Who We Are
Dennis Thaler
Cow/calf, yearling and feedlot operator in LaGrange, Wyoming
In 1903, my great-great uncle left Hungary to put down roots on a 320-acre homestead in Wyoming, which has turned into a 20,000 acre ranch and farm. That homestead is now called Thaler Land & Livestock Company and managed by me, my wife Sandy, our daughter, Brandy, and our son-in-law, Kevin Evans. By staying true to the conservation goals of our operation, we have proven that a carefully managed cattle operation can be profitable, environmentally sustainable and also beneficial!
Thaler Land & Livestock is a cow/calf and yearling operation with a small backgrounding feedlot. We also raise small grains, oats, millet and wheat and produce alfalfa-grass hay. Grass is our No. 1 resource and we manage a variety of grasses, including western wheatgrass, blue grama, needle and thread, dryland sedge, buffalograss and prairie sandreed.
ur most important resource management goal is maintaining the plant community health and vigor on irrigated, dryland and native range for the future of our operation. By preserving the good health and vigor of all plant communities involved, erosion is held to a minimum. We also use crop rotation to maintain permanently introduced species for grazing and haying.
Working with the conservation district and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service was a turning point for the ranch. Our involvement in these organizations and programs as well as the tours we offer of the operation, provide opportunities for us to promote environmental stewardship.
The Thaler family was recognized in conjunction with the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) in 2006.
The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Dow AgroSciences and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers across the nation. The families selected as regional ESAP winners have successfully conducted stewardship practices that can serve as exemplary models for all cattle producers. They are actively working to protect and improve the environment and have proven that environmental stewardship and good business can go hand-in-hand.