After seven years in New York City’s financial environs, Kimberly Ratcliff shifted gears to become a cattle rancher near Oakwood, Texas. Her parents bought Caney Creek Ranch in 2002, as a turnkey operation including livestock, equipment, and even some of the furniture in the house. The ranch, which started with 500 cows, was her father’s retirement dream, and after seeing the disconnect between her parents’ experience and what she was living in New York City, she felt drawn to move to Texas and use her marketing skills to help bridge the gap between the rural and urban experience.
After completing Texas Christian University’s ranch management program, Ratcliff became part of the ranch in 2007 and has worked to diversify the operation to include not only directto-consumer meat sales, but also registered cattle embryo sales, a hay business that supplies the Dallas Zoo, and a turfgrass sprigging operation. She has also become a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing her story and encouraging others to support their local farmers.
SF: When your parents purchased the ranch, part of the deal was the herd of Charbray cattle. Can you tell us about that breed?
Denne historien er fra Mid-November 2023-utgaven av Successful Farming.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Mid-November 2023-utgaven av Successful Farming.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
KRISTOPHER KLOKKENGA
The Illinois native farmed in Ghana and lived in Denmark before coming home to take over his family's operation.
DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN WHEN USING A SKID STEER
These mini workhorses are fun to operate and make chores go quickly. But injuries can occur if safety isn’t top of mind.
MEET NCBA PRESIDENT MARK EISELE
This Wyoming rancher brings a lifetime of cattle experience.
TOP SHOPS
THREE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TURN A SHOP INTO YOUR FARM'S HEADQUARTERS.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT TRANSFORMS GRASSLANDS
Developing the land's natural resources benefits the ranch operator and the wildlife.
KNOW YOUR NOZZLE
Small factors can help optimize herbicide applications.
MOUNTAINS OF MACHINERY
COMMODITY PRICES ARE LOW AND INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH. BUT AN OVERSUPPLY OF USED EQUIPMENT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES.
DAIRY BARN FLOORING
It starts at the ground level.
SHOP HACKS
Great storage improvisations using PVC pipe.
HOW TO KILL A FARM
Problem: Out-of-state, non-farming heirs want their farming brother to do all the work but share decisions and profit.