East 0990 Road
2310 Road
ABOUT
OUR PROPERTY
At the intersection of East 0990 Road and 2310 Road, in rural Custer County, Oklahoma lies our unique, 160-acre property.
We purchased this acreage in 2015 as an unimproved, conventionally farmed wheat field. In 2020, we successfully certified our farm ground as USDA Organic. To date, we are the only farm, in the 80,000-acre conservation district to have obtained an organic certification.
Having this certificate enables us to label and market the products from the ranch at a niche market price.
ABOUT
US
We are a husband-and-wife duo, with a passion for agriculture. Having both been raised in and around farming and ranching all of our lives, we both pursued a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University.
Jaclyn’s focus while at OSU was in agricultural communications. Coupling her previous job experiences with her eye for creating market demand, this gives us an advantage when it comes to marketing our products to the public. Jaclyn also enjoys being hands on with all aspects of the operation.
With a degree in Agricultural Economics, a background in collision repair, oilfield operations, over the road trucking and equipment maintenance, Keenan is a key component to the entire operation. He is a scientist in his own right, continuously researching, experimenting and networking with likeminded individuals to find the best solutions. His passion to rebuild the soil health on our land in western Oklahoma is unwavering, with hopes to expand our operation while teaching others in the process.
Slate (5) and Cord (2) will be the 7th generation to farm and ranch in this Western Oklahoma community. With the knowledge and wisdom cultivated from past generations and their parent's passion for innovation and growth, we hope they use their childhood experiences as a springboard to successfully farm and ranch someday.
SEVENTH
GENERATION
REGENERATIVE
AGRICULTURE
CELLS
CATTLE
GOATS
200
LAYING HENS
HAIR SHEEP
300
125
125
8
PADDOCKS
PADDOCKS
CATTLE
CATTLE
PADDOCKS
WHY REGENERTIVE AGRICULTURE?
For generations, the soil has been heavily tilled on our farm, consistent with the practices in the surrounding community. These practices decimated what little organic matter was left in the soil. Years of research has led our family on a quest to rebuild the organic matter and soil health on our land. Our goal is to enhance our ranches overall soil health in order for the future generations to successfully farm and ranch the land without the dependence on unpredictable synthetic input prices. Regenerative Agriculture focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing soil biodiversity, improving our small water cycle, supporting bio-sequestration and overall strengthening the health and vitality of the soil. Implementing these established practices, will without a doubt, elevate our soil health.
THE CONCEPT
ABOUT
CELL GRAZING
Cell grazing is a form of rotational pasture grazing, where small cells are heavily stocked for short periods of time, followed by a resting period.
Livestock will be rotated from cell to cell according to forage availability. With this system, there is no arbitrage cost associated with feeding livestock. As the livestock move through the cells, each specie has the choice to graze on their most desired plant.
As the livestock move through the system, each specie will play a beneficial part in helping restore the organic matter in the soil. Improved water retention, pasture cover and nutrient cycling are a few of the many benefits of cell grazing multiple species.
IMPORTANCE
OF COVER CROPS
By definition, a cover crop is grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil. Exactly what our bare, heavily tilled, nutrient poor soil needs. By planting specific cover crop seeds, we can successfully add beneficial nutrients that will repair our soil health, prevent soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and provide nutrient dense forage for our livestock.
Our ranch is frequently visited by local honeybees. In addition to placing hives on our ranch, we will be creating the ideal environment for the honeybee to thrive. Our entire ranch will be covered in various flowering cover crop species, native sand plums, wildflowers and gardens.
We will be working with the honeybee to pollinate the cover crop species, wildflowers, gardens and sand plums on our ranch. We will have 4-5 hives, housing an estimated 200,000 honeybees. These hives will yield more than 200 pounds of honey per year. The honey harvested from these hives will be marketed to our local community.
