For our second episode, we're going to introduce you to the next generation of Ranchlands– Duke's children Tess Leach and Duke Phillips IV.

Officially, Tess is the Head of Business Development and Duke is the Chief Operating Officer, but those titles fail to capture the all-encompassing responsibilities that they each hold. Both Tess and Duke are heavily involved in Ranchlands' day-to-day operations and the organization's long-term vision and strategy. Whether it's formulating a complex grazing plan or offering a brand new product at the Ranchlands Mercantile, there's no question that either Duke or Tess played an important role.

The three of us sat down at the Chico Basin Ranch and had a fun conversation about their lives and careers at Ranchlands, as well as their visions for the future of the organization. In a little less than an hour, we managed to cover a lot, including their respective career paths that led them into the family business, how they balance work with their young families, managing risk, the importance of flexibility, the reality of working with your sibling, COVID's effect on the business, and much more. Check out the show notes for a full list of everything we discuss.

This is a fun behind-the-scenes peeak into the multi-generational nature of the Ranchlands business, and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know Tess and Duke.

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:00 - Tess and Duke introduce themselves
• 4:30 - Their respective paths to working in the family business
• 7:18 - Why they studied non-ag subjects in college
• 10:23 - The importance of multiple income streams
• 14:00 - How Duke and Tess think about drought, markets, and flexibility
• 16:57 - Balancing travel and family obligations
• 18:05 - COVID's effect on the hospitality business
• 20:55 - Details of the apprentice and intern programs
• 25:07 - Creating and maintaining the Ranchlands culture
• 30:15 - Teaching and empowering team members
• 32:05 - Why Ranchlands decided to start a podcast
• 34:58 - Why such interesting people are drawn to Ranchlands
• 38:20 - The realities of working with siblings
• 42:59 - What is the long-term vision of Ranchlands
• 46:05 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation?
• 48:20 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you'd like to correct?
• 51:00 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship?
• 56:00 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope?

ABOUT RANCHLANDS:

• www.ranchlands.com
• Ranchlands Mercantile
• Ranch Stays
• Ranchlands Meat
• Stories

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]!