Scott and Elan Lees - Photo provided by Alberta Beef Producers (ABP)

By Dori Modney with files and video from Alberta beef Producers

Soderglen South Ranch honoured with Environmental Stewardship Award

Apr 30, 2021 | 5:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — The 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award has been presented to a Southern Alberta ranch couple, by Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).

ABP have recognized Scott and Elan Lees of Soderglen South, for their outstanding commitment to environmentally sustainable beef production.

Soderglen South is actually two ranches located near Fort Macleod and Cardston, with approximately 15,000 acres of primarily native grassland in the Foothills Fescue natural sub-region.

The Fort McLeod ranch acts as the summer ranch for cattle that move between the south locations, while the Cardston ranch is the base for wintering, where 1,500 calving mothers are sustained.

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Scott Lees notes they have worked to improve the grasslands for the benefit of their cattle and the wildlife, as they work with Ducks Unlimited Canada and Nature Conservancy Canada to conserve and protect the wetlands and native grasslands.

“Ranching for us over the years, we’ve come to realize it’s about looking after the land. It’s growing grass and selling grass however you choose to do that, but it is really custodians of a piece of land.”

Scott’s wife Elan, notes, “We believe in ‘good grasses equals good cattle’… those things go hand in hand.”

For the Lees, environment stewardship goals for Soderglen South are simple – to continually improve grasslands for the benefit of their cattle and area wildlife.

Keeping that goal in mind, the Lees worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada and Nature Conservancy Canada to conserve and protect not only native grasslands but, wetlands as well.

Conservation agreements are now in place to maintain the native prairie and wetland habitat at Fort McLeod, while the Cardston ranch has an agreement to protect existing wetlands and restore historically drained wetlands. Both locations have converted some cropland to perennial forage. There is also a lease agreement to manage 2,465 acres of mutually-beneficial land owned by Ducks Unlimited Canada, near the Cardston ranch.

To protect the areas, the Soderglen South ranch discourage cattle from disrupting wetlands and dugouts, by using specific watering systems to improve water quality and riparian health. Both permanent and portable electric cross fencing is also used, to support rotational grazing which maintains grasslands for wildlife habitat.

Lees noted that protecting grass and wetlands is beneficial to help sustain a ranch through wet and dry years.

ABP sponsors an annual Environmental Stewardship Award, to recognize those in the cattle industry who demonstrate practices which contribute to the environment while maintaining productivity and profitability.

As Elan Lees points out, “Being a rancher, I think we’ve been entrusted with good natural resources and I think it is our responsibility to take care of those natural resources – It’s nice getting recognized for the years of hard work that we’ve done to manage the grasses. We feel honoured to be presented with this award.”