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Foster Ranch

Craig , Colorado

$2,500,000
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Property Information

The Foster Ranch is located mostly south of the Colorado and Wyoming state line in northwestern Colorado, along the Little Snake River north of Craig, Colorado and near the rural community of Baggs, Wyoming. The ranch is comprised of a total of 19,391+/- acres with 3,280 acres deeded and the balance State and BLM lease lands.

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The headquarters tract includes the ranch buildings and the irrigated haylands. The ranch is owner rated at 375 AUs. The property offers excellent deer and antelope hunting with migratory elk often seen in the area. The area is rich with bald eagles, sage grouse, antelope, deer, elk, bear and lion. The Foster ranch offers a very attractive ranch investment with tremendous antelope and mule deer hunting opportunity.

LOCATION

The ranch is located about 36 miles north of Craig, CO on Highway 13 and 10 miles west on County Road 4. Local services are available in Baggs, WY and major services in Craig, CO and Rawlins, WY, which is about 75 miles north and east of Baggs.

Access to the ranch is very good and the allotments are served by fair to good ranch roads.

The ranch address is HC 66 Box 400, Baggs, WY 82321.

ACREAGE

The ranch includes a total of 19,391 +/- acres. The deeded lands comprise 3,280 acres with 3,120 acres in Colorado and 160 acres in Wyoming. The Ranch headquarters and irrigated hay base are located in Wyoming. The irrigated lands are very productive and provide the hay base for the operation.

The State of Colorado lease lands are held under lease No. AGS 44319. The state lease comprises approximately 2,111 acres with a cost of $1,730/year.

The BLM lands are comprised of two allotments; Dry Gulch (No. 04517) and Alkali Springs (No. 04530) with a total of 2,294 AUMs at a cost of $1.35/AUM/year or $3,097 for 2010.

The BLM Dry Gulch Allotment consists of 479 AUMs on approximately 4100 acres running 44 cattle from 5/1 to 11/11 and 30 cattle from 4/15 to 10/31. The BLM Alkali Springs Allotment consists of 1810 AUMs on approximately 9900 acres running 318 cattle from 5/1 to 11/15.

The deeded lands in Colorado and the State lease lands are operated in conjunction with the two BLM allotments to allow for spring, summer and fall grazing. The herd is moved to the Headquarters tract for aftermath grazing and hay consumption during the winter.

The ranch is a very efficient low overhead operating unit.

IMPROVEMENTS

The improvements are modest and consist of a frame residence, secondary dwelling, shop, livestock sheds and corrals. Other improvements include fences and irrigation structures.

The improvements, while not fancy, are functional and adequate for the operation.

AREA

This area in northwest Colorado is known as the Yampa Valley (includes 4.2 million acres), consisting of Routt County (Steamboat Springs), Moffat County (Craig) and Rio Blanco County (Meeker).

Aside from the ski area at Steamboat Springs, the area has well known reputation for the high quality of big game hunting. The Yampa Valley supports the largest herds of mule deer and elk in Colorado. The buck/bull ratios per 100 does/cows was 22.8 and 34, respectively, which are at or above the level which biologists strive to manage the herds.

The area is largely served by tourism, energy and agriculture which support a variety of industries. The area is served by the Yampa Valley Regional Airport with nearly 139,000 deplanements per year. Moffat County has a positive inflow of wages with about $62 million in 2006. Craig is home to the Colorado Northwestern Community College and a new hospital. Memorial Hospital is an 82,000 square foot facility offering 25 private beds and 10 emergency room beds

The 2008 population of Moffat County was 14,123 and is home to nearly 1500 businesses. The Yampa Valley has a total population of about 45,000.

Moffat County is named after Daniel H. Moffat (1839-1909), a prominent Denver banker who played an important role in America’s railroad development.

The Yampa Valley offers visitors and residents the enjoyment of many recreational activities which in part include skiing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling, hiking, biking in a beautiful part of the Rocky Mountains.

SUMMARY

The Foster Ranch is an exceptional mid-sized ranch offering economic operational capability for raising cattle and livestock. The combination of deeded and leased lands allows the ranch to support an economic herd of cattle at a reasonable price. The additional benefits of adjudicated water rights, wildlife opportunities and nearby recreational amenities make this an offering well worth your consideration.

REAL ESTATE TAXES - $1,498

Listed by Mason & Morse Ranch Company and marketed in cooperation with James Merrigan, ReMax Sandstone Real Estate, Scottsbluff, NE and Dale Nerud, Century 21 Real Estate, Scottsbluff, NE