Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], December 01, 1953, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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December 1, 1953
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registered
dryland
A few of Corbett's
(DeVore photos)
and lambs on
400 Columbia ewes
Aberdeen-Angus
flock of
of Corbett's
c °w s and
Some
pasture.
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Fives Help Build Ranch Capital
from 8 5 Cents to $ 200,000 Net
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By PAUL T. DEVORE
A HERD OF 125 registered Aberdeen-Angus cattle and
600 acres of dry-land crops have furnished Bryan Corbett
with a tidy income in recent years, but this north central
Montana stockman credits a band of 400 Columbia ewes for
building his original capital of 85 cents into a net worth of
$ 200 , 000 .
Corbett's progress has its "Jack and the Beanstalk" corre
lations, but it took 18 years of hard work and efficient man
agement to climb from the position of indebted renter to
that of full scale owner and financial comfort.
How have the sheep helped?
Well, in the first place a sizeable portion of Corbett's 2,500
acre ranch lies along the Teton river in Teton county, and
another creek flows through a section of the bottom land.
When the rancher moved onto the place in 1934 this rich low
land was pretty well messed up with brush and weeds and
didn't even make good pasture.
Sheep Clearing Job
Past experience with sheep in southern Idaho told Corbett
that here was a natural for a sheep clearing project, so in
1936 he borrowed enough money to buy a small band of old
ewes and turned them into the brush land.
The results of this initial sheep experiment convinced the
rancher that he could materially cut his land clearing costs.
It also convinced him that the annual crops of lambs and
wool were profitable coupons to clip from an investment that
has cost little to start with and practically nothing to main
tain.
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The Bryan Corbett ranch home in Pondera county was built in 1952.
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Corbett's new 10,000
bushel grain elevator is j.
complete with gravity ^
equipment for storage ^
and grinding. H
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Since 1934 Corbett has cleared 211 acres of bottom land and
there's that much or more yet to be cleaned up. He estimates
clearing and leveling has cost not to exceed $35 per acre,
thanks to the sheep and modern diesel powered equipment.
Productive Flock
The old ewes have been (Please turn to Page 16)
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MONTANA
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NORTHERN
WYOMING