Ranchonomics

In this episode of Ranchonomics Stories, John Haskell sits down with Steve and Sarah Hisel to share their journey of building a ranching business from scratch. Without inheriting a family operation, they navigated a series of unexpected turns, difficult decisions, and calculated risks to create opportunities for themselves and their growing family. Along the way, they discuss the mindset shifts, education, and persistence that helped them move from dreaming about ranching to actually making it a reality.
Steve and Sarah reflect on lessons learned about financial discipline, surrounding yourself with the right people, evaluating opportunities, and resisting the temptation to overinvest in equipment and infrastructure too early. They also share how mentorship, business education, and a willingness to adapt have shaped their operation. More than anything, this episode offers encouragement for aspiring ranchers who have been told that starting from scratch is impossible.
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In this episode, we cover:
How Steve and Sarah built a ranching operation without inheriting land or livestock
Why education, mentorship, and networking accelerated their progress
The importance of evaluating opportunities and being willing to change course
Why starting small can be an advantage when building a business
How financial discipline helped them avoid unnecessary debt and expenses
The role of accountability, shared goals, and community in long-term success
Why ranching is still possible for people willing to commit to the journey

Connect with Steve and Sarah:
Check out their website
Follow on Instagram @genuinely.sara
Follow on Facebook at Trinity S Ranch

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
The Zig Zag Principle by Rich Christiansen
Never Burn Your Moving Boxes by Jolyn Young
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

In this episode, John Haskell and Wally Olson sit down with longtime West Texas rancher Joel Ham to discuss the management principles that have transformed the way he thinks about ranching, grazing, and profitability. Drawing on decades of experience and mentorship from leaders such as Bud Williams, Joel explains why the land, not the animal, must be viewed as the true unit of production. The conversation explores how improving land productivity, stockmanship, and grazing management can dramatically impact long-term ranch profitability and resilience in harsh, low-rainfall environments.
Joel also shares lessons learned from low-stress stockmanship, holistic management, and adapting to the realities of ranching in West Texas. From grazing planning and drought management to integrating sheep with cattle and reducing predator pressure through better systems, the episode emphasizes personal responsibility, observation, and continual replanning. At its core, this conversation is about learning to work with animals and ecosystems instead of against them, while building a ranch business that is both productive and sustainable over time.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
Why the land must be the unit of production, not the animal
How improving production per acre impacts long-term profitability
Why successful stockmanship requires reading and responding to cattle
The importance of grazing planning, monitoring, and replanning
How Joel combines sheep and cattle to increase overall stocking capacity
Why ranch management ultimately comes back to responsibility, observation, and adaptation

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

In the first episode of the new Ranchonomics Storytelling series, host John Haskell sits down with Dave and Carol Perry to share how they built a ranching operation from humble beginnings through decades of hard work, financial discipline, and persistence. Starting with just 10 cows and very little capital, the Perrys discuss the sacrifices, setbacks, and unconventional decisions that allowed them to gradually grow their business while staying focused on long-term sustainability and family goals.
Throughout the conversation, Dave and Carol reflect on lessons learned from droughts, debt, injury, volatile cattle markets, and raising a family while building the ranch. They discuss the importance of cash flow planning, creative thinking, education, mentorship, and knowing your numbers, while emphasizing that success in ranching is still possible for those willing to commit fully to the lifestyle. More than anything, this episode is a story about resilience, sacrifice, faith, and building a life around purpose rather than comfort.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
How Dave and Carol built a ranching operation starting with just 10 cows
Why financial discipline and principal payments accelerated their growth
How creative thinking and unconventional decisions improved profitability
The role of cash flow planning and knowing your numbers in surviving tough years
Why education, mentorship, and holistic management shaped their operation
Lessons learned from drought, injury, debt, and volatile cattle markets
Why ranching success still depends on passion, sacrifice, and long-term commitment

Connect with Dave and Carol:
Email them at perrycattleco@gmail.com

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

Invasive weeds can quietly reduce carrying capacity and create long-term management challenges across a ranch. In this episode, John Haskell sits down with Ben Habig to discuss how prescribed grazing with goats and sheep can provide a biological alternative to chemical weed control. Using species like leafy spurge and houndstongue as examples, Ben explains how targeted grazing can reduce weed pressure, improve pasture utilization, and support healthier soils and riparian areas.
The conversation also explores the realities of managing small ruminants, including fencing, predators, labor, and marketing challenges. Ben shares how his business partners with landowners across Montana to provide targeted grazing services that help ranches manage invasive species while improving long-term pasture health and resilience.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
How goats and sheep can be used for targeted grazing and weed control
Why species like leafy spurge reduce pasture utilization for cattle
The difference between chemical control and biological land management approaches
How prescribed grazing can improve soil health and nutrient cycling
Why small ruminants require more intensive management and labor
How targeted grazing can create long-term improvements in carrying capacity and pasture composition

Connect with Ben:
Check out his website
Follow on Instagram @habiglivestock
Follow on Facebook
Subscribe on YouTube

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

In this special 100th episode of Ranchonomics, host John Haskell sits down with longtime cattleman and investor Wally Olson to reflect on the life and legacy of their close friend, Bob Metzger. Through stories about business deals, investing, cattle trading, and friendship, the conversation explores what Bob taught us; the principles he lived by, including disciplined money management, delayed gratification, risk mitigation, and the power of compounding over time. More than anything, the episode highlights why ranching is ultimately a relationship business built on trust, communication, and surrounding yourself with good people.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
Why successful operators focus on margin, cash flow, and risk mitigation
The importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking
How humility, networking, and continuous improvement create long-term success
Lessons from structuring joint ventures and avoiding partnership pitfalls
Why succession and estate preparation matter more than most people realize
How generosity and mentorship can create impact far beyond business

Connect with Wally:
Check out his website

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call