How Do Families Find a Little Ranch Like Ours?

How was your week?

Did you do anything you've never done before?

This week I did something I've never done before.

I sat down in our kitchen with a microphone and recorded my first podcast.

Robert, who hosts the Talkin' Dirt Podcast, spends his summers traveling the country interviewing farmers and ranchers and sharing the stories behind our food.

During the interview, he asked me a simple question. "How do families find your ranch?"

I didn't have to think very long. "Word of mouth....and a taste of our beef."

The more I thought about it after he left, the more I realized that's exactly how T Bar J has grown.

One family shares hamburgers with visiting relatives.

Someone grills ribeyes for friends.

A package of beef sticks gets handed across a pickup seat.

Before long, another family knows where their beef is coming from.

That's something we never take for granted.

That's exactly what's happening with our Colorado delivery trip.

Eight years ago, one family trusted us to fill their freezer.

Then they told friends.

Then one customer's sister wanted beef.

Then their parents.

Pretty soon, neighbors were asking questions.

Someone mentioned us at church.

The guy at the tire shop called for beef.

Then the banker heard about us.

Before long, coworkers wanted beef for their freezers too.

Now every summer we pull into one driveway in Buena Vista at High Noon, unload beef, honey, and beef sticks, and spend the afternoon catching up with families who have become friends.

We deliver beef, but we leave with something even better—time spent with people who have become part of the T Bar J family.

That's one of our favorite days of the year.

Back here on the ranch, B444 finally decided it was time.

After keeping everyone guessing, she welcomed a healthy bull calf.

If you've been following her story, thanks for waiting with us.

Apparently, she just wanted to work on her own schedule.