The winter of 1886-1887 changed the face of American cattle ranching forever. Up until this point herds were allowed to roam free and the ranchers assumed they would be able to collect the cattle in the spring.
The winter was preceded by a hot, dry summer which reduced the amount of available grass on the prairie. The winter was long and harsh. Humans and animals alike fell victim to the extreme conditions. When the snows thawed cattle carcasses littered the landscape. From this point forward it became common practice to stockpile enough food to sustain one’s fenced-in herd, altering the economy of both farming and ranching alike.
