Choose from: our ranch History • our modern ranch • our ranch future

	A Look Back: The History of Ratcliff Ranch The Early Years: The 50s and 60s Ratcliff Ranches was originally a partnership between father and son.  James (Jim) owned cattle with his father Hugh Ratcliff during his college tenure.  Upon his father’s death, the land (roughly 1200 acres) was split evenly between Jim and his sister Carolyn and the original 75 head herd was dispersed.  Carolyn eventually relocated to Colorado and Jim purchased her portion and began his cattle herd with a mere 10 head of commercial cattle. In the late 60s Jack Browder, Jim’s partner in Browder-Ratcliff Oil Company, and Jim formed a new partnership in agriculture and purchased the Blue Ribbon Ranch and began stocking it with both registered Angus and commercial cattle. Gaining Ground: The 80s and 90s Beginning in the mid-80s, Jim started to really add to his land holdings by purchasing the Blackwell, which roughly added 10,000 acres.  In the late 80s he added another 10,000 acres with the addition of the Big Creek ranch.  During the 80s and 90s, he continued to add to each of these properties as land became available. His final large land purchase was in the 90s, where an additional 5,000 acres in Kansas was acquired.  In the 90s Jim and Jack dissolved their businesses but not their friendship, focusing on what each loved.  Until Jack’s death, he operated the oil and gas company, while Jim pursued stocking additional cattle and his land development project on Grand Lake.   Although Jack retained ownership of the Blue Ribbon Ranch land and the majority of the oil and gas company, Jim continues to lease the ranch to this day.  From day one, Jim’s theory on land as a solid investment has stayed the same.  And with additional land he acquired, he either had to find additional uses for it like cattle and crops or find someone to lease it.  “It just made sense to me that I could best utilize my investment and make it grow by running my own cattle on the ranches versus leasing it out to a third party,” said Ratcliff Ranch Owner Jim Ratcliff.

	A Modern Day Ranch:  A Current and Future Perspective The Current Picture For the first time, Ratcliff Ranch has a huge opportunity through our recent involvement with Unger Meat Company in Minnesota.  Through this relationship between Ratcliff Ranch and Heritage Ranch Brand of Unger Meat Company, we can supply source and age verified beef to the consumer through retail outlets, restaurants, hospitals, educational outlets and their online store.  With this new opportunity, the Ranch is changing its business model to focus 90% of its herd to be commercial.  However, the remaining registered herd will serve as the foundation stock to raise bulls and donor cows that will be utilized within the Ratcliff Ranch operation and for private treaty offerings and sales. “The Ranch’s presence in the cattle industry is by no means getting smaller, however, our focus is changing to fit today’s market trends and to realize the most profitability for our ranch.” said Ratcliff Ranch Director of Operations Heath Kohler.

	The Future: A New Frontier The Future Looks Nothing but Bright For the first time in the history of Ratcliff Ranch, it has the ability through its relationship with Unger Meat Company, to take cattle from conception to the consumer through its operation.  This allows us to capitalize on the genetic advantages we have over the average rancher, resulting in a more consistent carcass that grades choice or better on the rail. “I see a good future because we’re involved in the other end of the spectrum, we always operated in just live cattle, now we are involved in the meat side and we think there is real opportunity because of the shortage of cattle in the immediate future.” Ratcliff said.  “We’re not as much of a price taker as we were before.” If one can manage their input costs, which Ratcliff Ranch achieves through good management and sound genetic selection, one can weather the higher input costs in the years to come.  The rancher has to work smarter and more efficient to survive, but for those that can they will be greatly rewarded as the industry begins to recover from low inventory. In addition, the Ranch’s genetic blueprint is broadening to more of a national and international audience and demand.  Previously and in the future, the ranch has had a number of individuals and groups that have visited the ranch to look at our genetics on a more private basis or in a tour setting as a part of a cooperative through Genex.