WINSTON - A new sign on the gate proclaims that the Clark Ranch in Broadwater County is a Certified Undaunted Land Steward.

But it didn't take the sign for the wildlife to know this ranch on Pole Creek Road is a good home to more than people and cows.

From the front yard of the family log home, rancher David Clark watches a sandhill crane as it takes a long-legged, stretchy stride across a distant field.

They come every year in early spring, said Clark, who grew up on the ranch that he owns with his wife, Barb, and his brother, Tim.

A longtime admirer of cranes and curlews, Clark welcomes their arrival. And he's made sure to train his four work dogs to leave them in peace.

While the cranes move lightly on the land, that isn't always the case with Clark's other wildlife neighbors - deer and elk. Some years, they overgraze certain pastures before the cattle get a blade of grass. And, sometimes they're so rowdy they take out a few fences, to boot.

Trying to figure out a balance between ranch productivity while preserving wildlife and their habitat spurred Clark to learn about the Undaunted Stewardship program.

For the past three to four years, he's been working with Broadwater County Extension Agent Virginia Knerr to develop a grazing management plan and apply to the stewardship program.

Clark is the first Broadwater County rancher to be accepted and certified by Undaunted Stewardship, said Knerr. He joins 57 ranches in 22 counties that are in the program.

Unique to Montana, the Undaunted Stewardship program was first developed in 1999 by a consortium of agricultural, government and conservation groups seeking to balance agricultural uses, as well as preservation and recreation.

Directly overseeing it are Montana State University College of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management and the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

"A lot of people don't realize ... there are quite a few environmental groups involved in this," Clark said of the 20 groups sponsoring the program. "We really are environmentalists. We're not into destroying any ground. We're able to tell a story about agriculture and the land and how people do the best job they can on the land. This is our livelihood. You're not going to do something to take your livelihood away from you. We're not trying to harm this property. We love the land."

And it is easy to see why.

In the distance is an inspiring view of the snow-capped Elkhorns. Nearby are lush green pastures and a winding, tree-lined creek. And all around can be heard the chatter and trills of song birds.

Sitting on the porch of his log home, Clark opens up the large Undaunted Stewardship program binder.

As he speaks, Clark's hands are in motion - just one hint of his enthusiasm as he talks about the program.

His conversation is often punctuated with a rich, hearty laugh and occasionally interrupted by his team of canine co-workers who nuzzle up to his knee for a quick pat.

The notebook, chock full of photos, graphs, charts and plant descriptions, describe monitoring sites on Clark's pastures, both private and leased Forest Service land.

They are a detailed record of the pastures - their soil type, precipitation, vegetation and ground cover.

They tell Clark, Knerr and a team of MSU scientists about the health of the land and watersheds and whether Clark is achieving his management goals.

Clark and Knerr developed the plan with a host of specialists from MSU, who have expertise in everything from livestock and rangeland management to wildlife, soils and water.

The MSU team makes suggestions and Clark weighs whether these will work in his operation.

Some do, such as changing a hayfield into a pasture, and altering his pasture rotations.

But some don't, such as moving his calving dates later.

"It's a plan we all agree on," said Clark.

"It gives you another eye on something you might not have thought of," said Clark, of the resource team recommendations.

He's impressed that he has access to such expertise, which he never would have been able to afford for his cow-calf operation.

The plan is also evidence of his long-term commitment to the program for the next five to 10 years.

An added benefit is that the notebook holds a detailed description of Clark's operation, said Knerr, something that few ranchers ever bother to write down. Should he ever need outside help, the notebook explains what to do.

"This helped me," Clark said of the program. "It's another tool in my belt. It's another good tool to use. It's a good set up - that's why I went with it."

And he's happy to share it with his neighbors, who he admits are curious. They not only look over the fence to see what's going on, he said. "They pick my brain."

A modest man, Clark admits he's a bit surprised to be pioneering the Undaunted Stewardship program in Broadwater County.

"I don't think I've ever been a leader," he said.

On the Web

Click here to learn more about the Undaunted Stewardship program.

Reporter Marga Lincoln: 447-4074 or marga.lincoln@helenair.com