Fenceline Conversations

What if doing things "by the book" still wasn't getting you where you wanted to go? Matthew Menke grew up in a multigenerational cattle operation where conservative stocking, low inputs and traditional management were simply the way things were done. But after a stockmanship clinic challenged nearly everything he thought he knew about moving cattle, one realization stuck with him: if they could be wrong about stockmanship, they could be wrong about anything. That willingness to question led Matthew down a much bigger road. In this episode of Fenceline Conversations, Matthew and Bret talk about rotational and adaptive grazing, rebuilding soil health, increasing carrying capacity, custom grazing, walking away from a profitable hay business, learning the hard way not to change too much too quickly and why good stewardship requires a lifelong willingness to learn. They also step outside the pasture to talk about Matthew's other life behind a fiddle, including years on the road with Gary P. Nunn and the unexpected phone call that landed him inside Nashville's historic RCA Studio A recording with Colter Wall. It's a conversation about cattle, soil, music, mistakes and what can happen when you stop assuming the old way is the only way. Tags: fenceline conversation, bret wright, fenceline conversations, podcast, motivational podcast, custom grazing, adaptive grazing, ranch, farm, hay, agriculture, agriculture podcast, farming, ranching, cattle, raising cattle, texas cattle, texas ranch, texas, cattle business, cattle herd, stockmanship, stockman   Timestamp 1:07 - Introducing Matthew Menke 2:42 - Background 4:37 - the lesson that changed the future 11:44 - How Business is Setup 13:44 - Diversification / Custom Grazing 17:41 - Stopping hay production 25:19 - Too Much Change Too Fast 26:05 - Parasite Issues / New Cows Coming In  29:43 - Worming Cattle  31:19 - Playing The Fiddle & Being a Professional Musician  35:56 - Up Ahead 37:51 - Brett & Kayla Recap    Links Matthew - [email protected] Ranching For Profit - https://ranchingforprofit.com/ Martin Black Horsemanship Clinic - Martin Black Horsemanship Resources   Key Topics Discussed Learning stockmanship from Martin Black Questioning long-held cattle management practices Moving from set stocking into rotational and adaptive grazing Managing larger groups of cattle Increasing carrying capacity Water and fencing infrastructure Leasing land within a family operation Ranching for Profit principles Custom grazing as a business tool Separating land and operating businesses Paying market rent and opportunity interest Matthew's hay business Why he ultimately stopped producing hay Soil health and plant root systems Microbial communities Fertilizer and herbicide dependence Exporting nutrients through hay Bale grazing and unrolling hay Animal impact Parasite management The dangers of changing too much too quickly Reducing dewormer use responsibly Dung beetles and soil biology Adaptive genetics Lifelong learning Playing fiddle while continuing to ranch Touring with Gary P. Nunn Recording with Colter Wall RCA Studio A Balancing agriculture and music  

For more than forty years, Deitra Robertson has helped people buy and sell the places where their lives unfold. As an Accredited Land Consultant and founder of Deitra Robertson Real Estate, she specializes exclusively in Texas farms, ranches, equestrian estates and rural land. But as Brett quickly discovers, this conversation isn't really about real estate. It's about hospitality. Horses. Community. Stewardship. Deitra shares how hosting Martin Black horsemanship clinics began with one simple goal: make one more horse's life better. That mission has grown into a close-knit community of horsemen and women who continue learning together year after year. The conversation also explores what makes rural property unique, why experience matters when buying land, how relationships have shaped Deitra's career, and why she believes the best professionals "live what they sell." The episode closes with a simple perspective that's guided her through every season of life: trust God, choose happy, and let Him point your feet in the direction you're supposed to go.   Links: Deitra Robertson Real Estate - https://www.iknowranches.com/ Realtors Land Institute -  https://www.rliland.com/texas Texas Alliance Institute -    https://texaslandbrokers.org/ Martin Black Horsemanship Clinic - Martin Black Horsemanship Resources Timestamps: 02:35 - Meeting Deitra 02:50 - Martin Black & The Ripple Effect of Horsemanship & Community 03:26 - Hosting Clinics & Building Community 08:04 - Building a New Home & Life Recently  11:42 - Why Farm & Ranch Real Esate is Different  18:00 - The Value of Relationships & Professional Networks 20:48 - Faith, Purpose & Looking Ahead 22:20 - Final Thoughts 

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/