Organizers work to put on a great Utah State Fair
Chairman comes from a family of private ranchers
Along with his 87-year-old father, Lorin Sr., he owns and operates a 45,000-acre ranch. Not only has Moench resisted the easy money from land developers so he could hang on to his family's Thousand Peaks Ranch, he has found creative ways to survive by melding seemingly disparate enterprises.
He runs both cattle and sheep on his ranch — once thought to be the livestock equivalent of putting BYU and University of Utah fans in the same room. He runs a working ranch, but he also uses his land for a recreation business — fishing, hunting, backcountry skiing — and as a backdrop for movies and TV shows.
"We do these other things so we can survive," he said. "Ranchers nowadays need to think outside of the box — or the corral. There are other ways to generate income."
The Moench (Mawnch) family's ranch stretches from the Smith-Morehouse area of Utah north to Wyoming. Moench's grandfather started the ranch about 90 years ago, and then his father took over the operation. Now Moench Jr. serves as vice president of the ranch, which includes the lease of 700,000 acres in the west desert country for winter range. Together the Moenches manage 10,000 sheep and 1,000 cattle.
How tough is this business? He requires 62 truck loads to move his livestock 250 miles to winter range. It used to cost $700 per load; now it's $1,200 per load. It was simpler but more time-consuming for his grandfather, who trailed the sheep 250 miles down Emigration Canyon and 2700 South to the desert.
"You have to have a passion for this to do it," said Moench.
Moench is among the last of a dying breed of private ranchers, most of whom have been bought out by corporations or squeezed out by market conditions. The country is filled with displaced ranchers and farmers who are forced to do other things to make a living. According to Moench, there were 2 million sheep in Utah a generation ago, and now there are 200,000.
"It's a tough business," he said. "This is another generation removed from ranching. They think food comes from Smith's or Albertsons. The only way to get into this business now is to inherit it through your family. Land is too expensive."
Moench believes the state fair is a vehicle to help younger generations reconnect with agriculture. In 2001, Moench was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt to serve on the Utah State Fair board of directors. A year later he was appointed chairman.
Recent comments
Congratulations to Moench for preserving his family's business! I…
Mayhem Mike | Sept. 4, 2008 at 7:18 a.m.
