Great for children aged 5 and over

We do not offer babysitting or any supervised children program, however we do offer kid-friendly experiences for parents or guardians to participate in.

As a working ranch, we are a true farm-to-table ranch; our ranch experience is a little more raw, than a program specially oriented for kids.

Minimum age children can ride

8 and over

Arts & Crafts

play-doh, coloring, sketching

Activities

hiking, picnics, cookouts, petting zoo, Animal / Farm Experience

Games

scavenger/treasure hunts, board games, horseshoes

Environment

The ranch’s livelihood is integrally tied to the health and vitality of the land and livestock.

Our horses, as the primary 'tools of our trade', are trained to have sound minds, and enjoy their job and purpose. Our special relationships with our animals is also primarily built on discipline, respect and boundaries.

The TA Ranch also takes a holistic approach to managing and operating on a level that prioritizes environmental responsibility, conservation and long-term viability.

Through thoughtful stewardship, the ranch sustainability is founded on careful management of natural resources. This includes water usage, soil conservation and preservation of biodiversity.

These efforts include a multitude of pursuits, from beekeeping with field pollination, to how irrigation and water refinement is taken from the water table for guest accommodations.

The relationship between agriculture and wildlife is also carefully managed through the understanding and controlling of noxious weeds, as well as properly managing wildlife population.

With immense diversity in the flora and fauna of the range, the same goes for the makeup of our family and community.

The ranch believes in fostering cooperation, finding commonality and developing a sense of belonging for all people.

We ask our guests to come with inquisitive minds and be willing to develop a relationship with us built on tolerance and understanding, despite differing backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs.

Our goal is to establish a connection for our visitors to agriculture and our way of life.

Community

As a living history museum, The TA Ranch is integral to the Johnson County Community, with descendants of the war still residing locally.

With several events that cover the ranch's Western and Nordic heritage, The TA loves celebrating the pieces of our Western heritage and community that are unique to the area.

With weekly community barn dances, The TA ranch hosts a local dance hall where cowboy country swing dancing is a prominent feature of the event and is taught to any newcomers.

Conservation

The TA Ranch focuses heavily on conservation of natural habitats for wildlife on the ranch. In addition to pasture rotation, which promotes health biodiversity of natural grasses in the pastures, riparian areas are protected on the ranch to maintain water quality and preserve aquatic ecosystems.

Planting natural flora and fauna on the banks of the Crazy Woman Creek have improved fishing conditions and wildlife populations on the ranch.

Operating continuously since 1882, The TA Ranch is a working cattle ranch with a rich history as a National historic landmark as the site of the Johnson County war.

The war was a conflict born out of the tensions between smaller ranchers, often referred to as 'rustlers' and larger, wealthier cattle barons.

The struggle for control over land and cattle escalated as large ranchers sought to eliminate what they perceived as threats to their economic interests.

The Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), a powerful organization representing larger ranchers, compiled a list of alleged rustlers and hired gunmen from Texas to eliminate the suspected rustlers.

The conflict reached its peak when local residents discovered attempted captures of local alleged rustlers and it culminated in a three-day gun battle at The TA Ranch.

The conflict gained national attention and the U.S. Cavalry was ordered to intervene and restore order. The gunmen were arrested, but never convicted of any crimes.

The Johnson County War marks a significant chapter in the history of the American West, highlighting the struggle for control over resources, and the clash between big business interests and smaller, independent ranchers.

These themes reverberate throughout the cattle industry to this day.