Give us a call 970-872-3322
Give us a call 970-872-3322
Ask Jake Hubbell
Tucked into Colorado's storied San Luis Valley just south of Monte Vista, Quarter Circle A Farms is a rare 455±-acre property that pairs productive irrigated alfalfa with one of the region's premier waterfowl habitats. With two pivots feeding nearly 200 acres of hay on the north end and a 125±-acre flooded "Swells" wetland anchoring the south, this is a working farm and a sportsman's retreat in one-wrapped in the kind of mountain-framed light and sky the Valley is known for.
Quarter Circle A Farms sits in the heart of the San Luis Valley, a high-altitude agricultural basin ringed by the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan ranges and recognized as one of North America's most important migratory bird corridors. The property lies just south of Monte Vista-home to the renowned Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge and the annual Crane Festival-placing it squarely on the flyway that draws ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and shorebirds through the region each year. It's a quiet, productive setting with excellent access and uninterrupted views.
The northern portion of the farm is anchored by two center pivots installed in 2011, each sweeping roughly 270 degrees-three-quarters of a full circle-across approximately 90 acres apiece. The northern unit, known as "Circle 8," has been in alfalfa production and can be expanded to roughly 120 acres with the addition of supplemental pond and pump capacity. The southern unit, "Circle 7," runs seven towers across 1,298 feet plus a 32-foot end gun. Both pivots are powered by copper electrical lines and apply about 23 inches of water over a growing season.
The current owner purchased the property in 2013 and developed the alfalfa program from the ground up. The result is roughly 180 acres of irrigated hay producing an average of three cuttings per year-yielding approximately 6 and 5 tons per acre across the two circles, or about 990 tons of alfalfa annually. The ground beneath the pivots is adjudicated, and the operation is well established and turnkey for an incoming buyer.
Water is the backbone of this property, and Quarter Circle A is exceptionally well equipped. Irrigation is supplied by a combination of the Commonwealth Ditch (2 shares) and multiple agricultural wells, all routed into a central 7 acre-foot settling pond from which water is pumped to both pivots. When the canal is running, ditch water and the wells fill the pond underground; the typical cycle runs the system for roughly two days, then rests and refills the pond.
The property's well infrastructure is substantial. A main well on the southern side is drilled to 1,800 feet and produces approximately 1,846 gallons per minute, complemented by a 1,000-foot well rated near 2,250 gallons per minute, an additional well allocated at 600+ gallons per minute, and a further well west of the north pivot that is currently artesian and could be converted to irrigation. The two pivots carry a combined allocation of approximately 570 acre-feet of Sub-district 6 water (approximately $35 per acre-foot). In an average snowpack year, ditch water alone is sufficient to support a cutting, while roughly 2.5 days of well water covers the Swells hunting area. (Prospective buyers should verify current well allocations and adjudication details with the State of Colorado.)
The southern end of the property is where Quarter Circle A truly distinguishes itself. Known as "The Swells," this 125±-acre flooded pasture began as a Ducks Unlimited project: in the low ground, a series of raised swells were sculpted with water-filled channels running between them-rippling lines of high and wet ground that mimic waves left in the sand. The result is prime, purpose-built waterfowl habitat.
Water flows from the central pond out into these terraced areas, creating exceptional duck and goose hunting through fall and winter and outstanding bird habitat year round. The property hosts ducks and geese in abundance, along with blue heron and a wide range of other species. It has a proven track record-the area is hunted heavily and productively, including by the local Amish community, and one opening day reportedly produced a harvest of around 400 birds. The owner has also welcomed 20-30 youth hunters annually, making it a meaningful spot for introducing the next generation to the sport. In spring and summer, the same ground serves double duty as excellent cattle grazing pasture.
Few properties in the San Luis Valley offer this blend: established, water-secured alfalfa production with documented yields, robust and redundant well and ditch infrastructure feeding a central reservoir, and a marquee waterfowl habitat with a hunting reputation that speaks for itself. Whether the goal is a cash-flowing hay operation, a recreational waterfowl property, or both, Quarter Circle A Farms delivers on all fronts.
