Lost Rivers Grazing Academy Grazing Academy Alumni Using MiG in the Teton Valley of Idaho at 6000 Feet

 By Chad Cheyney, Extension Professor Emeritus

PK Ranch Headquarters

Robert and Morgan Piquet, and their children, raise cattle in the Teton Valley of Idaho at over 6000 of elevation where winters are both cold and very snowy!  Winter can last from October until the end of April! Robert is a supervisor for the local Teton Conservation District and had long wanted to convert virtually all his operation from farming to cattle raising to help protect the soil and the other resources and values of the Teton Valley.  Robert and is wife Morgan, were discussing this with their local district conservationist, who had attended the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy as a professional improvement activity with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.  She recommended it for what Robert and Morgan wanted to do.

Morgan and Robet Piquet (Left) in 2016

The Piquets attended the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy in the Fall of 2016.  They went home to the beginning of winter and “ruminated” on how to adapt and implement the principles and practices they had learned about and practiced at the Academy.  The next spring, they purchased a little power fencing equipment and tried out some of the principles.

At that time, Robert leased a large part of the land that he grazed.  Robert’s leases were based on grazing days. Although it sounds strange, Robert was ecstatic when he told us that he paid more rent for pasture that year than he has ever done before!  Some of the ranches he leased provide up to 1/3 more grazing in the very first year!

PK Ranch w/ Tetons in Background

Robert continues to work with the NRCS and the UI Extension Educators to design and install additional infrastructure for managed grazing, included permanent and temporary power fencing, wells and pipelines for greater water distribution as well as winter water, planting legumes into his pastures and structures and vehicles to support their new poultry enterprise.

Morgan felt that there was a market for “pasture-raised” eggs in the Teton Valley.  There was! She rapidly gained enough customers to have a waiting list! They have subsequently expanded into pasture -raised chickens and turkeys.  Morgan has a waiting list of customers for all these products at profitable pricing.

Multi-specie Grazing on PK Ranches

Robert and Morgan have agreed for the 3^rd year to make a presentation as alumni, about their operation at the Lost River Grazing Academy, September 12-15^th near Salmon, Idaho.  Robert has lived I the Teton Valley all his life and told us that this was the longest winter that he can remember.  We expect their presentation to be fascinating and informative.  They will be at the academy for supper on the evening of their presentation and will be available to answer your questions.

For more information on he Lost River Grazing Academy, September12-15th on the Eagle Valley Ranch near Salmon, Idaho, call Scott Jensen at 208-896-4104 or-scottj@uidaho.edu in Marsing or Chad Cheyney at 208-940-0222 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu in Arco.  Follow the Academy on Facebook and download a brochure at brochure at: 23-lrga-brochure.pdf (uidaho.edu)