B Bar Gazette – April 2025
| B Bar Gazette |
| Issue #23 April 2025 |
| Hello friends of B Bar, At 6,600 feet in Tom Miner Basin, April is a month of contrasts - one day offering the warm promise of summer, the next reminding us that winter's grip hasn't fully loosened. While patches of grass emerge beneath melting snow, our mountains hold a generous gift - snowpack measuring ~113% of median water equivalent. Like nature's savings account, this moisture will soon transform into rushing creeks, vibrant meadows, and the deep green that cattle crave. Before surrendering entirely to spring's demands, our team plans one final winter adventure - carving turns down Ramshorn Peak's East bowl in a breathtaking 4,000-foot ski run that ends right at our front door. You can follow this journey from mountain peak to ranch headquarters on Instagram @bbarranchmt. |
| Looking up at the East bowl of Ramshorn Peak in April 2023. |
| As the basin awakens with the presence of mountain bluebirds and butterflies, we're just one month away from welcoming our seasonal family and first retreat guests. The ranch's rhythm is shifting - trails emerge from snow, cabins are readied, and we anticipate the shared meals and conversations that define summer at B Bar. We're particularly excited about two in-house gatherings that capture the spirit of early summer in Montana: Mountain Mindfulness Yoga Retreat (June 11-15) Returning for its second year, this gathering invites participants to simply slow down and reconnect - through daily yoga and meditation, guided wildlife walks, horseback riding, and thoughtfully prepared meals that honor the season's first offerings. Solstice Signature Stay (June 25-29) Join us for our inaugural multi-day gathering coinciding with summer's longest days and a new moon's darkest skies. Astronomer Lynn Powers, President of Southwestern Montana Astronomical Society, will guide us through celestial wonders with professional telescopes as days fill with horseback rides through wildflower meadows, meaningful conversations about land stewardship, and the particular magic that emerges at the peak of summer in Montana's high country. We'll continue this seasonal celebration with our Fall Equinox Signature Stay (September 17-21), when autumn paints our landscape gold and the balance of day and night creates its own distinct experience. Learn More about Signature Stays |
| A retreat group ends their day in Tom Miner Basin, under the Milky Way Galaxy. |
| While Tom Miner Basin waits for higher-elevation snows to retreat, our eastern pastures awaken with tender shoots pushing through warming soil. The spring migration brings daily changes to the Big Timber ecosystem - sandhill cranes arrived three weeks ago, following red-winged blackbirds and robins. Last weekend we heard the first melodic trills of meadowlarks, while red-tailed hawks circle overhead, and the distinctive call of curlews signals another seasonal chapter unfolding. Against this backdrop of renewal, our cattle program advances with intention. Our new hydraulic squeeze chute has already proven its worth during Bangs vaccination and processing, dramatically improving efficiency while reducing stress on the animals. What once took minutes now averages just 45 seconds per calf as we brand, tag, and enter data into AgriWebb - transforming daily observations into actionable insights about our animals and land. Between these improvements and expanded corral systems taking shape, we're well-positioned for shipping cattle to mountain pastures when summer beckons. These improvements reflect our commitment to both animal welfare and land health as we manage the largest herd in our recent history—a promising sign for the regenerative impact we continue to build across B Bar’s landscapes. |
| Mihail operating the hydraulic squeeze chute. |
| The remodeled A-Frame cabin waiting for your Ranch-to-Table stay. Click here to visit B Bar Ranch |
| Beyond the ranch, we're engaged in important conversations about the future of food systems. Join Mihail at the Global Food Collaborative's Community Film Showing and Discussion at the Livingston Library on April 28th, where he'll share insights from our approach to thoughtful cattle production. We'll be attending the 6 pm screenings of the four part docuseries of "Roots So Deep You Can See The Devil Down There," on (4/7, 4/14, 4/28, 5/5) with each episode followed by expert panel discussions that explore the connections between soil health, human health, and community resilience. Sign Up for Free As the season unfolds, we hold gratitude for winter's moisture gift and the promise it brings to our working landscapes. Experience B Bar for yourself—whether through our organic beef delivered directly to your door through Regen Market, or by joining us for a ranch stay, Mountain Mindfulness retreat, or Signature Stay experience. Visit bbar.com to explore all the ways to bring B Bar's commitment to thoughtful stewardship into your life this spring and summer. Sincerely, Jackson Stewart Marketing and Sales Manager |
| Brothers Mihail and Shea sort cattle in Big Timber. Our B Bar Family Maryanne Mott- General Manager and Owner Matthew Tousignant- Guest Ranch Manager Alex Mouch- Assistant Guest Ranch Manager Amy Berndt- Administrative Assistant Kenney Berndt- Maintenance Foreman Troy Lerwill- Maintenance Technician Collin Lyang- Maintenance Technician Mark Rose- Land & Livestock Manager El Stone- Bookkeeper Mary Malley- Tom Miner Office Assistant Willie Stewart- Business Operations Manager Jackson Stewart- Marketing & Sales Manager Mihail Kennedy- Production Manager Shea Kennedy- Cattle & Grazing Coordinator Randy Mesce- Maintenance Technician Kristian Mesce- Big Timber Office Assistant Esme Wessel- Big Timber Ranch Hand |