Andrus Ranch: About Us

The Andrus Family began ranching in the Rocky Mountains in the 1800s when they pioneered across the Great Plains with the first western settlers. A few generations have come and gone since then, but we still continue the family traditions of working hard and having fun. Today, the ranch owners and staff are all part of the family.

Ken and Jim Andrus, two brothers, now own the ranch that has been passed down from generations to generation. Ken and his wife Colleen have eight children and though some have moved away, a few come home during the summer months to help around the ranch and enjoy the break from school and work. We have found that nothing has brought our family closer together like working side by side, whether in the garden, moving cattle, doctoring sheep or hauling hay. It takes a family to run a ranch! So we invite you to bring your family and join us, in hopes that when you leave, you too will feel closer to those you love.

With over 1500 head of cattle and sheep to take care of across 4,000 acres and two counties, we never have to worry about staying busy. We raise Black Angus and Maine-Anjou Cattle, as well as purebred Suffolk Sheep. We also raise and ride some of the best Quarter Horses and Rocky Mountain Gaited horses around. Unlike other ranches, we don’t bring in dead beat horses for you to ride. We ride the same horses that you do when you’re not here. Your horse makes all the difference in the world when you go to move cows. Before you're done here, you will appreciate the value of a good horse.

Ranch life never adheres to a very strict schedule and as a guest you are welcome and encouraged to join in the daily tasks whether it is moving cattle and sheep to new pastures, cutting out sick or lame livestock to be doctored, or searching the hills for missing lambs or calves. Many of the other daily ranch chores such as feeding the animals, gathering eggs, hauling hay, fixing fence and moving sprinkler pipe are open to your participation, but not required or expected. This is a real ranch, and you will come to know what that means and appreciate the lifestyle as you spend time with us.

Our family has lived and loved this lifestyle for generations, and now invite you to see for yourself why we enjoy it so much. When you stay with us, you will know a lot about ranching, a lot about us, and a lot about life.

The Andrus Ranch was once part of the Shoshone-Bannock Indian reservation. When the reservation was downsized in 1889, the property was given to a Native American, by the name of Bob Smith, who had worked as a scout for the army of John C Fremont. This prime land stretching from the top of the hills to the Portneuf River was a reward for his dedicated service. Bob Smith was a horse-man and was said to have run hundreds of horses on his property. The creek that runs through the Ranch now bares his name.

Bob Smith and his wife died of pneumonia during the winter and the land was scheduled to be opened for homesteading in 1902. The first person to stake their claim on the property and get to the land office on the day it opened would be the new owner. The opening day found two families staking their claim and racing to the land office in Blackfoot, about 65 miles to the north. One family took the train; the second had stationed horses along the way, in the pony-express style. The rider and horses beat the train and the Monroe family claimed the land.

The Monroe family was industrious and had hundreds of teams of horses, a lumber mill and the first electricity in the valley from a small generator turned by water. They built the large hay barn in 1905, and it is still standing today. The ranch passed through three other families before the Andrus family bought the land in the 1950’s.

Today we still find remnants of this rich history while we are out riding or working. So keep your eyes open while you ride the range with us, as you just might find an arrowhead or other artifact that connects you to the legacy of people that lived here before we did.