Nick Beard never imagined that his family’s decades-old grazing lease on a scenic slice of Idaho rangeland would be upended by a Facebook post. Yet that’s exactly how the fifth-generation rancher learned that the 160-acre parcel of state endowment land his family has leased since the 1990s—just a mile from their home near Driggs, in the shadow of the Teton Range—was headed for the auction block. The news came as a shock, not just for Beard, but for the broader community in Teton County, where development and soaring property values are rapidly changing the landscape and the livelihoods of families like his.
According to reporting by Idaho Capital Sun and CBS2, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted unanimously on July 15, 2025, to sell the "Driggs 160"—as state officials call the parcel—through a public auction to the highest bidder. The land, which Beard and his family have leased for grazing at about $963 a year, is under contract with them until 2032. Yet, as Beard recounted, "We’ve always known someone could come in and outbid us at the next renewal. We have always known we could lose this in 2032, but I was never expecting them during the middle of our lease to just put it up for sale."
Beard’s wife stumbled upon the news online, and it wasn’t until nearly a week after the Land Board’s vote, on July 21, that an official from the Idaho Department of Lands finally reached out to the family. The lack of direct communication added insult to injury for Beard, who described the decision as "just kind of a kick to the face to find out they cut your lease short because they got a better offer from someone instead of fulfilling the lease we had."
For the Beard family, the land is more than a business asset. It’s a legacy. Beard and his wife are raising young children, hoping they’ll become the sixth generation to work the land. "We’ve relied on that piece of ground for the last 30-some years, and I was under the impression my kids might be inheriting the lease on the land one day," he told Idaho Capital Sun. "It’s a lifestyle I’m not ready to give up just because someone wants to sell off all the ground."
But the pressures facing small ranchers in Teton County have intensified over the years. The area, long admired for its proximity to the world-famous Teton Range and Grand Targhee Resort, has experienced a development boom since the early 2000s. As out-of-state buyers have snapped up land, property values have soared, making it increasingly difficult for local ranchers to find affordable pasture. Beard, who also works at a local communications company to make ends meet, said, "It’s hard to find pasture over here with all subdividing going on."
The lease allowed the family to graze 45 cattle for 45 days each summer. Beyond paying rent, Beard has invested sweat equity into the land, maintaining fences and hauling water for the livestock. "I treated the land with respect; we’ve been good stewards of the land," he said. The family even spent two years installing fencing by hand, a testament to their commitment.
State officials, meanwhile, say their hands are tied by Idaho’s constitution. The Idaho Department of Lands Director, Dustin Miller, explained to Idaho Capital Sun, "We’re tasked with maximizing revenue on state endowment lands under that constitutional mandate." The lease currently generates just under $1,000 a year for the state, but officials believe selling the land could bring in millions. "When we run into problems, is (when) the underlying value of that ground becomes so high, and if we’re not making or producing the right amount of revenue on that property, then we’ve got to look at other options," Miller said.
The move has sparked a wave of concern and activism in the local community. Beard launched an online petition urging the Land Board to reconsider, and it quickly garnered more than 1,500 signatures. According to Change.org data cited by Idaho Capital Sun, 60% of signatories are from the nearby Idaho towns of Tetonia, Driggs, and Victor. The petition underscores the deep local ties to the land and the fear that its sale will further erode the area’s ranching heritage.
There is still a chance the sale could be delayed or stopped. Teton County commissioners have the authority to object, and the Land Board is scheduled to revisit the issue on September 16, 2025. State legislators, including Assistant Idaho Senate Majority Leader Mark Harris, have voiced concerns about the fairness of selling land mid-lease. Harris, himself a rancher, told Idaho Capital Sun, "The issue I have is the lease. His lease is not up, and here the state is talking about selling that parcel of ground and basically negating the rest of the lease, which I think is unfair." At the same time, Harris acknowledged the state’s constitutional obligation: "I can see both sides, but I think the problem is growth."
Harris attended a Teton County Commission meeting in August to learn more and see if he could help Beard. He believes the state needs to clarify its approach to lease agreements, saying, "A lease is an agreement, and my opinion is that those leases should be honored until the end." However, state officials have clarified that there are no legal obstacles to selling the land even with a lease in place, as leases typically include provisions allowing early termination with proper notice.
The land in question is not considered public land in the traditional sense. As Miller noted, "These lands are not public lands, they’re state endowment trust lands, and the landlord has sole authority over their sale, disposition, the purchase of additional lands and leasing over those lands." While the land is not managed as a park or forest, it is currently accessible to the public for activities like shed antler hunting and dog training. Beard said he’s always welcomed responsible public use, as long as visitors respect the property.
The identity of the potential buyer remains unclear. State officials say the auction will be open to all, but they declined to name the local landowner who initially expressed interest. Beard mentioned that lawyers for neighboring landowner Thomas Tull, a billionaire and film producer, reached out after his father’s death in 2021. Tull, who owns the adjacent Teton Ridge Ranch, is known for investments in AI research and political contributions, including a $25,000 donation to Governor Brad Little’s political committee in 2023. Little, who chairs the Land Board, voted in favor of the sale. In a statement, Little’s press secretary Joan Varsek emphasized the board’s constitutional duty: "They unanimously approved moving toward a public auction for the disposition of Driggs 160, and anyone can bid at auction. The current grazing lease on the land generates under $1,000 annually for the endowment beneficiary, and it is anticipated multiple people will be interested in acquiring this highly valued property."
As the September meeting approaches, the fate of the Driggs 160 hangs in the balance. For Beard and many in the Teton Valley, the sale is about more than money—it’s about the future of family ranching, the meaning of community, and the enduring tension between economic growth and preserving a way of life that’s already under threat.
