plans are necessary. Most of all, they'll learn howand whytoday's ranchers are such good stewards of the land. In addition to the interpretive kiosk on the Mission Ranch and at other historic sites around the state, public service announcements on radio and television will inform landowners and others about the positive environmental benefits of modern agricultural practices.
All farms and ranches statewide are eligible to have their land stewardship certified by the Undaunted Stewardship program. Certification recognizes farms and ranches for their Best Management Practices that ensure the long-term health and productivity of Montana's natural resources. In addition, certified farms and ranches that contain a site of historic significance are eligible to enter into a Historical Site Preservation Agreement. These Agreements compensate landowners for allowing limited public access to historic sites and for the continued preservation of these sites and their natural landscapes. The program's initial Historical Site Preservation Agreements focus on sites along the Lewis and Clark Trail, including Lewis and Clark campsites, military forts and stagecoach stops.
Undaunted Stewardship also helps any farm or ranch business statewide that is interested in developing an additional enterprise, such as a bed and breakfast, campground, guest ranch, etc. The economic sustainability of farms and ranches is necessary to preserve the open space, natural environment, and historical sites found on private agricultural lands.
"The perception is that ranchers have taken poor care of their land for years," said Zena. "They think we're anti-environment. Quite the opposite is true," she said. The Ensigns manage weeds, riparian areas, grasslands and grazingtheir livelihood depends on it.
They are also among the modern-day ranchers who are diversifying their businesses by adding recreational opportunities. The Ensigns recently opened the Mission Creek Ranch Bed and Breakfast and will offer fly-fishing on their private spring-fed creek.
"This is more than the history thing," said Zena. "This is a good way to promote the agricultural industry to the entire world."
Undaunted Stewardship is currently working with five ranches to establish the first Historical Site Preservation Agreements. The program is also assisting two ranches with development of additional enterprises, and organizers hope to award several Land Stewardship Certifications in Summer 2002. To learn more about Undaunted Stewardship or how you might participate, please contact Merrita Fraker-Marble at MSU (994-7749) or Beth Emter at the Montana Stockgrowers Association (442-3420).
