In 1916, Arthur brought his bride, Effie Marie Carrico to his desert home on the Snake River Plain of Southern Idaho. Together they started their family and began grubbing sagebrush and planting trees and grasses on their homestead, which Effie proudly named "Spring Cove," due to the natural spring in the cove above the farmstead. Arthur and Effie purchased Registered Percheron horses in 1916 and the first RegisteredAberdeen Angus cattle in 1919. Since then, Angus cattle and Butlers have been raised at Spring Cove. 75 Years of continuous management by the same family, on the same homestead acres, completely supported by agriculture.
In March of 1919, Arthur H. Butler purchased 13 registered Angus cows and a bull from the estate of his neighbor, George Fletcher of King Hill, Idaho. These cattle were bred in Humeston, Iowa by George McCullock. These "Blackbird," Nosegay," and "Jennet" cow families were the foundation of the present Spring Cove herd. Spring Cove Ranch records reveal Registration numbers of the 
purchase numbered under 200,000 with even some four and five digit numbers appearing back in the fifth generation. The oldest number belonged to one old ancestor "Blackbird of Hillhurst," No. 3976.
Before the technology of A.I was brought to the ranch, the herd bull was of great importance. Over the years, herd sires were purchased from across the nation. In 1933, Revolution B3, a grandson of the great international Grand Champion, Black Revolution and a double great-grandson of the immortal Earl Marshall, was introduced into their herd. Other important sire introductions were Woodlawn Duke 3 from Ray Ballhorn of Wetaskawin, Alberta; Great Oaks Bluemar purchased at the Denver Stock Show in 1950, and Blackbird Bell of Whiteway, purchased in Missouri in 1951. "Whitey" was once called the "best quartered bull in the West."
Heifer purchases included two 30 head carloads from the Sam Henderson herd in Alberta, Canada, 1949 and 1951, large framed females which have proven to be some of the best foundation dams.
Spring Cove Ranch is presently owned and managed by Arthur and Stacy Butler and Daniel and Diana Butler.
Through the years, their goal has been to produce all-purpose Angus cattle that will perform under the variety of range conditions of the West. They've kept the birth weights moderate, the weaning weights heavy and their cows maternal, never following current breed fads. They breed functional cows that work under their range conditions.
For more information visit www.SpringCoveRanch.com
Cattle Ranch Of The Week: Spring Cove Ranch
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