About
About Black Hills Highlands
Black Hills Highlands is owned and operated by Craig and Mary-Beth Gardner. Craig is a retired Wildlife Biologist from Alaska and Mary-Beth continues to practice as an Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner. Our previous farming experience includes growing milkweed and wildflowers to enhance native pollinators and monarch butterflies. Our conservation efforts were supported by marketing milkweed seeds and cut flowers.
Our management of Black Hills Highlands follows the same conservation ethic. Our goal is to enhance our prairie by managing for native species using proven grassland management methods with Scottish Highland cattle as the grazers. We incorporate intensive rotational grazing practices and grazing selection training to benefit native grasses and forbs while reducing nonnative grasses and certain invasive weeds. We are restoring additional native prairie by converting some of our agricultural land into native grassland. We are planting over 40 species of native plants including grasses and flowering plants with the help of the World Wildlife Fund.
We are committed to the preservation of Scottish Highland cattle. Our breeding program is focused on maintaining the heritage traits of body confirmation, intelligence, coat color, horn quality, sturdy feet, tight udders, maternal characteristics and long, beautiful hair. We match our females with complementary prize-winning champion males from the U.S., Canada, and Scotland with the goal of maintaining these heritage features. Of these heritage males, we give preference to those that will help us breed back to the Highland cattle that first came to South Dakota.
We are committed to the preservation of Scottish Highland cattle. Our breeding program is focused on maintaining the heritage traits of body confirmation, intelligence, coat color, horn quality, sturdy feet, tight udders, maternal characteristics and long, beautiful hair. We match our females with complementary prize-winning champion males from the U.S., Canada, and Scotland with the goal of maintaining these heritage features. Of these heritage males, we give preference to those that will help us breed back to the Highland cattle that first came to South Dakota.
We very much welcome your family’s visit. For information and reservations about our tours, please call 605-584-9032.
Mission Statement
To promote environmentally sound ranching and farming management practices to benefit and enhance prairie health, heritage Scottish Highland cattle, and wildlife to be enjoyed by all.
Our objective is to restore a portion of South Dakota as it once was. To turn back what is now agricultural land and grasslands comprised primarily of nonnative species to a close resemblance of native prairie using managed grazing and plantings. Our desire is that this journey will be shared and enjoyed by many.
Our objective is to restore a portion of South Dakota as it once was. To turn back what is now agricultural land and grasslands comprised primarily of nonnative species to a close resemblance of native prairie using managed grazing and plantings. Our desire is that this journey will be shared and enjoyed by many.
Contacts
We look forward to seeing you at our ranch. Schedule a tour today.
Address
Black Hills Highlands
7100 Centennial Rd
Spearfish, South Dakota 57783
7100 Centennial Rd
Spearfish, South Dakota 57783