Conservation Northwest updates
10 Spring/Summer 2015 conservationnw.org
Walking the walk
conserVation in the okanogan
How did you originally come to own a ranch in the
Okanogan?
I had never been to the Okanogan until I visited the ranch of
my friend, Greg James. I fell in love with the area.
Did the process of selling a conservation easement go
smoothly, or was it a big challenge?
It went smoothly. But as with any government agency, it did
take time and patience.
How do you think about the ranch: in agricultural terms,
wildlife habitat, a vacation home, or maybe more as a life-
style?
All of the above. I love the fact that our land is farmed, al-
though I'd like to get that a bit more sustainable. We love the
wildlife. And it's a vacation home and has become our lifestyle.
mitch Friedman executive Director,
mitch@conservationnw.org
Interview series
Have your experiences there given you insights on the roles
and importance of working lands and open space?
Absolutely. Between all the agencies, the ranchers, people
who love the open space, it's just a lot of variables and is fun to
watch them all come together. One of the things that makes
our ranch so enjoyable is that it's a working ranch. For one
thing, we fell in love with the guy and have learned so much
about what ranching is about and how hard it is. It's also like
having a fulltime caretaker.
We love the activity. Every day there's someone coming in,
horses being saddled, maybe cows are being moved around,
or alfalfa being cut. We've owned vacation homes for over
15 years, but last year was the first time my wife has gone by
herself; she felt comfortable doing so because she knew the
rancher was going to be there every morning.
What thoughts or benefit come most to mind when you
think about the place now?
In 2008, Mi cha el McKelv e y b o ug ht the 1 , 6 0 0 a c re
Grandview R anch on the south side of Palmer Lake, near
Loomis, Washington. He sold a conservation easement to the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, leases some
agricultural production to the man he bought the land om,
and along with his wife and two kids, visits equently to enjoy
the spectacular scenery and wildlife of "Okanogan Country."
Michael has even been good enough to allow me to deer hunt on
his place. I interviewed him recently to get his story.
Top: Though not known to live on the McKelvey's
Grandview Ranch, rare sage grouse were documented
in Okanogan County in 2014. WDFW
Bottom: Views from the McKelvey's Grandview
Ranch near Loomis, Washington. In the hands of a
conservation-minded property owner, this land, much
of which is still under agricultural production, provides
valuable habitat for mule deer, cougars, bighorn
sheep, wolves, grouse and other species.
Photos: Mitch Friedman
