Lehfeldt Ranch in Montana: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Lehfeldt Ranch is a Musselshell River sheep and cattle ranch near Lavina, Montana, run by a family that traces its land back to the 1880s. The Lehfeldts have run about 2,500 Rambouillet ewes and about 200 Angus cows, selling fine wool to clothing makers such as Ibex and Duckworth.
| Location | Near Lavina, Musselshell River country, Montana |
|---|---|
| Founded | Settled in 1885 and established in 1886, according to two NRCS accounts |
| Sectors | Rambouillet sheep (wool and lambs); commercial Angus cattle; targeted weed grazing |
| Scale | About 2,500 ewes and about 200 cows, as reported by the Sage Grouse Initiative; acreage not published |
| Why it is notable | Fifth-generation sheep ranch; wool supplied to outdoor clothing brands; featured by USDA NRCS for grazing management |
| Ownership | Lehfeldt family, with Ben Lehfeldt serving as a Montana Wool Growers Association director |
| Official website | USDA NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative profile of Ben Lehfeldt |
History of Lehfeldt Ranch
Montana's sheep boom began in the 1880s, and the Lehfeldt family settled in the Musselshell country in that decade. An NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative profile says Ludwig Lehfeldt established the ranch in 1886 and that Bob Lehfeldt was the fourth-generation owner at the time. A later NRCS profile describes Ben Lehfeldt as a fifth-generation rancher whose great-great-grandfather settled the area in 1885.
Ben Lehfeldt is a director of the Montana Wool Growers Association and a vice president of the American Sheep Industry Association, and he is teaching his sons and four nieces and nephews the business.
What Lehfeldt Ranch Grows and Raises
The Lehfeldts run sheep and cattle together on deeded and leased rangeland. The flock is Rambouillet, a white-faced breed raised for both lamb and fine wool, and the cow herd is commercial black and red Angus. The Montana State University sheep program lists Rambouillet, Targhee and Columbia as the main white-faced breeds selected for lamb and wool production.
With help from the NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative, the family adopted a prescribed rotational grazing plan with a large livestock water storage tank, about five water tanks, 11 miles of new fence and two large pastures split into five smaller ones. The family reported more grass, better range condition and heavier livestock. Ben Lehfeldt has also been testing virtual fencing on his cattle.
How Lehfeldt Ranch Makes Money
Fine wool
The ranch sells merino-type wool from its Rambouillet ewes to clothing companies, including Ibex and Duckworth. Selling directly into a branded apparel supply chain gives the ranch a story as well as a commodity.
Lambs
Lamb sales are spread across holiday-related niche markets rather than concentrated at one time of year.
Cattle and weed grazing
Commercial Angus cows diversify income beyond sheep. Sheep are also grazed on public and private land to control noxious weeds, in exchange for free or reduced grazing fees in the fall.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Lehfeldt Ranch
Pair species to spread risk. Sheep and cattle respond to different markets and use the same range in different ways, so a bad year for one is cushioned by the other.
Find buyers who value the story. Fine wool sold to clothing makers that promote American-grown fiber turns a commodity into a supply relationship. Also look for services that pay in grass, such as weed control.
Few sheep have ever been asked to help with brand strategy, but the Rambouillet ewes at Lehfeldt Ranch are quietly keeping outdoor clothing makers warm and on message. Anyone who enjoys farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes about ewes with strong opinions on fence layout should wander over to farm.FM, where every flock is fine wool and no one counts the sheep to fall asleep.
For context, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site and the home of Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Its contributors each keep an archive, and this one is a good sampler of ranch humor and farm jokes.
How to Contact Lehfeldt Ranch
No ranch website, street address, phone or email was found in the sources reviewed, so the best verified public page is the NRCS profile, November 2026. Contact the Montana Wool Growers Association or local NRCS office for introductions.
Lehfeldt Ranch Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- USDA NRCS - Montana sheep grower explores value-added options
- Sage Grouse Initiative - Lehfeldts change grazing practices to benefit sheep, cattle and sage grouse
- Western Livestock Journal - Montana sheep grower explores value-added options
- Montana State University Extension - Sheep extension program introduction
- American Sheep Industry Association - Ibex introduces 100% U.S. resources
Lehfeldt Ranch FAQ
Where is Lehfeldt Ranch?
It is near Lavina in the Musselshell River country of Montana.
What does the ranch raise?
Rambouillet sheep for fine wool and lambs, plus commercial Angus cattle.
Who buys its wool?
NRCS reports sales to clothing companies including Ibex and Duckworth.
How long has the family ranched there?
Accounts date settlement to 1885 and the ranch to 1886; the current operator is a fifth-generation rancher.
Lehfeldt Ranch shows how a long-running Montana sheep and cattle family can stay relevant through fine-wool markets, niche lamb sales and careful grazing. For more notable operations and practical guidance on markets, programs and credit, see the Montana farms guide.