Sun Valley Grass-Fed Beef - (801) 783-7974

Preserving ranching traditions by improving ranching practices.

Producing the healthiest, best tasting beef.

Protecting the earth by investing in local economies.

With the relocation of John Amos Barton from Mount Pleasant, Utah to Blaine County, Idaho, the Barton family has been ranching in the Little Wood River Valley since the early 1900’s. The ranch has been in the family since it was homesteaded. This family legacy pulls Kara Lee Barton from the court room to the cow pasture.

Now in its fourth generation of cattle ranching, the Barton family is committed to maintaining its western traditions. Their primary focus is sustaining the business paradigm of the small family ranch. This challenge has been met by previous generations through hard work, integrity and sound business practices. Stewardship of the land is not only considered a business decision, but also a moral imperative.

Our goal of selling grass-fed beef to local retailers keeps with the Barton family’s heritage of conservation and innovation. The concept of “buying local” is a method in which the traditional family ranch may be sustained, local economies may be enhanced and precious natural resources may be preserved.

Barton Ranches, Inc. is located in Fish Creek which is a narrow canyon nestled in the foothills of the Pioneer Mountains and located between Sun Valley, Idaho and the Craters of the Moon National Monument.


Angus-cross cattle are purchased as weanlings from January through March of each year. They are kept on Barton property until the snow melts. In early April, the cattle are moved to BLM land on Laidlaw Park. Minimal fencing is required to contain the herd given the natural land characteristics. Grass is plentiful. The cattle are not required to trail to water. Rather, water is taken to the cattle. In late June or early July, the cattle are herded to the high desert meadows of Fish Creek.

The Barton philosophy of “cowboying for the cow, not for the cowboy” is never more evident than at the annual cattle drive. This is a four day venture in which members of the Barton family, on horseback, gently move the cattle from low desert to high desert meadows. Steers are never rushed, roped, dragged or manhandled in any way. Upon their arrival at the ranch, cattle are met with waist-deep grass and natural spring water. The herd is quietly walked up the canyon.

At no time is the cattle’s diet supplemented with corn or grain. Growth hormone is NEVER administered, nor are the cattle given prophylactic antibiotics.

Cattle are transported approximately forty at a time to USDA approved, Temple Grandin approved slaughter houses in Wendell, Idaho and Lewiston, Utah. Transport to Wendell is approximately 70 miles from the ranch and to Lewiston is approximately 245 miles from the ranch. Transport is provided by small, family owned trucking firms. Loads are not crowded. Slaughter is humane. We use two methods of meat handling; one is dry aging for 14-21 days, the other is called a “Rinse and Chill” trademarked and patented method to improve shelf life, help color retention and reduce the chance of e-coli growth.


Individual purchase of whole and half beef is available and will be cut into steaks, burger and roasts. Approximate weight of a whole beef is 400 pounds.

Why Grass Fed?

It has been well documented that products from animals raised on pasture are healthier for humans. From a nutritional standpoint, grass-fed beef is so completely different than grain-fed beef that you might think the meat came from two different types of animals. In fact, 100% grass fed beef is so good for you that it is actually considered a "health food".

One of the biggest differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef is overall fat composition. Grass fed beef is rich in all the fats now proven to be health-enhancing, yet low in the fats that have been linked with disease. The opposite is true of grain fed products.


Grass-fed beef is high in nutrients and contains all 22 amino acids, including the eight essential amino acids, which must be supplied in our diet.


Grass fed beef is leaner than grain-fed beef with much less saturated fat (also making it lower in calories, about 100 fewer calories per 6 ounces).

About the owners:

Dr. Pam Nichols was raised in Holladay, Utah, mostly on horseback. She spent summers of her childhood showing Quarter Horses in arenas all over the country. Her love of animals led her to the field of veterinary medicine. After graduating from the University of Utah, she earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in 1996. She opened the Animal Care Center in West Bountiful, Utah in 1999. The hospital has won numerous awards for excellence in veterinary medicine during the past 13 years and is one of the few practices in the country to offer physical therapy for companion animals.

Dr. Nichols is a nationally recognized speaker on the importance of physical therapy in veterinary medicine, and was honored with the 2009 Spirit of the American Woman Business Owner of the Year award.

Dr.Pam’s interest in ethical and humane ranching began with an instructor at CSU; Temple Grandin. Temple Grandin impressed upon her the importance of understanding how food animals and cattle specifically think and feel. She left an indelible mark on a freshman veterinary student who became determined to see things change. Now, Dr.Pam is able to take what she learned as a young 4-H student and horsewoman and put it to use as a cattle rancher.

She is passionate about languages, travel, being a veterinarian, raising grass fed beef and spending time with her daughter Elaine.

Kara Lee Barton was born in Sun Valley, Idaho. She is a fifth generation rancher and has been working on the family’s ranch for as long as she can remember. Her first cattle drive was in the summer of 1970, when Kara Lee was six years old. Her ranch responsibilities increased as she grew older. She has proven herself an able hand at everything from moving sprinkler pipe, fencing and baling hay to branding, feeding, moving cattle. 4-H taught her to pick the healthiest cattle with the best conformation. Her family instilled in her a deep love and appreciation for western ranching traditions and an awed reverence for the land and the animals it supports.

The Barton family was engaged in “green” ranching practices before the reference existed. Kara Lee was taught respect for animals and that humane ranching methods were not only morally correct, but also sound business.

Kara Lee was raised in a family of four girls. Concerned with the future viability of small family ranches, her father and mother placed enormous importance on education. Kara Lee received a BA in English and BS in Philosophy from the University of Utah. She has a law degree from Washburn University School of Law. In addition to raising beef cattle, Kara Lee practices law in Salt Lake City at Barton Law Office, the law firm she founded in 2001.

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