Through the towering cottonwood trees you will see the ranch hands across the Elk River riding through their herd as they check on newborn calves. Established ranches such as these have lived in the Yampa Valley since the turn of the century, arriving to the Yampa Valley on old tractors towing hay trailers with their livelihoods and possessions precariously balancing behind them. Foundations were laid and fences were stretched. The surrounding ranches have rich histories the families have built over decades, and they boast pride in their fat and happy cattle.