The DU Ranch
The DU Ranch in 1955
Louis and Carey Dupret, Kate’s grandparents, purchased the ranch in 1953 and their first registered Hereford cattle in 1955. The ranch buildings are at 4,600 feet of elevation and the pastures go up to 5,500 feet. The ranch has a 2,400 acre land base of scenic mountain pasture and hay land.
Louis & Carey Dupret - June 1st, 1938
Kate’s grandparents have an amazing story! Louis was born in St. Etienne, France and Carey was born in Barre, Vermont, U.S.A. They met on the Lafayette ship, fell in love and were married on June 1st, 1938. At the onset of WWII, they were living in France where Louis was a lieutenant serving in the Maginot Line. He was captured in June 1940. From June 1940 to August 1943, he was confined in five jails and three prison/concentration camps following many heroic escapes. In August 1941, Carey made her way back to the U.S.A. to be with her family due to deteriorating conditions in France. Louis and Carey were reunited on August 25th, 1943 in Florida.
Louis was a mining engineer by profession. He and Carey moved from New Jersey, USA, to Blairmore, AB in the spring of 1952 to work as a consultant for the West Canadian Collieries. After this assignment, in the fall of 1955 Louis took the position of Sales Manager in Europe and Africa for the Marion Power Shovel Company of Marion, Ohio, world renowned manufacture of mining shovels and draglines. He and his family moved between Paris, France and the DU Ranch. During this time, Louis travelled extensively throughout the world selling mining equipment for Marion until retirement in 1990. His final achievement before retiring was supplying the tunneling machines fabricated by the Robbins Group, which successfully bored the English Channel Tunnels from the French side.
Carey’s love was for the DU Ranch and the Hereford cattle. She worked hard in a man’s world to build up the recognition for the DU Ranch and its cattle herd. She ensured that the ranch focused on improving the Hereford breed and being model custodians of the land. She concentrated the ranch breeding and marketing program on top performance, fertility, structural soundness (feet and udders) and temperament. At its peak, the DU Ranch cowherd was 200 head. It became well known for producing prime bulls and heifers that were mountain raised and ready to work for the purebred and commercial cattleman.
Puff McKim (the far left), with her Brothers & the Percheron Team, Tootsie & Shorty, 1955
Kate's mother, Puff McKim, has spent most of her life on the ranch continuing after she and, Dan McKim, Kate's father, were married. Today the DU Ranch represents their 40 plus years of love and commitment to this way of life in a beautiful part of the world. They have ensured that the cattle herd remain being mountain raised. They have been recognized for producing top bred replacement heifers.
Puff & Dan McKim
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Puff McKim, Lena and Bree
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