In 2005 Allan and Gale Peterson sold the second company they had formed and owned to a
company traded on the NASDAQ. A year later they hopped in their Ford 150 truck and took a
road trip across North Dakota, down the south side of Montana to Idaho and then back across
the Northern borders of Montana. They were on a mission partially due to both being brought
up on farms in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and partially due to the inspiration of the
former director of endowments at Yale, now deceased, David Swenson.
Swenson was one of the first endowment directors to advocate owning “hard assets”. When
the sale of Direct Trading was completed Allan proposed to Swenson that he and the Yale
endowment fund form a partnership to buy farm and ranch properties. Unfortunately
Swenson didn’t agree but armed with the idea of “hard assets” and a knowledge of farms and
ranches both Allan and Gale stuck out without Yale.
The AG ranch/BARAP was one of the first properties they added to their portfolio.
Subsequently the Petersons returned to their rural roots adding two other farms in Montana
and several thousand acres in the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota.
The AG ranch is one of the most spectacular in the portfolio. Most people are familiar with the
badlands of North Dakota but for all that have visited the AG Ranch they will agree the sights
and scenery on this Montana ranch is more remarkable than any other “badlands”.
On this website you will see many hunting pictures of friends and family. We have preserved
deer, birds and elk hunting specifically for these groups. We know it has brought great
pleasure to many and hope to continue this same process in years to come.
Contact Allan @ apnodak@yahoo.com
The 10,000-acre AG Ranch stretches along four miles of the Missouri River, spanning Choteau and Blaine counties in north-central Montana. Heading north from the ranch headquarters, you’ll journey 14 miles through the renowned and historic Missouri Breaks, a landscape of dramatic canyons, plateaus, and benches.
This rugged terrain provides prime pastures for the ranch’s Angus/Charolais cattle and serves as a sanctuary for one of the most diverse collections of wildlife in the United States. The stunning beauty of the Breaks has been immortalized in tales of the badlands, from Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota adventures to classic western films that brought Montana’s Big Sky landscapes to life.
History is deeply etched into the area, with numerous markers commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition that traversed these lands in the early 1800s. Just a mile west of the ranch lies the confluence of the Missouri and Judith Rivers, the latter named by Captain Clark in honor of his fiancée. Despite its rich history and natural beauty, this region remains remote, with few residents calling the Breaks home.
Wildlife flourishes on the AG Ranch, with mule deer, antelope, coyotes, pheasants, sage grouse, geese, Hungarian partridge, and bighorn sheep thriving in its diverse ecosystems. During the evenings, it’s common to see herds of up to 300 mule deer emerging from the Breaks to graze on the alfalfa fields lining the Missouri. Antelope herds, sometimes numbering 60 to 70, roam both the benches of the Breaks and the lower valley.
The crown jewel of the ranch’s wildlife, however, is the bighorn sheep. Many experts agree there is no other location in the United States that rivals the AG Ranch for its population of trophy rams. It’s estimated that as many as 40 Boone and Crockett–worthy rams reside within the ranch’s benches and canyons. During the fall, herds of up to 200 rams and ewes have been observed in a single location. Hunters fortunate enough to draw a coveted bighorn tag and hunt on the AG Ranch have an unparalleled success rate, consistently harvesting rams that meet the prestigious Boone and Crockett scoring standard.
The best part of the ranch is sharing time with lifelong friends and creating unforgettable memories. Whether it’s outshooting your buddy to take down the rooster, being the first to spot that trophy buck, or swapping the most entertaining stories around the evening fire, the AG Ranch is where it all happens.
Brother Patrick, Allan and long time friend Charlie Rogenes with Charlie’s deer. Sadly Charlie is
no longer here but we know the AG Ranch was one of his favorites. However “Charlies Hill” his
favorite spot to post for a mule deer ensures his memory.
Since 2014 Gale and Allan have welcomed the Montana Wounded Warriors to the AG ranch. We have made lasting friendships with many of this group and have had many
highly successful hunts.
As an added note Allan and his three brothers are also veterans. There are three Vietnam vets
and another army vet who predated Vietnam
The Boone & Crocket award for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep is 180 inches. Remarkably we think every ram taken on the ranch since 2005 has qualified. There are numerous Rams that have scored over 190 inches. In 2024 only 10 rams were allowed to be harvested in our district. Four of those rams were taken on the AG Ranch.
Grandson Johnny B and grandfather Allan share a moment on top of Chase Hill.