Tucked away in far northeast Oregon, hard against the Wallowa Mountains and perched above Hells Canyon, 6 Ranch is now in its fifth generation of family ownership.
The ranch traces its roots to 1876, when relatives of today’s owners settled nearby and later hunted on the swath of land that would become 6 Ranch.
Over the years, the family ranch dabbled in a little bit of everything to get by, from dairy cattle to hogs to hay. Today, Adele Schott and her family run Corriente cows, which are whole-carcass butchered and sold to local restaurants. The family also works hard to protect the natural landscape and be good stewards of the land. Wireless cellular security cameras like the DEFEND camera make that work much easier.
Peace of Mind at Any Time of the Day or Night
“It’s hard to make it this many generations and have anything intact,” said Adele Schott, who is the fifth generation rancher.
Schott, who was born and raised on the ranch, found a new niche with her family–selling beef to local restaurants and leading guided fly fishing trips to cast for native rainbow trout.
Sustaining a family-run ranch in a remote area is no easy task, and even while much about the ranch has remained the same, the area around it has changed. There’s now a highway running through the area, and in summer the nearby mountains are a major draw for tourists. Meanwhile, valuable animals are spread around the ranch, from pastures to pens, and there is an on-site store. DEFEND wireless cellular security cameras are the extra set of eyes she needs.
“As much as I try, I can’t actually be everywhere at once,” she said.
Schott uses cameras to keep watch over weening pens, and can easily check in on her animals in the middle of the night to make sure they are fine. “It is a sense of relief and security to be able to check on your things and know that both people and animals are doing OK.”
The proximity to the highway and influx of tourists presents a unique set of security challenges for which the DEFEND cameras are essential, Schott said.
“Security-wise, this is a different time,” she said.
Using Cellular Security Cameras to Monitor Landscape Health
Among the most interesting applications of the cameras is in range management.
Cows are often accused of contributing to stream bank erosion and sedimentation by loitering in waterways–particularly sensitive topics in the arid West. Recently, 6 Ranch engaged in important habitat restoration projects on the Wallowa River, helping to restore sensitive riparian areas to their natural state.
“We’ve got one camera on the riparian zone,” she said. “We always try to advocate that they are not hanging out in the river all day long, and it’s hard to prove that unless you have footage.”
The ranch works hard to be transparent with its clients, and Schott often uses DEFEND camera footage on her social media feeds and in newsletters.
“Installing them was easy and straightforward, and they can be put anywhere,” she said, explaining that she has cameras mounted in the barn, the farmer’s stand, and in trees.
“They really can go anywhere,” she said. “They allow us to show the animals in a way we wouldn’t be able to if we weren’t there.”
With the cameras helping, Schott is hoping to preserve the ranch not only as a part of her history but to pass it on to her sons.
“It’s hard to make it this many generations and have anything intact,” she said. “But we’ve done it. Watching (my sons) play in the same places that I played in growing up is really special.”