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.
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.
From Our Ranch to Your Table
Beef Raised at L-J Ranch
Our cattle are raised on grass their entire lives, wintering on the home pastures at L-J Ranch in Bayfield and spending their summers grazing the high country above Vallecito Lake.
When it comes time for harvest, families may choose between grass-finished beef or pasture grain-finished beef depending on their preference for flavor and marbling. Both are raised with the same care, stewardship, and respect for the land that defines life on this ranch.
Because our herd is intentionally small, availability each season is limited.
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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