KIMBERLY RATCLIFF

Bridging the gap between urban and ranch life.

- Karen Jones

After seven years in New York City’s financial environs, Kimberly Ratcliff shifted gears to become a cattle rancher near Oakwood, Texas. Her parents bought Caney Creek Ranch in 2002, as a turnkey operation including livestock, equipment, and even some of the furniture in the house. The ranch, which started with 500 cows, was her father’s retirement dream, and after seeing the disconnect between her parents’ experience and what she was living in New York City, she felt drawn to move to Texas and use her marketing skills to help bridge the gap between the rural and urban experience.

After completing Texas Christian University’s ranch management program, Ratcliff became part of the ranch in 2007 and has worked to diversify the operation to include not only directto-consumer meat sales, but also registered cattle embryo sales, a hay business that supplies the Dallas Zoo, and a turfgrass sprigging operation. She has also become a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing her story and encouraging others to support their local farmers.

SF: When your parents purchased the ranch, part of the deal was the herd of Charbray  cattle. Can you tell us about that breed?