In this episode of the Stockman Grassfarmer Podcast, we travel to Kauai, Hawaii, to meet Sharleen Andrade Balmores, a sixth-generation rancher carrying forward her family’s 138-year cattle ranching legacy.

Although she once imagined her brothers or cousins would take over, Sharleen found her true calling in ranching — building The Rancher’s Daughter’s Reserve, creating Minnie’s Mercantile, and running the island’s oldest USDA-inspected slaughterhouse.

Sharleen opens up about:

Why she chose to return to her roots and raise gourmet, grassfed beef in Hawaii

The unique challenges of ranching on Kauai, from high land values to invasive grasses

How rotational grazing and smart pasture management keep her herd thriving

The importance of learning from multigenerational ranchers and trusting your instincts

Why community support and giving back fuel her passion for the work

Her journey is a powerful reminder that ranching is about more than cattle — it’s about family, heritage, and feeding a community with integrity.

📍 Learn more about Sharleen:

Instagram: @RanchersDaughtersReserve 

Website: www.ranchers-daughterkauai.com 

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow rancher or friend who believes in the future of grassfed beef.