Cowboy in a Corporate World: 37 Years of Life & Lessons on Koch Industries Beaverhead Ranch

A Montana Cowboy. A Large Corporation. A Clash of Values.

When Ray was hired on to the Matador cowboy crew in 1974, his youthful dreams came true. Montana’s sprawling Matador Cattle Company ranch had genuine cow camps, horses galore, and thousands of cattle. The 240,000-acre ranch, owned since 1951 by Koch Industries Inc., was known internally as the Beaverhead Ranch.

Beyond his dreams, Ray would manage the productive ranch for twenty-one years as it expanded to over 530 square miles of prime Montana ranch land and open space. As ranch manager, Ray led Montana’s Matador to new heights of environmental and economic excellence. What happened in 2011, as he approached the finish line of a stellar career is staggering.

Woven throughout this memoir of family, faith, and work are nuggets of wisdom and valuable secrets for students planning a corporate career in ranching or corporate management. This true story will appeal to lovers of the American West, history fans, ranchers, and anyone who ever wanted to be a cowboy.

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The realization that much of the history of an iconic Montana ranch would die with him inspired Ray Marxer to write this memoir as a legacy for his children and to share his experience with those seeking to achieve profitability and sustainability in their ranch businesses. A fourth-generation Montana land and resource manager, Ray spent 37 years in the employ of Koch Industries, Inc. on Montana's Matador Cattle Company ranch-21 years as ranch manager. His leadership effectively guided the ranch to the highest profit and most stable workforce in the 70-year history of Koch ownership. A champion of innovative management, Ray was recognized with six national-level environmental stewardship awards, among others. He served several terms on Governor appointed boards for wildlife, land-use, and animal health; and is active in community and industry organizations. Ray and his wife Sue stay engaged in the beef industry with their ranch services business and a small place near Sheridan, Montana, where they run just enough cows, horses, and hay to pass along the benefits of living close to the land to their five grandchildren. "Just as knowledge without practical application is worthless, so is experience never shared." Ray Marxer