Based on our quality grade and processing, our honey could sell anywhere between $8 - $20 per pound.
artwork by Maggie Eileen
STOCKER CATTLE BUDGETS
125 STEERS
BY THE NUMBERS PER HEAD
TOTAL RECIEPTS
TOTAL COSTS (OPERATING & FIXED)
RETURNS ABOVE ALL SPECIFIED COSTS
1,137.89
915.71
222.09
LLLL Ranch will start purchasing stocker calves in March at 350 lbs. Calves will enter our intense rotational grazing for 240 days, averaging 2 lbs a day. In November, when sold, the stocker cattle will have gained an estimated 455 pounds while grazing the cells on our ranch. Our pastures will rest from November until restocking in March the following year. The stocker cattle enterprise will contribute $27,761.25 net income to our Whole Ranch Plan.
THE MARKET
Cattle will be marketed as feeder cattle and sold to prospective grazing operations or retained for local slaughter and local consumption. Marketing of the meat will be done by Jaclyn for individual and wholesale purchase.
MEAT GOAT BUDGETS
125 DOES
BY THE NUMBERS PER HEAD
TOTAL RECIEPTS
TOTAL COSTS (OPERATING & FIXED)
RETURNS ABOVE ALL SPECIFIED COSTS
209.80
156.27
53.53
LLLL Ranch will purchase 125 does with an expected kidding percentage of 180%. LLLL Ranch will be retaining 20% of the female kids produced. Unique to western Oklahoma, our property boasts a large number of native trees in a wooded, dry creek bottom. These woods are the ideal food source for our Boer goat herd. The goats will serve several purposes on our ranch. Due to our organic certificate, we are limited on what we can use to control our wooded areas. Goats are the clear and holistic solution to the large quantities of poison ivy, sumac and other undesirable plants and vines. The goats will be an organic solution as well as another revenue driver adding $6,691.25 of net income to our Whole Ranch Plan.
THE MARKET
We will process goats on a consumer demand basis, all other kids will be sold at the local market to goat stocker operations.
LAYING HEN BUDGETS
200 HENS
BY THE NUMBERS PER HEAD
TOTAL RECIEPTS
TOTAL COSTS (OPERATING & FIXED)
RETURNS ABOVE ALL SPECIFIED COSTS
91.25
7.50
83.75
LLLL Ranch will be expanding on our current flock of 75 hens to reach a total of 200 laying hens by retaining pullets through incubation. During the past four years we have select bred our flock to achieve desired egg colors that appeal to our growing customer base. Our hens lay a variety of blues, greens, chocolate browns and reddish orange, fetching $4.00 a dozen. In addition to their daily egg laying, the hens will be used as a "cleanup crew" coming behind the other animals in the cells. Chickens add high amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium back into the soil, all key nutrients to growing healthy forage. As the hens move throughout each cell, they will be scratching the earth, and spreading manure piles. The hens will add $16,750 of net income to our Whole Ranch Plan.
THE MARKET
Eggs will be sold from the farm to our customers. Marketing of the eggs will be done by Jaclyn.
HAIR SHEEP BUDGETS
300 EWES
BY THE NUMBERS PER HEAD
TOTAL RECIEPTS
TOTAL COSTS (OPERATING & FIXED)
RETURNS ABOVE ALL SPECIFIED COSTS
210.62
121.98
88.64
LLLL Ranch will purchase 300 bred ewes with an expected kidding percentage of 180%. LLLL Ranch will be retaining 20% of the female lambs produced. Hair sheep are unique in several ways. They are extremely prolific, lambing 3 times in 2 years. Most ewes will lamb twins every time, occasionally triplets. They also do not require shearing, reducing the workload in caretaking for these animals. Hair sheep meat has a much milder taste, appealing to a wider consumer base. Sheep disrupt the soil in a gentle way, stomping forage beneath their hooves, dispatching seeds, strengthening roots, spreading natural fertilizer and restore the vegetation that absorbs carbon emissions from the atmosphere. These qualities in addition to their role in helping rebuild the soil make hair sheep the ideal small ruminant to keep on the ranch. Not only are they great for the soil, but they will also add a net income of $26,592 to our Whole Ranch Plan.
THE MARKET
Weaning lambs will be processed and packed for sale at Market 54 in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Marketing of the meat will be done by Jaclyn for individual and wholesale purchase.
GET IN TOUCH
Interested in funding opportunities, please send us a message!
