Our Heritage
L-J Ranch — Est. 1940
A working cattle ranch in Bayfield Colorado.
The Ranch
The Hereford genetics at L-J Ranch trace back to the original Pine River Valley mother herd of the late 1800s.
Our cattle spend their winters on the home pastures at L-J Ranch and summer months grazing the high country above Vallecito Lake.
Life on a working ranch follows the rhythm of the land and livestock. Caring for the cattle and stewarding the pastures that sustain them is part of everyday life here in the Pine River Valley.
When people gather at LePlatt's Pond, they are stepping into a place that is still very much alive — a working ranch that continues to shape the landscape and the community around it.
From Our Ranch to Your Table
The L-J Ranch Beef Program
For years, families in our community have come to L-J Ranch for locally raised beef. As demand has continued to grow beyond what our current herd can sustainably provide, we've entered a season of rebuilding and growing toward a long-term dream we've carried for years — a small ranch farmstand sitting at the top of the property, offering thoughtfully raised beef and other ranch goods to our local community.
Rather than stepping away from offering beef entirely during this season, we've partnered with trusted local ranching programs to carefully source premium American Wagyu ground beef that reflects the quality and flavor standards we value for our own family.
Each release is intentionally selected by our family and offered in limited quantities.
A Rancher's Life
Ranching and raising cattle is demanding work, and at times it can be heartbreaking. It requires patience, resilience, and a deep love for the land and animals that depend on it.
For Paul and Krii Black, there is no place they would rather be than in the saddle, moving cattle across the pastures that have shaped life in the Pine River Valley for generations.
You don't become a rancher for the money. You do it because you love the work, because you believe in caring for the land, and because stewardship is something that runs deep in your blood.
For the Black family, caring for this ranch is both a responsibility and a blessing. They remain deeply grateful to God for the land, the cattle, and the many lives this ranch continues to sustain.
Where Gathering Has Always Been Part of Ranch Life
Life on this ranch has always centered around gathering — gathering cattle, gathering neighbors, and gathering to celebrate the moments that matter most.
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