Stories from California Cattle Country

A year ago, if you were to ask me about dairy operations I would say well… the cows eat grass and then they make milk .  I was ignorant to the complexity of their formulated diets, the incredible regimented pace of operations and the fact that the dairy cows don’t moo. It’s not that they can’t moo, they just don’t.  The silence is indicative of their contentment. One of the most fascinating parts...

In this episode we first speak with the ranch's current Patriarch, Carver Bowen. Carver was on hand for the round up though he’s a bit too long in the tooth to ride horseback anymore. Sheila coaxed him over to the cattle scale, where we recorded our interviews. Carver is modest and, let’s say, taciturn. A pilot in his younger days, he was an early adopter of using airpower for the purposes of...

On our recent visit to Rib Arrow Dairy in Tulare, we met up with father and son hoof trimmers Marty and Art DeHaan. The DeHaan's visit Rib Arrow Dairy weekly and attend to about 50 cows per visit providing trims and occasional treatments for other maladies. Dairy cows are quite accustomed to their daily routines but being that trimmings happen only once or twice a year they can be reluctant t...

Every year millions of waterfowl go on a commute of thousands of miles and require respite in natural areas with water and sustenance. California ranches often fulfill such needs and have preserved enough pit stops throughout the Pacific Flyway. In fact, many of the ranchers I’ve met are birders who revel in the return of the waterfowl seasonally, know when to expect their arrival and provide habi...

Today we speak with Dave Daley, a 5th generation cattle rancher in Butte County, professor at CSU Chico and past president of the California Cattlemen’s Association. For more than 30 years, through his involvement with the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico, Daley has also been influential in the lives of other current and up-and-coming young cattlemen throughout the stat...

Our second episode from Humboldt County at Foggy Bottoms Farm. We spoke with  the "retired" grandpa Larry to learn a little history about the farm. After Larry, we spoke with his grandson, and current owner, Cody about farm operations, the perpetual hustle known as other farm income, the farm's vibrant social media presence and what it's like to be two fabulously gay Jewish far...

On this episode we speak with Lawrence Dwight, a 5th generation rancher from Ferndale, about the benefits and difficulties associated with operating in this unique and remote landscape. Dwight descended from Joseph Russ who came to California from Maine in 1850.  He was among the first of the pioneers to reach the area, establishing prosperous ranching, butchering, shipping, banking and general me...

Stories from Cattle Country is as a customer facing podcast telling stories from ranches and dairies and wherever their products land... whether it's a stick of butter, gallon of milk, New York steak or a cheeseburger. In 2008, I ventured from the suburbs of Sacramento into the heart of the city to try a cheeseburger at Formoli's Bistro. In this episode I speak to restaurant owner and ch...

We visited the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding sale at the Tehama County Fairgrounds to learnabout the stock dog trials and auction. In this auction 17 dogs, all border collies, exhibited their cattle herding abilities and went on to auction... with one of the dogs fetching 45 thousand dollars.

We traveled to Auburn CA to talk with Dan Macon, a Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension about his own livestock operation and his utilization of Livestock Guardian Dogs. We sat down with Dan to learn about the need for these dogs, their training and their viability in livestock operations. We were also fortunate to visit Dan's flock o...

A visit with Loren Poncia of Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales and Eric Miller of V. Miller Meats a Sacramento Butcher that has carried Stemple Creek beef since opening 7 years ago. 

Today we bring you our first visit from a dairy. New Hope dairy is located in Galt CA about a mile off of Highway 99.  We recorded this episode in a walk n talk style with owner Arlin and his son Kale. We were introduced to the ranch by Arlin's teenage son, Kale who spoke on what he likes about working on a dairy and then talk to Arlin about nutrition, the dairy's history, and his feelin...

In this episode we start with an April interview with the 3 Flournoy brothers Billy, Dave and John all 4th generation ranchers in Likely where they provide a bit of ranch history and illustrate the importance of the ranch cookhouse. We then meet Jessica, the new cookhouse cook and end the episode with a bit of Cowboy Poetry by Sunny Hancock and recited by Billy Flournoy. See photos and videos from...

In this episode we visit the Likely Land & Livestock Company in Modoc County. We speak with 5th generation rancher Myles Flournoy about the ranch's multigenerational history and about Treasure Island , which is a boneyard of old ranch vehicles some of which fell victim to Myles and his brother Dan's creative driving. Their uncle Dave who runs the ranch's auto shop refers to Trea...

There's an old adage by comdeian W.C. Fields which says to never work with children or animals. This podcast regualrly works with the latter and in this episode we decided to attempt the former by interviewing Chesley Tipton, a 6 year old hand at Maddalena Ranch. Despite his youth Chesley is an experienced cowboy and helps his parents, Joe and Annie run their ranch in Sierra Valley managing c...

We sat down and met the Dorrance family to discuss the ranch's history, the River Fire and the hustle that is securing the future of the ranch for the next generation. 

In this episode, our first episode, we visit Koopmann ranch in Sunol, Ca. we tour the ranch with Tim Koopmann a 3rd generation rancher and discuss how Koopmann ranch has been sustained for over 100 years while navigating the federal inheritance tax and how a small salamander among other vulnerable species helped save his ranch from insolvency.  We later sit down with Tim's son and Daughter in...