A Cowboy Legacy

The history of the Stott family runs deep with cowboy roots. In fact, the name Stott dates back nearly a thousand years in England and Scotland, meaning “one who works with cattle,” and in some cases, “workhorse.” Few families have been as deeply connected—both spiritually and physically—to the land and the animals it sustains, generation after generation.

William Stott, a well-known pioneer in our ancestry, left England in 1849 for religious reasons, eventually settling in Utah. Like many pioneers, he lived as a true cowboy—trusting God, his animals, and the land. Wherever he went, he built homes and helped establish communities.

His son, George Alger Stott, followed in those same footsteps. He helped build homes, communities, and irrigation systems across Utah, Idaho, and Alberta, Canada. With each move, cattle remained central to their lives—hauled by train or trailed across vast distances. In 1909, George and his sons drove their entire herd nearly 1,500 miles from Taber, Canada, to Meadow, Utah using wagons and teams—an extraordinary feat worthy of the history books.

George’s son, Leroy Stott—our grandfather—became known as one of the best bronco riders in the country. Stories tell of him riding into the mountains, chasing wild horses through deep snow, roping one, switching saddles, and riding it home while breaking it along the way. He was, by all accounts, a legend.

Leroy and his father-in-law, Albert Jenson, later heard of new irrigation districts developing in Montana. After traveling to evaluate several locations, the land near Bynum, Montana stood out. The following year, Leroy convinced his parents and brothers—Orr, Bert, and Harry—to join him. Together, they moved their cattle and belongings by train and settled just east of Bynum.

In 1929, the four brothers pooled their resources to purchase land south of Bynum near Harvey’s Reservoir, laying the foundation for what would become our ranch today. Almost immediately, they were tested—the Great Depression hit shortly after.

That first year, they couldn’t sell their calves. With faith and determination, they kept them through the winter and eventually shipped them east the following year. When the sale didn’t even cover the cost of shipping, they simply told the train company to keep the calves. It was a hard time—one that demanded grit and resilience.

Everything was done by hand and horseback. Horse-drawn mowers cut hay, and pitchforks loaded it onto wagons before it was stacked into large piles. These men worked tirelessly just to put up enough feed for winter.

Our father tells a story of going into the mountains with them to cut firewood. Halfway through the day, they stopped unexpectedly. Only later did he learn the truth—they had run out of fuel and had no money for more. Even in hardship, they carried on.

Despite the challenges, there was joy in the work. From them, we learned a lasting lesson: trust God, work hard, and things will find a way.

During this era, one of our family’s most cherished traditions began. Each year, along with neighboring ranchers, cattle were driven to Forest Service land east of Glacier National Park for summer grazing. In the fall, weeks were spent on horseback gathering them through rugged mountain terrain. Originally, the cattle were trailed all the way back home. Later, as land access changed, trucks replaced the long drives—but the stories and traditions of those gathers remain a defining part of our heritage.

Leroy’s youngest sons—our father, Cloyd, and his twin brother, Lloyd—led the ranch into the mechanical age.

They often told the story of their first swather. One day, Lloyd pulled into a field where Uncle Bert was still using a horse-drawn mower. By the time Bert had made a single pass, Lloyd had finished the rest of the field. Bert quietly parked the old machine and never used it again.

In 1966, the twins officially took over operations and began modernizing the ranch. They installed one of the first pivot irrigation systems in the state. People traveled from miles around just to watch it operate, amazed at how it worked—and at how it nearly doubled their hay production.

Winters still tested their ingenuity. One year, heavy snow made roads impassable, so they rode snowmobiles from Bynum to the ranch, dragging an old car hood behind them loaded with hay bales to feed the cattle. It was hard work—but also an adventure.

Cloyd and Lloyd shared a unique bond as twins, often seeming to read each other’s minds. Growing up, we saw it happen almost daily. Beyond the ranch, they became known throughout the community for their hard work, innovation, and the strong families they raised.

As the world entered the information age, the next generation—Dan and Jerry, sons of Cloyd and Lloyd—took over the ranch.

Armed with education and access to new knowledge, they expanded operations significantly. They purchased additional land, developed new water sources through wells, and grew the herd to nearly 1,000 cows—more than triple what they inherited.

Technology became a natural part of ranch life. Electric fencing, computers, and modern equipment improved efficiency across the board. Of course, electric fences also became a source of humor—more than a few family members learned the hard way to respect them.

ATVs soon replaced horses as the primary day-to-day workhorse. Whether checking cattle, fixing fences, irrigating, or simply getting from place to place, the four-wheeler became essential to ranch operations.

Through it all, one thing remained unchanged: hard work was always paired with laughter.

In 2023, a new vision took shape—one that builds on the past while opening the ranch to the future.

The goal was simple: preserve our legacy while creating opportunities for others to be part of it. By combining modern tools—including AI—with time-tested values, we are continuing to evolve.

Today, the ranch produces Stottland Beef—clean, high-quality beef raised with care and intention. Beyond that, the ranch has expanded into hospitality, offering a place for family reunions and corporate retreats set against Montana’s landscape.

Through Cowboy Camp, we pass on what we’ve learned—giving others the chance to experience hard work, responsibility, and a connection to the land and animals that shaped us.

At Stottland, the past isn’t just remembered—it’s lived. And for those who come here, there’s an opportunity to find something deeper: purpose, connection, and a way of life that endures.