Sports, Cattle, Crops and Small-Town Living Prosper on Preston Idaho Ranches for Sale
When asked what this agricultural suburb of Logan, Utah in southeastern Idaho has been primarily known for besides the trophy elk and deer or hot springs, Mark Andreasen offers, “Coach Dick Motta, Coach Phil Johnson, and Judge Randy Smith.”
Motta was the seventh grade teacher in the small town of Grace who coached the high school team to the 1959 Idaho State Championship. He went on to coach the Chicago Bulls for four wining season (1970-74) and was named NBA Coach of the Year. Johnson was longtime assistant basketball coach of the Salt Lake Jazz, and Smith is a judge in the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Both grew up in this rolling landscape of farms and ranches near the intersection of the Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah borders not far from Salt Lake City and Pocatello.
The Andreasen family has been farming and ranching in this area since the grandparents homesteaded the original property. Mark Andreasen’s father was born in the old farmhouse in 1916, and Mark recalls years of caring for 3000 laying chickens, a mix of pigs and goats and purebred Angus. Over the years Andreasen Ranch crops were sold to Anheuser Busch and General Mills, and other parcels were added to the family land holdings. Today, another source of income comes from participation in the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Mark’s wife Karen grew up in nearby Grace and taught school there for some years. She appreciates the small-town lifestyle and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to flourish in the area. They have established an insurance business in the surrounding communities that focuses on agriculturally-related insurance products. Farming chores also have to compete with Mark’s passion for climbing big mountains—Grand Teton, Rainier, Everest and Kilimanjaro—and the desire to finish landscaping the beautiful and spacious new main residence on the property.
Though the Andreasens are not currently operating a livestock or hunting business, the Oneida Narrows Ranch directly across the road continues the tradition. Terry Andrade and Chris Maisel, seasoned ranchers originally from California, purchased the ranch in 1990 and have maintained it as working cattle ranch, leasing seasonal pasture for cattle to local ranchers. Historically, they have pastured a maximum of 475 pairs, plus bulls or 970 heifer stocker/feeder yearlings, and they have combined pasturing their our own cattle in conjunction with client contract cattle. The pasture season has historically run somewhere between May 1 - 15 and Oct. 1 - Nov. 1.
This ranch has the additional feature of bordering the Oneida Narrows Reservoir, well-known for excellent trout, walleye, perch, and smallmouth bass fishing. The owners have also operated an outfitting and guide service for elk and mule deer hunters, and the property has a hunting lodge to support this.
Andrade and Maisel each have other ranch operations in the West and decades of agri-business experience. Among his ventures, Andrade has been active in the genetic engineering and breeding of “Bucking Bulls” and providing stock for rodeo events ranging from school and amateur rodeos to PBR (Professional Bull Riders) events.
These owners of the adjacent ranches which are accessible year-round, close to amenities, and income-producing operations, think someone could purchase both ranches and have a very special property. “They could have a fantastic corporate retreat, guest ranch, or family compound with vast recreational access and numerous income-producing business lines,” observes Andrade. Andreasen points out the perfect scenic location for building a lodge or group of cabins by the five-acre reservoir above the recently constructed main residence. Maisel nods that there is definitely ample continued income potential on both properties, particularly with current and projected cattle prices.
“The problem is that few people looking for opportunities like this know about this section of southeastern Idaho. We’ve got the best property in a place nobody ever heard about. We’ve got reasonable taxes, good value, mostly owner operators rather than absentee owners, and safe, friendly communities. Sunset Magazine should do a feature on us!” Andrade emphasizes.
Over-the-counter deer and elk tags are available for both properties, and wild turkey hunting is good on both ranches. Andreasen Ranch is also excellent for sharp tail grouse. Winter transforms both into snowmobiling paradises. In addition to both ranches having histories of generating good revenues, the recreational opportunities are great.
Fay Ranches would be happy to arrange a barbecue where you could learn more about the possibilities these two Idaho ranches for sale offer from the colorful and successful characters and agri-businessmen who own them now. Contact us today to learn more.
