On May 28, 2024, the Teton Regional Land Trust finalized a conservation easement that locks 1,686 acres of Flying A Ranch into a permanent protection status. The Atchley family, still owning the land, will continue to farm and raise livestock under the same boundaries, but any new development—including data centers, subdivisions or commercial projects—will be barred. The easement cost the family nothing; instead, they donated the right to preserve the acreage, a move that echoes a growing trend of private landowners partnering with conservation groups to safeguard rural landscapes.
James Arthur Atchley first claimed the homestead in 1901, after moving from Tennessee. By 1906 he had christened it Atchley Farms, and the family’s seed potato operation expanded into a regional powerhouse selling up to 250,000 sacks annually to the Pacific Northwest. In 1923, James earned a blue ribbon at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, affirming the ranch’s agricultural reputation. Today the ranch spans roughly 5,000 acres, with 800 to 1,000 acres dedicated to seed potatoes.
Beyond its agrarian legacy, the easement preserves a vital mule deer migration corridor that runs from Wyoming into Idaho, a route that has become increasingly threatened by surrounding development. Wildlife biologist Josh Rydalch of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game praised the easement, noting that it safeguards “species of greatest conservation need” and protects streamside habitat along Bitch Creek. The 1.3 miles of creek that borders the property is a critical water source for deer and other species.
Local ranchers expressed cautious optimism, saying the easement will keep the land productive while protecting ecological values. The Atchley family’s daughter Laura Pickard and her husband Clay, who now manage the ranch, stated they will honor their grandfather Clen’s vision by maintaining the agricultural heritage and ensuring the easement’s obligations are met. The easement’s permanent status means the land will remain in family hands for generations, a rare blend of private ownership and public stewardship.