Preserving history and changing lives.

Ok let's get right to it!  I've been getting a ton of questions lately about why I am leaving Southern California. The answer is very basic.  Water.
And Economics.
We are in the midst of an epic drought with no end in sight. I had to make some very tough choices in the last year, Selling off the majority of my commercial herd to make sure that our registered cattle had enough to eat,  deciding which career path to pursue,  what part of the country to call home, etc. Add to that the loss of income from an entire season due to a listeria outbreak at the processor, and the economic impact on us seemed insurmountable.We lost my mom's home of 47 years. Became renters for the first time ever while we figured out what to do going forward. Kentucky looked great! Land, friends etc. but from a financial perspective it was a no win option. There just wasn't enough coming in to grow the business, and frankly, merely existing sucks!
Then came an offer I couldn't pass up! My salary would be doubled if I consented to base out of Oregon for the next few years. Done!  But what to do with the livestock? The original plan was to ship everything to the Jordan Valley ranch and pray. Drive six hours one way every few days and hope it all holds together.
Then the most amazing thing happened. A friend got wind of what was going on, lives 20 miles from my office, and happens to have enough pasture space for the bred heifers.
I went up, got familiar with what I need to do, spent time with my friend and his wife, and a new partnershio was born at their kitchen table! How's that for a gift from heaven? Pretty awesome I'd say.
Together we are keeping a Century herd in tact, building their place into a working ranch, and will be able to afford to grow for the future. I intend to show you all each facet of this  growth and transformation. It won't always be pretty, but it will be genuine, hard work and the love of the land has huge benefits for us all. Sometimes friendship really is the most valuable asset.
Now don't you get all bent out if shape!  I'll be in California once a month for  the foreseeable future.  And I fully intend to spend plenty of time with those of you that I love. Thank you all for your continued love and support. Now if you'd just buy beef shares! That would be really great! I best get back to packing.
Next time I'll let you in on some of the personal journey stuff. Remember, as my amazing brother says, "breathe in, breathe out, walk, don't run.
M

A promise and a commitment.

I've had a heck of a time getting motivated to pick up this blog again. I felt unworthy, incapable of inspiring anyone because I was going through hell. But, I survived! Not without some scars and setbacks, not without fear and rage, not without loss and heartbreak. I survived!!!!
It hit me, I heard Trent Loos' voice in my head saying, "Dummy, tell them!" I heard Mel say, "Don't you quit!" So here I am, a bit battered and bloodied, a whole lot wiser, and looking forward to walking through this year with you all, sharing ranch stories, life stories, and hopefully inspiring you to learn about where your food comes from, those of us that bring it to your table, and how anyone can improve their lives, one step at a time.