OWENSVILLE, Missouri (April 29, 2026) Horstmann Cattle Company, owned and operated by August Horstmann in Gasconade County, is the latest ranch to earn the Nationwide Audubon Society’s Chicken-Pleasant Land Certification. Obtained by Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program, the certification acknowledges land managed to assist birds and biodiversity.
Audubon Conservation Ranching is a conservation, certification, and science-based program designed to reverse the decline of grassland birds whereas supporting ecologically and economically resilient farm and ranch operations. Since 1970, grassland birds have skilled the steepest inhabitants declines of any terrestrial biome. Habitat loss, degradation, woody encroachment, and intensive chemical use are among the many main drivers—challenges addressed by this system’s necessities for energetic grassland administration practices.
Positioned within the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Gasconade County, Horstmann Cattle Firm encompasses a dynamic mixture of pasture, woodland, glade, and riparian habitat alongside Crimson Oak Creek. A family-operated farm, the ranch has been led by August Horstmann since 2012, when he started implementing regenerative grazing practices to construct soil well being, enhance plant variety, and work in nearer alignment with pure methods.
“For us, this certification displays years of studying let nature lead,” stated August Horstmann, proprietor of Horstmann Cattle Firm. “By transferring cattle steadily and giving pastures the remainder they want, we’re seeing native grasses and wildflowers return. It’s rewarding to know that the best way we elevate beef can even create significant habitat for birds and different wildlife.”
Horstmann Cattle Firm joins a rising community of ranches—over 150 ranches encompassing 4.5 million acres—working for birds and folks as Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land. To earn Audubon’s Chicken-Pleasant Land Certification, Horstmann Cattle Firm meets rigorous requirements for habitat administration, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, all verified by third-party audits. The ranch’s Habitat Administration Plan outlines targets for enhancing current grassland hen habitat, restoring native prairie, controlling invasive species comparable to sericea lespedeza and bush honeysuckle, and reintroducing prescribed fireplace and forest thinning to enhance open woodland and savanna construction.
Central to the ranch’s administration is a high-intensity, short-duration grazing strategy. Cattle are moved steadily—typically every day—utilizing moveable fencing and strategically positioned water infrastructure to make sure grazing distribution and shield delicate areas, together with riparian corridors. And sure pastures are designated to offer optimum nesting cowl throughout peak breeding season, with grazing deferred till mid-summer to assist ground-nesting birds. The result’s a habitat mosaic that streams throughout the panorama, mainly a fascinating patchwork of differing vegetation heights and densities that advantages an array of hen species.
The ranch can be working to transition fescue-dominated pastures to extra various native plant communities by interseeding and focused replanting of warm-season grasses comparable to large bluestem, little bluestem, and Indiangrass, alongside a sturdy mixture of native forbs. These efforts are anticipated to enhance forage resilience, enhance pollinator habitat, improve soil carbon storage, and supply high-quality habitat construction for birds.
The end result of those bird-friendly practices stands to assist the Japanese Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bobwhite, Bobolink, Subject Sparrow, Bell’s Vireo, and Crimson-headed Woodpecker—lots of that are designated as Birds of Conservation Concern or Species of Biggest Conservation Want in Missouri.
“Non-public lands are important to the way forward for Missouri’s grassland and savanna birds,” stated Tara Hohman, Senior Conservation Supervisor in Missouri for Audubon Higher Mississippi River. “The Horstmann household’s dedication to adaptive grazing, native plant restoration, and considerate woodland administration demonstrates epitomizes the time period ‘working lands’ in that their ranch is working in a large number of how for birds and folks.”
In partnership with the Missouri River Chicken Observatory and EarthOptics, Horstmann Ranch will even take part in ongoing hen and soil well being monitoring. Avian surveys carried out each two to 3 years, together with baseline and repeat soil carbon sampling, will inform adaptive administration and assist quantify the ecological outcomes of the ranch’s conservation practices.
Extra funding for the Audubon Conservation Ranching in Missouri is offered by the Love Basis.
For extra details about Audubon Conservation Ranching in Missouri, please contact Tara Hohman, Senior Conservation Supervisor, Audubon Higher Mississippi River. For nationwide program info, contact ConservationRanching@Audubon.org.
About Audubon Conservation Ranching
Audubon Conservation Ranching companions with ranchers to maintain wholesome grasslands, plentiful birdlife, and resilient rural communities. Via our bird-friendly land certification and science-based strategy, we empower land stewards to reinforce habitat, enhance soil well being and water high quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By buying merchandise from Audubon Licensed Chicken-Pleasant Land, shoppers grow to be conservationists, serving to shield America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and those that depend upon them. For extra info, go to www.audubon.org/ranching.
