Why support local agriculture? Just ask a Texas rancher. Ranchers have a commitment to stewarding the land that embodies the love for our home that we celebrate this Memorial Day weekend. ❤️ As you choose what to grill, think local and choose to support Texas ranchers in our community! Learn more about the heart of ranching with our Rancher Q + A series.
413 Q + A
Q: How did you become a rancher? How old were you?
A: I was 10 years old when my Uncle taught me how to raise egg laying chickens. He built me a mobile range coop, little did I know how trendy it would be 30 years later.
Q: Is ranching your first career? If not, what did you do before?
A: Yes, its all I know.
Q: What do you want people to understand about ranching?
A: Mother Nature is quite the force. We covet the ability to raise animals outside on pasture in the fresh air and sunshine. What’s rarely talked about are the setbacks we endure doing so; 4 feet of flash floods wiping out my feed truck, flooding mobile range coops holding thousands of chickens, drought significantly impacting our ability to put up hay for winter feed, running out of hay in the final weeks of winter due to a shortage created by the 2022 drought, standing at your paddock praying for spring rains to hurry up and arrive so your cows can eat, predators that are always waiting for sunset to prey on your livestock in the dark of night.
Q: How has ranching changed since you first started?
A: There was a plethora of new, beginning, small farm ranchers when I bought my farm in 2016. Each year that’s passed, I’ve watched dear friends hang up their hat, park their tractors, sell their land.
A: Battling inflation on inputs: feed, hay, fuel, supply chain issues for tractor parts, rising cost on replacement equipment has been unsustainable.
Q: Do you find community and support from the vendors and shoppers at the Dallas Farmers Market?
A: Yes
Q: What is our hope for the future of ranching in Texas and the US?
A: The American lifestyle has changed. We as farmers have to continue to innovate to meet the consumer where they are. OSU & the University of Arkansas did a study about 8 years ago, they taught farmers at a regional conference that Millennials are pushing for pasture raised, small farm, grab & go food items.
A: If farmers are going to make it, we have to value add our products.
A: Farmers are the best cooks out there, we’re growing/raising the most premium fruits, vegetables and protein options available. We have to continue to offer grab & go, heat & serve, take-home meals, meal-prep items and snacks for consumers who live very busy lives on the go.
Q: What is your advice for someone who hopes to start a ranch in North Texas?
A: Buy the most land you can afford, closest to the city. Proximity to your customers is a must. Consumers aren’t making the hour trek to your ranch to buy off-the farm. Maybe that means it’s one acre, maybe 5, but you’ll have access to a multitude of families than if you were an hour from town on a hundred acres.
A: If you’re way out yonder, you’ll end up spending hours of your time driving your products to the city. Time and fuel is eating your lunch in expenses, impacting your quality of life being over the road instead of on-farm with your family.
A: Large acreage ranches are for cattlemen selling into local sales barns. If you have a direct to consumer driven farm business, proximity to your families is your key to success or you’ll burn out.
Q: Why is it important to support local agriculture?
A: Every day, three times a day we get a choice: what will we put at the end of our fork to fuel our body?
A: Buying local, allows you to fuel your body with the most nutrient dense food options available to you and your family.
