Ranch Headquarters Layout

[Nutmegger]

We're building a new ranch headquarters on a vacant piece of land. We have the luxury of starting from scratch instead of improving an existing place.

I'd like your thoughts on the matter. Perhaps it's things you'd do differently if you had to do it over and things you're glad you did when you built a ranch headquarters. Maybe it's things you added later that you wish you'd have provided for in the beginning.

We're in the northern plains. We're planning for a 400 cow/calf operation, but the main cattle facilities won't be near the headquarters. Components of the headquarters that we know we want: house, modest barn for horses or the occasional cow or calf that needs daily care, shop, chicken coop, garden, generously sized yard, modestly sized greenhouse, outdoor furnace, firewood storage.

We won't be doing it all at once, but we'd like to work from a master plan so utilities and driveways won't have to be moved.

Your thoughts and ideas will be much appreciated.

 

[Angus 62]

Years back we lived close to the working facilities. Could look out the window and see heifers calving. As our family grew we switched houses with my parents a quarter mile up the road. Lots of getting in a cold pickup to check on cattle, cattle out, water left running, broken tank float, sick cattle etc, PITA. I used to heat detect in the middle of the night with a flashlight because I could hear the bulls raising heck when they'd see cows riding each other. Ranching ain't 9-5. Just my experience.

 

[mrj]

What the land offers, re, flat, hilly, etc. is a big factor. Climate, prevailing winds, especially in the cold of winter and the heat of summer can make a place miserable if you pick wrong for entry to your house and whichever side of it you plan for your 'outdoor living' space for summer. Whether there are trees on the place, susceptibility to flooding, and such. I wish we had torn down the ancient, impossible to repair old homestead shacks that our original home was much sooner than we did, rather than wasting money and time trying to make it better. I think an earth-sheltered home would make sense if in an area of severe storms, hail, and such, and as strong a roof as one can afford, such as steel would be great, too. I planned and have lots of winter sun coming into living spaces and it can really add to the heating value even in our severe winters since we have lots of sun even on very cold days. That sun is high enough in summer that we don't get much heat with blinds less than half tilted to keep it out. It probably wouldn't pay to build the arbor I wanted over the windows.
Great insulation really is necessary, and we sure could stand more of that in the attic and garage roof. A source of heat that doesn't require electricity is valuable if you live where that can be a problem when blizzards hit. As maintainence free as possible saves time and money into the future, too.

Good luck and have fun with your project!

mrj