Stories of Regeneration: A New (Re)Generation - Ft. Carrie Richards

Summary

This video follows the journey of Carrie, a sixth-generation rancher, as she takes on the challenge of modernizing her family’s ranching practices. Faced with the clash between traditional and new school methods, Carrie leads her team through trials of environmental sustainability, financial struggles, and the intricacies of regenerative farming. Supported by her father, husband, and dedicated staff, she transforms the ranch into a thriving, eco-friendly business. The story highlights the generational shift, the importance of resilience, and Carrie's deep commitment to her family, the land, and healthy food production.

Takeaways

• 😀 Carrie is leading a generational shift in ranching, transitioning from traditional methods to more sustainable and regenerative practices.
• 😀 The ranch, owned by Carrie's family since 1941, is at the heart of her identity, and she views it as a living, breathing part of her being, not just land or property.
• 😀 Carrie actively pursued education and research to improve the ranch’s sustainability, attending seminars and courses like the Savory Institute’s holistic management training.
• 😀 A key challenge for Carrie was convincing her father to let her run the ranch her way, balancing respect for tradition with innovative changes in land and livestock management.
• 😀 The shift to regenerative ranching allowed Carrie to reduce her hay bill from $130,000 to $30,000 annually, demonstrating the financial viability of holistic land management.
• 😀 Carrie emphasizes collaboration and open communication, fostering a team dynamic where everyone feels empowered and part of the goal, including her husband, who joined the ranch full-time.
• 😀 Carrie’s approach includes consolidating animals into smaller areas to improve soil health, promoting nutrient cycling, and integrating livestock to break parasite cycles.
• 😀 The ranch’s pastures have seen noticeable improvements, with better grass growth, healthier soil, and increased water retention, even without the use of irrigation.
• 😀 Family relationships have been a major theme, with Carrie’s efforts to rebuild her bond with her father and ensure that her children are part of the ranching conversation and decision-making.
• 😀 Carrie’s leadership reflects a balance between learning from past generations and pushing for innovation, making the ranch not just a business, but a model of sustainability for future generations.

Q & A

What was Carrie’s initial approach to managing the ranch?

Carrie initially followed the traditional methods of ranching, focusing on a 'set it and forget it' approach, which included fixed grazing patterns, heavy reliance on hay, and using fertilizers and herbicides to manage the land.

How did Carrie’s view of ranching change over time?

Carrie recognized that the traditional methods were unsustainable, leading to depleted soil and overgrazed pastures. She shifted to regenerative practices, focusing on improving soil health, reducing hay costs, and moving animals more frequently to give pastures time to recover.

What is the importance of holistic land management in Carrie’s approach?

Holistic land management focuses on practices like consolidating animals in smaller areas, moving them frequently, and using dung and urine to fertilize the land naturally. This method allows for healthier soil, better grass growth, and improved profitability.

Why did Carrie decide to reduce the hay bill by $100,000?

Carrie realized that the hay bill was a major financial burden on the ranch, and she sought to reduce dependency on hay by improving the land’s natural capacity to feed the animals through better grazing management and healthier pastures.

How did Carrie handle resistance from her father in transitioning to a new management style?

Carrie faced resistance from her father, who was accustomed to traditional methods. She had to earn his trust by showing the effectiveness of her methods and convincing him to let her make decisions, even if that meant making mistakes and learning from them.

What role did Carrie’s husband, Dan, play in the ranch’s transformation?

Dan supported Carrie by leaving his job of 20 years to work on the ranch full-time. His deep understanding of Carrie’s vision and their teamwork helped Carrie navigate the pressures of managing the ranch and executing new strategies.

What is the significance of involving Carrie’s children in ranch management decisions?

Carrie wanted to ensure that her children had a voice in the ranch’s operations, something she did not experience as a child. By involving them, she hopes to build a legacy where future generations feel empowered to make decisions and contribute to the ranch’s success.

What changes did Carrie make to improve the health of the land and the animals?

Carrie implemented a grazing plan that focused on rotating animals more frequently, consolidating them in smaller areas to fertilize the soil naturally, and allowing pastures to rest and regenerate. This approach helped reduce costs and improved the overall health of the land and animals.

How did the shift to regenerative practices impact the ranch’s profitability?

The shift to regenerative practices led to significant cost savings, such as reducing the hay bill from $130,000 to $30,000. By improving soil health and grazing management, the ranch became more productive and profitable, demonstrating that sustainable methods can be financially viable.

What is the emotional significance of the ranch for Carrie?

The ranch is deeply personal to Carrie. It represents more than just a piece of land—it is an integral part of her identity. She feels connected to it emotionally and is determined to preserve it for future generations, understanding that losing the ranch would feel like losing a part of herself.