The Succession Plan Most Family Businesses Never Make with Carolyn Stimmel of Red Rock Ranch

What does it take to build a business that lasts beyond one generation? In this first episode of Fenceline Conversations, Brett Wright sits down with Carolyn Stimmel of Red Rock Ranch, a family-owned dude ranch near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Carolyn shares the story of how her parents purchased the ranch in 1974, the challenges of taking over after her father's passing, and the intentional succession planning now taking place for the next generation. The conversation explores hospitality, leadership, family business, horsemanship, and the importance of preserving both land and legacy. Carolyn also shares lessons learned from managing seasonal staff, navigating COVID, creating memorable guest experiences, and knowing when it's time to hand over the reins. Whether you're a rancher, business owner, parent, or simply someone thinking about the future of what you're building, this episode offers practical wisdom on stewardship, leadership, and staying with it. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Episode Takeaways 1:44 Meet Carolyn Stimmel & Red Rock Ranch 6:13 First Dude Ranch Experience & Her First Years of Ownership 13:08 Building a Culter of Trust and Empowered Staff 15:55 Past Transitions of Ownership & The Start of The Next Generation 18:45 Guest Experience & Hospitality 22:14 Horses, Horsemanship & Matching Guests to Horses 26:43 Behind the Scenes Ownership & Offseason  30:14 Hardess Lesson & Working With Staff 33:00 Early Years 35:52 Guest Feedback Shapes The Future 39:24 Succession Plan & Coming Years 46:44 Connecting with Red Rock Ranch 48:06 Recap    Mentions/links: Red Rock Ranch - https://theredrockranch.com/  Ranching For Profit - https://ranchingforprofit.com/  Martin Black clinic at red rock ranch -  https://theredrockranch.com/horse-clinics/