Troy Lotspeich’s great-grandfather bought their ranch in northern Oklahoma in 1903; today the family rotates 600 cow-calf pairs through 25 paddocks on 10,000 acres of native grass, winning landowner of the year

A ranch in northwestern Oklahoma has remained in one family for more than a century, but its latest distinction comes from how the land is being managed. Troy Lotspeich’s great-grandfather bought the family’s current ranch in 1903. Today, the 10,000-acre property is home to 600 cattle that are moved through 25 grazing paddocks, giving native grasslands time to recover while supporting a diverse population of wildlife. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has now named the Lotspeich family its 2026 Landowner Conservationist of the Year.The award, announced on October 12, recognises the family’s efforts to balance cattle production with wildlife habitat conservation. According to the department, the main Lotspeich Ranch in northern Harper County comprises native grasses, forbs and shrubs. The family also owns an additional 3,950 acres of farmland in Beaver County, including 750 acres of irrigated land.The ranch’s history stretches back to the 1890s, when Lotspeich’s great-grandfather first arrived in Oklahoma and purchased a quarter-section of land. He subsequently bought the property that became the family’s current ranch in 1903. Generations later, the land continues to support a working cattle operation, but its management has increasingly focused on maintaining the prairie ecosystem.

How 25 paddocks help protect the grassland

The family follows a rotational grazing system in which its 600 cattle are moved through 25 paddocks across the 10,000-acre ranch during the growing season. Instead of allowing livestock to graze continuously across the same stretch of land, the approach concentrates grazing in one area for a shorter period before cattle are moved elsewhere. The system follows a principle known as “take half, leave half”, which means leaving enough grass behind for vegetation to recover and continue providing food and shelter for wildlife. The department describes the approach as high-intensity, low-duration grazing. It can improve soil conditions and organic matter, helping the ground absorb and retain more rainwater.Water availability is particularly important in this part of Oklahoma. The region receives an average of only around 22 inches of precipitation annually, making it essential to conserve moisture and allow native vegetation to recover between grazing periods. To make the system work across the property, the family has installed approximately 35 miles of water lines connected to 20 stock tanks. These provide at least one water source for each paddock, reducing the need for cattle to travel long distances to drink. Troy also monitors grazing pressure through structures called grazing exclosures, which allow him to compare vegetation in protected areas with grass exposed to livestock.During winter, the cattle are moved away from the native grassland and onto the family’s crop ground. There, they graze on wheat pasture supplemented with alfalfa hay or grain produced on the irrigated farmland.

A prairie ecosystem shared with wildlife

The ranch’s conservation work has helped sustain a range of wildlife species, including northern bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys. Ducks, geese and sandhill cranes also use the property’s ponds and river.Native grasses and forbs play an important role in maintaining this habitat. They provide food and cover for wildlife, while healthy vegetation helps protect soil and retain rainfall. Allowing grasslands time to recover after grazing also helps maintain the varied plant growth that supports different species. Fire is another part of the landscape’s natural history. According to ODWC, wildfires have helped shape the vegetation on the ranch. Native prairie plants are adapted to fire and can continue growing even when rainfall is limited. Fire also helps maintain an ecosystem that historically evolved with periodic burning.The family also allows guided hunts for northern bobwhite and white-tailed deer, while youth hunts are organised on the ranch. The Lotspeiches raise and train their own bird dogs, maintaining a connection between the family’s ranching traditions and outdoor activities.

A family legacy that has changed with the land

The family’s relationship with wildlife has evolved over generations. An account from a 1965 edition of Oklahoma Wildlife magazine quoted Troy’s grandfather, Kenny Lotspeich, recalling that the ranch once displayed “no hunting” signs. He later decided to remove them, explaining that the signs were keeping genuine friends away while failing to stop poachers from taking birds.Today, the family works closely with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency. Troy is also associated with conservation organisations including Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He participates in a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances programme for lesser prairie-chickens, a species whose grassland habitat has faced pressure across parts of the Great Plains.The family’s recognition also highlights the importance of private landowners in wildlife conservation in Oklahoma. More than 95% of the state is privately owned, according to the wildlife department, making cooperation with farmers and ranchers important for protecting habitats beyond public conservation areas.