B Bar Gazette – June 2025
| B Bar Gazette |
| Issue #25 June 2025 |
| A Season in Motion Earlier this week, we hosted a ranch tour in Big Timber for the team at West Paw—the same folks who transformed B Bar Ranch offal into the award winning Montana Beef Sticks dog treat last year. As we stood near the corrals, one of them paused, watching the some 300 head of cattle gathered just across the fence. “They’re so quiet,” she said. And it was true. No bawling, no restlessness. Just a sea of calm, curious eyes. Even in close quarters for sorting, not one animal seemed distressed. A simple observation, but one that spoke volumes. These slick coated cattle are used to being treated with care, and it shows. Their calm demeanor is the result of intentional handling, low-stress practices, and a life lived well. |
| Mihail discuses the grass finishing process to our ranch tour guests from Western Sustainability Exchange and West Paw |
| This week, a few more truckloads will carry 300 yearlings to Tom Miner Basin, joining the 447 that arrived the week before. The journey from Big Timber to the Basin only takes about 90 minutes, but for the cattle and the crew it marks a big transition. It reminds me of the end of the school year, when parents load the car and drop their kids at summer camp. Life back home has been steady. The change of scenery is good for everyone. The kids get a little freedom, the parents get a little rest. And once these birds are out of the nest, Mihail is off for a well-earned vacation to his ancestral homeland in Ireland. Meanwhile, Mark and the land and livestock team in Tom Miner Basin have their hands full settling the herd into its new summer rhythm. The landscape changes. The forage shifts. And so does the work. Our beef herd consists of many breeds including Black Angus, Red Angus, and Hereford—classic American breeds, all raised organically to thrive in our mountain environment. And once again, they’ll be joined by a few dignified companions: the Ancient White Park cattle. These horned, heritage animals have been visiting Tom Miner for generations. Their instincts are sharp, their presence steady. It’s no surprise they often step into a quiet leadership role, helping the younger herd stay alert in predator country. |
| On the day the cattle arrived, the ranch hummed with movement. Just as the trucks were backing into the corrals, we were welcoming our third retreat group of the summer. Clear blue skies greeted their arrival. Their focus? Biomimicry—the study of nature’s designs, systems, and strategies to inspire human solutions. They shared a link to their newsletter and a quote from their latest edition stayed with me: “What becomes possible when entire systems are deeply enriched by the cross-pollination of ideas, inspiration, energy, and knowledge?” |
| Mark, Taylor, and Ian prepare to doctor a calf before turning it to pasture |
| It’s a question that echoes far beyond their field of study. Because here at B Bar, we are always in conversation with the land, the animals, and each other. Every season is a chance to listen more closely, to act more thoughtfully, and to learn from the wild intelligence that surrounds us. The cattle have arrived. The guests have gathered. And the work continues with care and intention. Until next month, Jackson Sign up for an Authentic B Bar Experience |
| 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 Layng- 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 |