Welcome to the Ranch!

There are fewer and fewer full-time ranch managers anymore.  It is a job description that encompasses many skills; it requires much more than being a cowboy.  So I thought I would interview the ranch manager of Cross Creek Cattle Company to give a better idea of what his job entails as well as tell you about the ranch.

Lane DeHaven

Lane DeHaven has been working for Cross Creek Cattle Company for four years.  He brought many skills to the ranch and has acquired many more through on-the-job training.  He is a husband and the father of five children.

What is your most challenging job as ranch manager?
I think it is like most jobs where your biggest challenge is keeping the boss happy.

As ranch manager, what are your main responsibilities?
I am in charge of pasture management, equipment management, managing cattle, managing horses, fence building and repair, and wildlife management.  There is always something to do.

Why did Cross Creek Cattle Company make the switch from traditional ranching to grass fed beef?
It was a family decision.  We saw a need for more healthy beef and wanted to enter this new and exciting market.  We have always enjoyed eating our own beef, and we thought we would extend that privilege to other families.

What is the biggest change for you as ranch manager since the switch?
I spend a lot more time out in the pastures.  I really have to watch the grass and rotate the herd accordingly.

In what ways, if any, is the ranch environmentally responsible?
Well, this is something near and dear to Mr. Holliday’s heart.  We created a wildlife refuge.  As mentioned previously, I really watch the grass in the pastures to ensure proper grazing which eliminates erosion.  We keep our waterways clean and uncontaminated.  We do not use antibiotics or hormones in our cattle.  This translates into healthier food for ourselves and our customers.

What is the biggest advantage to having your family live and work on a ranch?
There are so many advantages to this lifestyle.  We are able to provide our own food.  We raise other animals, have a garden, and of course raise grass fed beef.  But the absolute biggest reason and the reason that I continue being a ranch manager is that I get to see my family throughout the day.  It is so wonderful to work and play alongside my wife and children all day.

Are there any downsides to your job?
I enjoy being outdoors and doing physical labor.  For some, these would be the downsides.  However, I guess the downside for me is knowing that I will never be retiring a multi-millionaire.  I think it is much more important though to invest ones time in the things that matter like family.

What is your vision for Cross Creek Cattle Company in the future?
A bigger tractor would be nice.  Naw, I am just giving the owners a hard time.  Seriously, I would like to see this ranch more profitable and a leader in the grass fed beef industry.  I would like to see our grass fed beef sold by the cut to families, restaurants, and grocery stores.  Most of all, I would like to see the ranch continue to be family-owned business for generations to come.

There you have it.  The words of a full-time ranch manager who obviously holds his family and its business dear to his heart.  If you want to contact Mr. Lane DeHaven, click here.  If you would like to read about or order the grass fed beef that Lane serves his own family, click here.