The 376-acre Delaney Farm and Ranch in north-central Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin between Greybull and Shell sold for $1.5 million, or $3,989 per deeded acre.

This was 21% less than the asking price of $1.9 million.

“The place was in A-one condition with a very nice home, well designed irrigation system with four pivots and flood irrigation, a nice shop building and a very good calving barn with a nice set of corrals,” says John Pearson, owner of Buffalo, Wyo.-based Pearson Real Estate Co.

STAYING IN AG: This 376-acre ranch/farm in north-central Wyoming sold to a young farm family from Canada.

The sale came with outstanding water rights, which, coupled with the irrigation system, could translate to 800 to 1,200 tons of alfalfa hay (up to six tons per acre). Other crops grown on the farm include malting barley and corn for feed, and the land is conducive to a rotation or management-intensive grazing system.

Adding to the farm’s value is its very close proximity to the Bighorn Mountains.

Pearson described the sellers as “extremely good farmers” who wanted to retire, but their grown children had no interest in moving back to the area to farm.

The buyers, also described as outstanding farmers, are a young farm family from Canada.

“They still have their farming operation in Canada, but wanted to buy some farmland in the United States and liked this farm and its productivity,” Pearson says. “They picked up a darn good, Class A farm that attracted a lot of interest from different parties, both local and out of state.”

The buyers had relatives who already farmed in the Bighorn Basin, which helped draw them to the area.

Pearson adds that this was a “very legitimate arm-length sale, which helps give you a good indication of the farm’s value.”

Northeast Wyoming

Local rancher Todd McInerney and his wife, Veronica “Roni” Kramer, purchased the 166-acre Lazy KC Ranch near Sundance, Wyo., to add to their existing ranch lands, says Western Properties owner Pat Donahue.

The asking price was $689,000, or $4,150 per acre (the selling price wasn’t disclosed).

The ranch came with many amenities including a nice 2,500-square-foot home, separate two-car garage, ranch buildings, custom-built corral and riding/roping arena.

Springs located throughout the property provide year-round live water for cattle, and grass and alfalfa hay are grown on about 75 acres.

The transaction came with 40 acres of Bureau of Land Management lease, along with beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. About one mile of creek meanders through the place.

The couple has two children. Like many in agriculture, the family depends on income off the ranch, as Kramer works as a physical therapist.

The sellers are a couple who moved to nearby Gillette, Wyo., where she practices medicine.