Crowley County Ranch
Palmer Land Trust has protected nearly 40,000 acres of shortgrass prairie in western Crowley and eastern Pueblo counties. The Crowley County Ranch is one of Palmer Land Trust's largest conservation easements at 4,800 acres. The ranch owners have long supported conservation in the region and are excellent stewards of the land. Agriculture in Crowley County is the lifeblood of the community. In 2002, Crowley County had 375,413 acres in farms, which represented 73% of the land in the county.
The property has been used for agriculture since it was purchased from the public domain and homesteaded in the early 1900s. The property is used as a year round cattle operation, including breeding, yearlings, and calving. Stock are rotated between several separately fenced pastures.
Eighty-five percent of the plant species found on the property are native, including all of the grass species. This plant species composition underscores that the ranch is in good condition and supports a robust number of animal and insect species. The property is excellent breeding habitat for migratory and resident songbirds, including neo-tropical migrants.