When buying or selling a large farm, ranch, or legacy landholding, experience isn’t optional—it’s essential. These transactions demand more than market knowledge. They require a deep understanding of ranch real estate, farm and agricultural land, recreational properties, water rights, conservation, land valuation, and long-term stewardship. As someone considering a significant land investment, a 1031 exchange, or a major divestiture for estate planning purposes, I want professional guidance grounded in education, ethics, and firsthand experience.
That is why the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation, awarded by the Realtors Land Institute (RLI), matters.
Why the ALC Designation Matters
The ALC designation is widely recognized as the premier professional credential in land real estate. According to the Realtors Land Institute, there are fewer than 700 Accredited Land Consultants worldwide, representing less than one percent of all real estate professionals. Unlike general real estate certifications, the ALC program is focused exclusively on large‑acreage land transactions, including ranches, farms, recreational land, and investment properties.
To earn the ALC designation, professionals must complete rigorous education in:
• Land valuation and highest‑and‑best‑use analysis
• Ranch, farm, and agricultural operations
• Water rights, mineral rights, and energy considerations
• Conservation, sustainability, and land stewardship
• Complex ownership structures and tax‑deferred exchanges
ALCs must also demonstrate substantial verified transaction experience and adhere to a strict code of ethics established by RLI. Industry research consistently shows that ALC‑designated brokers manage larger, more complex land and ranch transactions, providing buyers and sellers with stronger due diligence, reduced risk, and clearer insight into long‑term land value.
Mason Morse Ranch Company: Experience You Can Feel
At Mason Morse Ranch Company, this level of expertise is foundational. With its parent company roots dating back to 1961, Mason Morse Ranch Company has represented some of the most significant ranches, farms, agricultural operations, and recreational properties across the American West. The firm’s philosophy, “Live it to know it,” reflects a team of land professionals who actively live the Western ranching and agricultural lifestyle—bringing real‑world knowledge of land ownership, operations, and stewardship to every client relationship.
Accredited Land Consultants at Mason Morse Ranch Company
Mason Morse Ranch Company is proud to have multiple brokers recognized by the Realtors Land Institute as Accredited Land Consultants, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to education, professionalism, and land expertise:
Bart Miller, ALC – Managing Broker / Partner
Scott Oliver, ALC – Partner
Zurick Labrier, ALC – Partner
Kem Winternitz, ALC – Partner
Craig Townsend, ALC – Associate
John Fowle, ALC – Associate
Ron Van Pelt, ALC – Associate
Michael Landreth, ALC – Associate
This depth of ALC representation ensures that clients are working with professionals who specialize in ranch real estate, farm and agricultural land sales, recreational land, and legacy properties. RLI requires ALCs to complete ongoing continuing education, ensuring they remain current on evolving land‑use regulations, conservation initiatives, and market conditions.
A Higher Standard for Ranch and Land Transactions
As a buyer or seller, confidence comes from knowing your broker understands not just real estate—but land itself: its productivity, challenges, opportunities, and legacy. The combination of Realtors Land Institute standards and Mason Morse Ranch Company’s lived experience delivers representation that is authentic, informed, and trusted.
In transactions where the land itself is the legacy, working with an Accredited Land Consultant at Mason Morse Ranch Company isn’t just a smart decision, it’s an investment in experience, education, and results.
About Mason Morse Ranch Company
Mason Morse Ranch Company is a premier brokerage specializing in ranches, farms, agricultural land, recreational properties, and legacy land assets throughout the American West. With parent company roots dating back to 1961, the firm is known for its deep market knowledge, ethical representation, and hands‑on understanding of Western land ownership. Guided by its philosophy, “Live it to know it,” Mason Morse Ranch Company delivers trusted expertise to buyers and sellers of exceptional land properties.