Ralph E. Walchle
Ralph Walchle was born and raised in the northeast Colorado Sandhill country where both of his grandfathers established ranching and farming homesteads nearly a century ago. He received an Animal Science degree from Colorado State University and spent the next several years in management of purebred cattle ranching operations - finally establishing the Walchle Cattle Company at Platteville, Colorado.
Ralph and his school teacher bride, Karen, followed their dream and moved to the mountains. When they bought the Ridgway ranch in 1977, Bryan was 8 weeks old and Travis was born two years later.
At the Ridgway Colorado operation, Ralph and his family became very successful breeders of top performing Simmental cattle. The early 1980’s brought financial distress to much of the agricultural industry and the Walchle Ranch was no exception. Karen went back to teaching school to keep food on the table and Ralph made the decision to embark on the real estate business to save the ranch. Time has proven that it was a great business decision.
Ralph never found much time for hobbies and he never slowed up enough to understand the meaning of the word bored. Over the years he has taken time to serve his community in several capacities including the church board, school board, County Chairman of the Republican Party, and several others.
The boys have grown up and Ralph and Karen have six wonderful grandchildren. They still enjoy the ranch as they work with two fine young men in a successful real estate business.
Ralph’s most enjoyable times are those spent with his wife of 28 years and his family - no matter how extended. He lays special claim to Bryan’s Emmalee, Keegan, Bohdan and Summer; Travis's Christopher and Trinity; and Joey’s Brayden, Brittany, Bryce and the twins Landen & Luke (who claim him as Uncle Ralph) - and he looks forward to more additions.
Ralph enjoys hunting and has been privileged to make trips to Alaska and Canada as well as several areas of the United States. Sharing the experiences with family or close friends is the real thrill of the hunt for him.
With a lifetime of experiences in all facets of ranching and all the business aspects associated with ranch ownership, brokerage of ranches has been a “hand in glove” fit for Ralph. He has often remarked about feeling a bit guilty for enjoying what he does so much. The word retirement has no place in his vocabulary – says he can’t find it in the Bible anywhere.
When asked about his accomplishments, Ralph says only that, "the Lord has richly blessed me with a wonderful family, the most wonderful place in the world to live and has brought many wonderful people into my life who have made my business life successful." He is looking forward to what the "second-half" brings.
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