At Sweet Grass Ranch, a family-run, working guest ranch located on 20,000 acres in southwest Montana, visitors ride side by side with the wranglers, drive Angus cattle, and help with ranch chores (if they want to). Owner Shelly Carroccia says, “We enjoy showing people what a family ranch is like. When you’re here, you’re part of our family. Your kids play with our kids; we all sing together around the campfire—kitchen help, hired hands, everybody.”

Days on the ranch start early with sizzling and sweet aromas from the dining room. In fact, everything seems to revolve around mealtime at Sweet Grass, which goes well beyond the typical ranch fare of steaks, beans, and bakers. The Carroccias serve genuine, home-cooked meals that include whole-grain breads and from-scratch desserts, grass-fed beef from the ranch, wild salmon, and locally grown organic produce. Here are a pack of Shelly’s recipes so you can taste a bit of the ranch at home.

Visiting Sweet Grass Ranch
Owned and operated by the Carroccia family, Sweet Grass Ranch in Big Timber, Montana, is a working cattle ranch and guest ranch. Accommodations, home-cooked meals, and horses are included in the all-inclusive weekly rate. Sweet Grass Ranch is open June through mid-September and is approximately 120 miles from both Bozeman and Billings. Families are welcome (special rates for kids). Visit www.sweetgrassranch.com or call 406/537-4477 for more information.