Ranch life, raised one sunrise at a time — meet the animals we raise and the plants we grow.
Out here the day starts before the sun does. A working ranch is a small world of its own — barns and pastures, gardens and fields, animals that depend on us and crops that feed them (and us) right back. This page is our tour: a look at daily ranch life, every animal we raise, and every plant we grow to keep the whole place running.
Raised for milk and beef; the backbone of most working ranches.
Care: Fresh water and pasture or hay daily, mineral supplements, annual vaccinations, and a dry shelter in winter.
LivestockUsed for herding, riding, and hauling — a ranch's oldest partner.
Care: Daily grazing or hay, clean water, regular hoof trimming, deworming, and routine exercise.
LivestockKept for wool, milk, and meat; easy grazers on hilly pasture.
Care: Rotate pasture, shear wool yearly, trim hooves, and guard against predators at night.
LivestockHardy browsers great for milk, cheese, and clearing brush.
Care: Sturdy fencing, dry shelter, varied browse or hay, and regular hoof care.
LivestockRaised for pork; smart, resourceful, and efficient foragers.
Care: Balanced feed twice daily, mud or water for cooling, clean dry bedding, and shade.
LivestockKept for eggs and meat; the easiest animal to start with.
Care: Daily feed and water, clean nesting boxes, a secure coop locked up at night against predators.
PoultryRaised seasonally for meat, often free-ranging the yard.
Care: High-protein feed, dry roosting shelter, and plenty of room to range during the day.
PoultryGreat egg layers and natural pest control for the garden.
Care: Access to water for swimming, feed and grit, and a predator-proof shelter at night.
PoultryCompact, quiet, and quick to raise for meat or fiber.
Care: Hay and pellets daily, clean hutch, fresh water, and a cool, shaded, draft-free space.
Small LivestockKept for honey and essential pollination of crops and orchards.
Care: Inspect hives regularly, watch for pests and disease, and leave enough honey for winter.
PollinatorsProtect the flock and help move livestock across the ranch.
Care: Daily feeding, training and exercise, vaccinations, and time bonded with the herd.
Working AnimalKeep rodent populations down around feed stores and barns.
Care: Supplemental feeding, fresh water, shelter from weather, and basic vet checkups.
Working AnimalCut and baled to feed livestock through the winter months.
Care: Water regularly after cutting, fertilize soil, and cut/bale before seed heads dry out.
Forage CropGrown for feed, silage, and the occasional roadside stand.
Care: Full sun, consistent watering, nitrogen-rich soil, and weeding until the stalks are tall.
Field CropGrown for seed, oil, and to feed pollinators like our bees.
Care: Plant in full sun, water deeply but not often, and stake tall varieties against wind.
Field CropClover, fescue, and rye keep grazing animals healthy year-round.
Care: Rotate grazing, reseed bare patches, and mow or graze before grass goes to seed.
Forage CropCarrots, potatoes, and beets grown in the kitchen garden.
Care: Loose well-drained soil, steady watering, thinning seedlings, and regular weeding.
Garden CropWarm-season garden staples for the farmhouse table.
Care: Full sun, staking or caging, consistent watering, and picking fruit as it ripens.
Garden CropGrown through summer, harvested for fall and animal feed.
Care: Plenty of space to vine, rich soil, deep watering, and watching for pests on leaves.
Garden CropApples, pears, and peaches that also feed our bees in bloom.
Care: Prune each winter, water deeply, mulch around trunks, and thin young fruit for size.
OrchardShelterbelts of pine and cottonwood that protect fields and barns.
Care: Water well while young, mulch the base, and prune dead branches as they mature.
TreesClover and rye planted between seasons to rebuild soil health.
Care: Sow after harvest, keep soil moist until established, and till in before next planting.
Soil Crop