Jim Johnson of Elk Glade Outfitters and Ranch is one of the region’s understated and humble cultural heroes.

Johnson comes from a long line of family that hails from all along the Front Range. He’s a native of Denver, graduate of Colorado College and full-time resident of Colorado Springs.

After a successful career running his family’s Denver-based business, Johnson Moving and Storage, one of the oldest in the state, he retired to run his family ranch in East Beaver Valley on the south side of Pikes Peak. The Sierra Club figures that the 130,000-plus acres of BLM, U.S. Forest Service, state and private lands is the most pristine land along the Front Range.

Johnson is committed to this land, the family legacy, mentoring by example and living life “the cowboy way” — with integrity, kindness and hard work.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Elk Glade Ranch once. My husband has the privilege of working at the ranch alongside Johnson. I say alongside, because Johnson truly is one of the hardest working citizens you will ever meet and seems to be working alongside everyone. Here is a bit of the conversation we shared.

Question: What does the word culture mean to you?

Answer: I looked up the word on my etymology page and I was pleased to see that the root of the definition is tied to agriculture, roots, nurturing and guarding. I was amazed to learn that the word is so close to what I do, what I was taught by my grandmother and the legacy I want to leave behind — to take care of things of the Earth lovingly.

Are there people in your life that have played a role in how you think about culture?

My grandmother, Avis. She loved nature and adventure. She was my mentor. My mother and my father had tremendous work ethic.

You are a mentor to many young people that reside and work at Elk Glade. How do you educate them on this incredible culture of caring for the land and of work ethic?

Lovingly and caustically. I tell them that this lifestyle is more than a belt buckle. It is a culture of the cowboy way, accountability, self-reliance and hard work.

How does education, policy and cultural awareness intersect in your work at the ranch and how do you translate that to the young people you have working with you?

This is hard work, but no one does it alone. We work with 11 government agencies. It is our playing field and I try to teach them that we are accommodating and collaborative. It is essential in order to get things done. All together we have done a lot of good. Part of our culture is great relationships with all involved. You need to be politically involved and you need to be present.

You bring Amish men out to the ranch to work every summer. What is it like to bring the Amish culture to the Western culture?

The Amish are so endearing. They work hard and are tremendous horsemen. It is always fun to see how my “hands” react when they see these strapping Amish boys hop on a horse bareback and take control of that animal with no reins or saddle. The Amish are always in awe of the rugged landscape of the ranch.

As this region expands, and more folks move to this area, what is the message that you would hope to share with city, county, state leadership about the integrity of maintaining an awareness of conservation?

We are losing 8,000 acres a day nationally of farmland. It is important that leadership remember that when land goes away, you lose agricultural culture- culture of crops, the people, a way of life.

The urban centers will be that much richer when we maintain the pockets of “earth” around our cities. We are committed to keeping the East Beaver Valley “dark” — undeveloped and the way it was in 1888 when my family landed there.