Family ranch in Paradise Valley’s Mill Creek drainage conserved

Over 1,500 acres of highly scenic agricultural land in Paradise Valley’s stunning Mill Creek drainage will remain intact and undeveloped through a conservation easement established by Alan and Laurie Redfield and Sarah Nollemeyer, in partnership with Northern Yellowstone Open Lands, a regional initiative of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT).

The Warfield Ranch, purchased in 1947 by Laurie and Sarah’s parents, James and Margery Warfield, supports a cow-calf operation, productive hay ground, and timberland that is “Certified Family Forest” by the American Tree Farm System. Bounded by Mill Creek to the northeast and National Forest to the south, the property provides critical wildlife habitat for a variety of species iconic in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Laurie and her sister, Sarah, were raised on the ranch. Deeply connected to the land, community, and rural lifestyle, Laurie and her husband, Alan Redfield, a fourth-generation Montanan, raised their twin daughters, Katie and Jodi, there, as well. The family continues to manage the ranch, along with Sarah. Now grown, Katie and Jodi come to the ranch frequently to help their parents as the third generation to steward the ranch.

“Our kids were raised in the same way we were,” shares Laurie. “We were turned loose. When you have that kind of childhood, it’s woven into your personal fabric.”

Seeing the impact of rapid development in the Paradise Valley and throughout Park County has been painful for the Redfields. Passionate about keeping their land open and available for agriculture for future generations, they researched conservation easements, which are voluntary land protection agreements with landowners that limit the type and amount of development on a property while keeping it in private ownership.

“I have researched conservation easements for 20 years,” says Alan, a former Montana legislator who strongly supports private property rights and protecting Montana agriculture. “The process has changed. It’s become more refined.”

When making the final decision about whether to conserve their land, Alan and Laurie turned to their children.

“We were trying to look down the road when thinking about this,” shares Alan. “It was up to them. It allows us to preserve the property like we see it. It’s part of a transition plan. A lot of ranches have to look at this. It makes us feel better that it’s taken care of.”

Their daughter Katie said the decision was easy because the agreement allows the family to retain options about operating the ranch.

Alan explains, “We’re able to keep managing the land the same way.”

“There isn’t an impossible rulebook,” continues Laurie.

Laurie also shared her appreciation for partnering with GVLT’s Northern Yellowstone Open Lands team and the long-term commitment to conservation that the Redfield family and the land trust share.

“We feel like they’re definitely going to hold up their end of the deal,” says Laurie. “It’s important to us that they take that responsibility seriously.”

“It’s been an honor to partner with the Redfields, and we are grateful for their commitment to protecting agriculture and open space in the Paradise Valley,” says Northern Yellowstone Open Lands Program Manager Cole Herdman. “Between Laurie’s expertise as a ranch manager and land steward and Alan’s time as the Ag teacher at Park High School, service on the Montana Board of Livestock, and investment in forest management, the two have built a life and community around land stewardship.”

The Redfields donated a substantial amount of property value to create the conservation easement. The easement was also made possible, in part, by funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project awarded in 2022 to the GVLT-led Upper Yellowstone Watershed Conservation Partnership, along with contributions from local philanthropists.

“This RCPP project helps Park County farming and ranching families conserve their historic agricultural lands, which benefits the entire community by protecting and enhancing Montana food production, critical wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and water quality in the Upper Yellowstone River Watershed,” explains Justin Meissner, NRCS Montana Assistant State Conservationist for Easements and RCPP.

Sitting on her porch overlooking the stunning landscape and summarizing their decision to put the land in a conservation easement, Laurie concludes, “When you’ve been with the land this long, it’s not just a chunk of ground, it’s your heartbeat.”

GVLT has partnered with 21 families to conserve more than 20,000 acres of working farms and ranches, critical wildlife habitat, and scenic open space in Park County since 1995. Its Northern Yellowstone Open Lands initiative brings an increased, place-based focus to conservation throughout the county.