May Ranch in Colorado: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
May Ranch is a grass-based cattle ranch near Lamar in Prowers County, southeastern Colorado, owned by Dallas and Brenda May. It was named the 2021 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient for managed grazing, restoration of Big Sandy Creek and eight playas, and a beef program marketed through the Audubon Society's Raised on Bird Friendly Land label.
| Location | Lamar, Prowers County, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Founded | Not stated in the award coverage |
| Sectors | Registered Limousin cattle; grass-fed beef; cropland for dairy feed; wildlife habitat |
| Scale | Seven miles of Big Sandy Creek and eight playas on the ranch; total acreage not published |
| Why it is elite | 2021 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient |
| Ownership | Dallas and Brenda May, with children Holly, Riley and Haley and their families |
| Official website | Drovers coverage of the 2021 Leopold Conservation Award |
History of May Ranch
May Ranch is owned and operated by Dallas and Brenda May of Lamar. Their grown children Holly, Riley and Haley and their families are part of the story. Sand County Foundation selected the ranch as the 2021 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient, with Fetcher Ranch and LK Ranch as finalists. The award was presented on June 21, 2021, at the Colorado Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention in Grand Junction.
Drovers coverage of the award describes a ranch that has restored streams, wetlands and playas on semi-arid ground in southeastern Colorado. A conservation easement on the property is held by the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust, which gives the land long-term protection.
What May Ranch Grows and Raises
The ranch's herd is registered Limousin cattle, bred selectively for about 40 years to suit grassland and semi-arid conditions. The family practices managed grazing, installed wildlife-friendly fencing, planted native trees and expanded watering locations. Streams, wetlands and eight playas on the ranch have been restored, and the property includes seven miles of Big Sandy Creek.
Cropland is part of the system too. The ranch grows corn and alfalfa using composted dairy manure, sells the crop as dairy feed and plants cover crops after the corn harvest. Sprinkler irrigation replaced flood irrigation after 1994, using water more efficiently. The ranch also participates in a carbon credit offset program that monitors rangeland health.
How May Ranch Makes Money
Bird Friendly beef
The beef is marketed under the Audubon Society's Raised on Bird Friendly Land label, which ties a pricing story to habitat management. Specific prices and sales channels were not published in the sources used here.
Registered Limousin genetics
Four decades of selective breeding for grassland and semi-arid conditions gives the herd a distinct identity. Registered seedstock can serve other ranchers looking for cattle suited to similar country, though sale details should be confirmed with the ranch.
Dairy feed and carbon programs
Corn and alfalfa grown with composted dairy manure are sold as dairy feed, linking the ranch to the region's dairy economy. Participation in a carbon credit offset program that monitors rangeland health adds a third stream tied to stewardship.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from May Ranch
Make the habitat part of the brand. Third-party labels such as Bird Friendly give beef a story that buyers can verify, and they reward the conservation work that is already happening on the ground.
Trade waste for inputs. Using composted dairy manure on cropland and selling the corn and alfalfa back as dairy feed closes a local loop. Moving from flood to sprinkler irrigation, and following corn with cover crops, shows how a ranch can improve water use and soil cover while keeping cropland productive.
A ranch with eight playas, seven miles of creek and a beef label that says Bird Friendly is clearly hosting more guests than the Mays ever invited. We admire that from farm.FM, where our farm satire and farm humor try to keep pace with the Limousins. Any ranch humor we write about southeast Colorado dust is offered with respect, and we hope the farm jokes make the playas smile too.
farm.FM calls itself the nation's first satirical farm site, and between the headlines it spins Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers; a good place to start reading is this farm.FM columnist's archive.
How to Contact May Ranch
Website: https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/may-ranch-receives-colorado-leopold-conservation-award
No official ranch website appeared in my research, so this is a news report on the 2021 award. Confirm any sales or visit details with the ranch directly. Information as of November 2026.
May Ranch Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Drovers award coverage - Independent report on the 2021 award
- Audubon Rockies announcement - Audubon coverage of the award and the Bird Friendly program
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - Official data on Colorado farms, cattle and land
- Colorado Department of Agriculture - State agriculture department
- Colorado Cattlemen's Association - State cattle producer association behind the award presentation
May Ranch FAQ
Where is May Ranch?
It is near Lamar in Prowers County, southeastern Colorado.
What award did May Ranch win?
It was named the 2021 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient.
What cattle does May Ranch raise?
Registered Limousin cattle, bred for about 40 years for grassland and semi-arid conditions.
How is the beef marketed?
Under the Audubon Society's Raised on Bird Friendly Land label.
May Ranch pairs registered Limousin genetics with restored creeks, playas and a verified beef label in southeastern Colorado. Read our Colorado farms guide for the wider look at markets and programs, and compare May Ranch with the other award winners profiled here.