Settling at Smokey Butte
Joseph Howe MacDonald was born on Prince Edward Island to Scottish immigrants. In 1896 he moved to Boston, Massachusetts then to Montana in 1899. Eventually coming to Jordan, Montana from Rosebud Creek, as the story goes, with either 800 head of sheep and $600 or 600 sheep and $800, esablishing Smokey Butte Sheep Company in 1908. Joseph settled where the Big Dry Creek runs along Smokey Butte. His wife Catherine joined him and they raised sheep, work horses, and 7 children. Of the MacDonald children, brothers John Joeseph MacDonald and Archie Charles MacDonald joined their father in the ranch business soon after John's return from serving in WWII.
John J MacDonald & Joseph H MacDonald
John J MacDonald & Archie C MacDonald
1993 Red Angus Cow Herd
Together with their wives, Ann MacDonald (John) and Edith MacDonald (Archie), they continued in the sheep business as well as Hereford cattle. In 1992 the torch was passed on to the 3rd generation when John's youngest son, Steven, took over the ranch. In 1993 Steven and Lavonne brought the first Red Angus cattle to the MacDonald Ranch, igniting the passion that lives on today. 2010 was the end of an era for the MacDonald Ranch, for the first time in its history sheep did not roam its pastures. However, this also marked the start of a new age, with Kane returning to the ranch to help grow a Red Angus cow/calf operation.
1993 Sheep on Smokey Butte Creek
2021 brought the worst drought the county had seen in decades, a marriage, and the start of a new dream. Shortly after we married we purchased our first registered Red Angus cows. As a tribute to the Smokey Butte Sheep Company, Smokey Butte Red Angus was born. We are excited to produce quality seedstock that will service the needs of the cow/calf rancher.
