The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation awarded the Lotspeich family the 2026 Landowner Conservationist of the Year title for work on their 10,000-acre Harper County ranch. Across their native rangeland, a 600-head cattle herd rotates through 25 paddocks under a conservation-minded grazing system, leaving adequate forage for ecological recovery. To sustain this setup in an arid climate averaging 22 inches of rain annually, the family constructed 35 miles of water lines connected to 20 stock tanks. During the winter months, cattle are relocated to the family's 3,950 acres of cropland in Beaver County to feed on wheat pasture and preserve the native prairie grasses.
Key points
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation selected the family as its 2026 Landowne…: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation selected the family as its 2026 Landowner Conservationist of the Year for harmonizing cattle grazing with ecosystem preservation.
Moving the 600-head herd to dedicated Beaver County cropland during winter prevents overg…: Moving the 600-head herd to dedicated Beaver County cropland during winter prevents overgrazing and protects native prairie plants.
Implementing a take-half, leave-half rotational grazing strategy allows native vegetation…: Implementing a take-half, leave-half rotational grazing strategy allows native vegetation to recover successfully within an ecosystem adapted to low rainfall.
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A ranch in northwestern Oklahoma has remained in one family for more than a century, but its latest distinction comes from how the land is being managed. Troy Lotspeich’s great-grandfather bought the family's current ranch in 1903. Today, the 10,000-acre property is home to 600 cattle that are moved through 25 grazing paddocks, giving native grasslands time to recover while supporting a diverse population of wildlife. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has now named the Lotspeich family its 2026 Landowner Conservationist of the Year.
The award, announced on October 12, recognises the family's efforts to balance cattle production with wildlife habitat conservation. According to the department, the main Lotspeich Ranch in northern Harper County comprises native grasses, forbs and shrubs. The family also owns an additional 3,950 acres of farmland in Beaver County, including 750 acres of irrigated land.
The ranch's history stretches back to the 1890s, when Lotspeich's great-grandfather first arrived in Oklahoma and purchased a quarter-section of land. He subsequently bought the property that became the family's current ranch in 1903.
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