B Bar Gazette – May 2025
| B Bar Gazette |
| Issue #24 May 2025 |
| Hi friends of B Bar, There's no mistaking it now, spring has fully arrived at both our ranches. The evidence is written across our landscapes and in the behavior of every creature. Our Big Timber pastures, blessed with nine-tenths of an inch of recent rain, now hold the best soil moisture we've seen for May in years. All our cattle are out grazing, including the expectant mothers of 23 Ancient White Park calves due this summer. One new calf already wobbles alongside its mother finding its footing in a world suddenly green and promising. |
| Mama KF16 and her new calf Waldo posing in front of the Crazy Mountains. |
| Last week brought the predictable spring ritual of escaped livestock. Our crew spent an eventful weekend rounding up cattle and horses, all of them drawn to fresh growth beyond their fences. Eight of our neighbor's cattle were discovered headed toward town on Otter Creek Road, where Shea and Esme quickly corralled them until our friend could retrieve his adventurous animals. Even our horses pressed against gates, demonstrating that spring fever recognizes no species boundaries when those first tender shoots emerge. The draw of early spring grasses is both primal and scientific—rich with sugars and proteins that call to winter-lean animals. As our pastures transform under lengthening days, our neighbor reports record snowpack in the Crazy Mountains, promising steady nourishment for watersheds long after the excitement of spring's first growth has passed. Easter morning brought more than colored eggs this year. During his daily walk from the gatehouse to headquarters, Chris spotted the first grizzly tracks of the season. We're observing the return of familiar sow and cub pairs from last year, along with other bears energized by spring's bounty. Their presence reminds us of the delicate balance we maintain as stewards of this remarkable ecosystem. |
| Mark recently hosted FWP fisheries biologist Scott Opitz to showcase our Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) project in Tom Miner Basin. Scott expressed genuine enthusiasm for the initiative noting, "While everyone is implementing BDAs these days, often without understanding their effects, this project has real merit and value. I'm excited to see where it leads." This summer, the project will expand under Taylor Rose's leadership, who joins his father Mark and brother Cayden for a true family endeavor in stewarding this slice of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. There's something particularly meaningful about multiple generations working together to enhance this landscape's resilience. |
| This week marks the arrival of our seasonal staff, the first "guests" of our 2025 season. We look forward to welcoming them into our extended B Bar family and introducing them to life at 6,600 feet. These dedicated individuals will host hundreds of guests, create countless meals, and influence unforgettable memories while making their own. Each season brings its unique character, and we're especially excited about what summer 2025 holds. Summer 2025 introduces our first-ever B Bar Signature Stays; four-night immersive experiences centered around the summer solstice (June 25-29) and fall equinox (September 17-21). Alongside these, we're excited for the return of our Mountain Mindfulness Yoga Retreat (June 11-15), now in its second year. These carefully crafted gatherings feature horseback riding across mountain meadows, night sky viewing with professional astronomers, daily yoga and meditation, hands-on learning about regenerative land practices, and thoughtfully prepared meals that showcase the best of Montana's growing season. These experiences offer a rare opportunity to experience the B Bar way of life where working lands meet wild nature, and where each day unfolds according to the rhythm of the season. Limited spaces remain available for all three retreats, reach out or follow the link below to book. Sign Up |
| Maryanne during the filming of B Bar Ranch's Montana's Yellowstone Country "Backstories" shoot in January Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on exciting collaborations in the coming months: B Bar Ranch film with Windfall Productions and Montana's Yellowstone Country Construction and monitoring of our Beaver Dam Analog project Ranch tours for food system partners Photo shoots with sustainability-focused brands Farmers markets and events with Regen Market, our direct to consumer beef partner We're gratified to see increasing interest in both our regenerative ranching practices and our approach to thoughtful hospitality. As always, we balance sharing our story with maintaining the quiet character that makes B Bar special. Whether you're planning a visit or simply following along from afar, we're grateful to have you as part of our extended community. Until next month, Jackson 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 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 |