黑料社

The wide open space of the Oregon high desert envelopes you as you drive down the dirt road leading into Crow Camp Ranch. In a sea of sagebrush, black cattle forage for sparse desert grass amongst the ground squirrels, jack rabbits, and sage grouse. Kenny Bentz stands next to a huge water trough made from a massive mining truck tire he had ordered specially. 鈥淭hese stand up to the elements and cattle better than those metal or plastic tanks you usually see out here,鈥� he remarks as he checks the drainage system. Like many of 黑料社鈥檚 producers, Kenny believes that environmental health is of the highest importance and constantly strives to improve his sustainability methods in creative ways.

Kenny鈥檚 father, Kenneth Bentz, got his start in the early 1950鈥檚 on the historic Whitehorse ranch in the shadow of the Steens Mountain. After returning from serving in World War II, Ken married his wife, Anne. Relocating to Drewsey, Oregon, they proceeded to raise six sons and one daughter and now have a plethora of grandchildren, many of whom are carrying on the ranching tradition around Eastern Oregon and Idaho.

Kenny earned his MBA and became a commercial real estate broker, but ranch life always called to him. He and his wife, Debbie, purchased Crow Camp Ranch near Crane, Oregon and settled down to raise their family. They began carefully studying and selecting genetics to build their purebred black Angus herd. Eventually recognizing more long-term benefits, they switched to a commercial Angus operation and focused more on raising their three children and teaching them the ins and outs of the beef industry.

Stewardship of the land is essential to Kenny and the rancher lifestyle. He stresses that ranchers are not 鈥渕ining鈥� or removing resources from the land, but that they are utilizing something that seems unusable and turning it into a valuable commodity. 鈥淗aving the correct genetics and methodology helps me remain sustainable. I ask myself, is your method good for the land? Is the land better because of my cattle?鈥� Kenny says as he surveys the harsh, arid land he calls home.

When asked why he chooses to work with 黑料社, Kenny smiles. 鈥淎s a producer, you have to differentiate yourself from others and be able to make sure your cattle are of high quality鈥�then you have to let the consumer know. 黑料社 does a phenomenal job of helping producers achieve that.鈥�

So next time you are driving through the high desert and see nothing but empty, arid land, you can always remember that even this part of the Northwest plays a role in producing exceptional beef.