Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1357477
Who is Lost Lake Ranch? Wm. T. (Bill) & Dolores Harrer (2nd generation) purchased Lost Lake Ranch (LLR) in 1968 and began converting it from a Hereford ranch to a black Angus ranch. Grant & Deanna Harrer (3rd generation) now own and operate Angus cattle on LLR. Karen H. Davis, Grant's sister, and husband, Chuck Davis, farm a few miles away. Karen maintains her own Angus herd and frequently develops and markets those cattle along with those of Lost Lake. Jeff Schile, Karen's son-in-law, is Lost Lake Ranch's manager. What type of business is Lost Lake Ranch? We breed and develop Angus cattle including bulls, cows, heifers, and steers. Most of the cattle are registered, but a smaller herd of commercial Angus are also maintained. On a more fundamental level, we raise grass and hay to support our habit of raising cattle. What are the company's values and goals? We value family, environment, and the animals that share this earth (not so much cockroaches and the like). On another level, we value honesty, compassion, and hard work. Our goals are to improve the genetic value of our cattle for ourselves and our customers, to make the environment, including the wildlife, sustainable, and make a reasonable living off the land. All of us who make decisions about handling our cattle are Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified to maximize the safe and humane treatment of the animals. How long has your business been in the family? The Harrer family has been raising Angus cattle since 1936. This began with W.J. (Wib) Harrer in the Gallatin Valley switching from a dairy operation to buying his first Angus. He and sons, Bill and John, moved to Helena in 1936, founding the Green Meadow Ranch. That ranch became a major force in the western United States Angus breed during the 1950s and '60s. LLR was purchased in 1968, and the Green Meadow Ranch was dissolved in 1970. 2021 is the Harrer's 85th year in the Angus business. What brought you to the Great Falls area? I (Grant Harrer) was born in Helena, MT when we owned and operated Green Meadow Ranch. The serial moves were largely motivated by the need to raise forage and cattle where property taxes were not overwhelming. Due to the move to LLR, my senior year in high school was at Great Falls High (yeah, Bison!). Before and after that year, I spent a lot of weekends and breaks working at the ranch. In fact, the morning after our senior party, Dad picked me up bright and early to drive to the ranch and start my summer work (stacking bales, etc.). In the course of going to school, I lived in Bozeman, MT; Seattle, WA; Houston, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT. I have lived and worked in Great Falls since 1986. Why did you start this business? My grandfather, Wib, began raising cattle at an early age. His son, my father, Bill, grew up raising and showing cattle 38 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org LOST LAKE RANCH F E AT U R E D Q & A Photo provided by Lost Lake Ranch