Alec Jacobson

Photographer, Writer

Ranchlands

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Location: Burlington, Vermont, USA

Nationality: American

Biography: Alec Jacobson is a photographer and writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, who likes to dive deep into slow-moving stories. Drawing on his studies in Anthropology, French and Arabic at Amherst College, he prefers to be the only... MORE

Duke Phillips III hugs his donk... Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado.

Duke Phillips III hugs his donkey on the Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado.

The Phillips family are old sch...reserve their Western heritage.

The Phillips family are old school ranchers and are aiming to preserve their Western heritage.

While many ranching families ha...eir family far into the future.

While many ranching families have been forced to sell their land and herds, the Phillips have been refining a vision to sustain their family far into the future.

Ranching is a matter of solving a constant string of problems.

Increasingly, real estate price...enges from weather to politics.

Increasingly, real estate prices have driven many families out of ranching, adding to a long list of pressures and challenges from weather to politics.

Duke Phillips III drives the Ch...sin Ranch with his dog, Mancha.

Duke Phillips III drives the Chico Basin Ranch with his dog, Mancha.

In order to succeed, Duke has t...vative conservation strategies.

In order to succeed, Duke has tried every way he can think of to make money, from traditional ranching models to innovative conservation strategies.

Growing up on a ranch, Duke lea...ods in partnership with Filson.

Growing up on a ranch, Duke learned to work with leather to make basic saddle repairs. Now, the Chico Basin Ranch has a leather shop that makes goods in partnership with Filson.

Duke Phillips IV learned how to...ter to speed up herd movements.

Duke Phillips IV learned how to work large ranches during a stint working in Australia. He brought innovative strategies home, including learning to fly a helicopter to speed up herd movements.

The Phillips family works with ... adapt the ranch to the cattle.

The Phillips family works with Beefmaster cattle, a breed developed in America that is adapted to the environment of the prairie unlike older breeds which require ranchers to adapt the ranch to the cattle.

The American prairie was shaped...increased carbon sequestration.

The American prairie was shaped in part by bison and it thrives when it is churned periodically by ungulate hooves. The Phillips family uses a cattle herding method to optimize that impact that seems to be improving the quality of the land and encouraging increased carbon sequestration.

The family has also roped off r...lowing the prairie to flourish.

The family has also roped off riparian areas, allowing the prairie to flourish.

Generations of intensive ranchi...y has slowly been restoring it.

Generations of intensive ranching have depleted the prairie, but the Phillips family has slowly been restoring it.

Each generation leaves its mark on the landscape.

Duke Phillips and his grandson inflate a tire.

Duke Phillips IV and his nephews.

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Thumbnail of Duke Phillips III hugs his donke_e Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado.

Thumbnail of The Phillips family are old scho_preserve their Western heritage.

Thumbnail of While many ranching families hav_heir family far into the future.

Thumbnail of Ranching is a matter of solving a constant string of problems.

Thumbnail of Increasingly, real estate prices_lenges from weather to politics.

Thumbnail of Duke Phillips III drives the Chi_asin Ranch with his dog, Mancha.

Thumbnail of In order to succeed, Duke has tr_ovative conservation strategies.

Thumbnail of Growing up on a ranch, Duke lear_oods in partnership with Filson.

Thumbnail of Duke Phillips IV learned how to _pter to speed up herd movements.

Thumbnail of The Phillips family works with B_o adapt the ranch to the cattle.

Thumbnail of The American prairie was shaped _ increased carbon sequestration.

Thumbnail of The family has also roped off ri_llowing the prairie to flourish.

Thumbnail of Generations of intensive ranchin_ly has slowly been restoring it.

Thumbnail of Each generation leaves its mark on the landscape.

Thumbnail of Duke Phillips and his grandson inflate a tire.

Thumbnail of Duke Phillips IV and his nephews.

Public Story

Ranchlands

Copyright Alec Jacobson 2024

Date of Work Apr 2019 - Apr 2019

Updated Nov 2019

Location Colorado

Topics ranching

Duke Phillips III and his family are on a mission to preserve their ranching heritage and conserve western prairie land by building an environmentally and economically sustainable cattle business. I spent a few days on the Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado's Front Range. Duke won the lease for the land in 1999 from the Colorado State Land Board and has spent the last 20 years raising his family and growing his herd while working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. I was drawn to their story because they have actively positioned themselves to help bridge the divide between urban and rural Americans. City people stay in the guest house and learn how to brand and rope, while the Phillips' neighbors attend conferences on sustainable range management.

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Alec Jacobson

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