The Morris family’s dedication to the stewardship of the land, their passion for wildlife and wild places, as well as their compelling desire to introduce others into the outdoors makes them a deserving selection for Landowner of the Year. Mountain Springs Ranch, which has been placed under a Conservation Easement
during their ownership, sits within the designated Sublette Mule Deer Migration Corridor, providing important transitional habitat for deer migrating between their winter and summer ranges.

During the initial start-up of the Sublette County Invasives Taskforce, Mountain Springs Ranch was one of the first landowners to sign-up and allow for the treatment of the invasive annual cheatgrass. Additionally, DeWitt approached the department several years ago about converting fences on the property to wildlife-friendly standards.

The Ranch is also home to the organization Camp GROW. The Green River Outreach for Wilderness (GROW) Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 with a goal to introduce others to wild places. The primary focus is to offer children and young adults the opportunity to discover nature through activities such as camping, rock climbing, shooting sports and horseback riding. Mountain Springs Ranch borders the Scab Creek elk feedground and the family has been active in assisting with hunting access, especially for veterans and youth during the late antlerless elk seasons.