Landowner Insider

How do you build one of Texas' leading equine veterinary practices?

In this episode of The Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock and Lani Rust sit down with Dr. Charlie Buchanan to discuss the leadership, relationships, work ethic, and business philosophy behind the growth of one of the most respected equine veterinary practices in the country.

Dr. Buchanan shares how his practice expanded from two veterinarians to eleven, why Stephenville and Morgan Mill became ideal locations for growth, and how investing in people has helped create long-term success for his team, clients, and the Western horse industry.

The conversation goes far beyond veterinary medicine, covering entrepreneurship, leadership, business partnerships, risk, failure, million-dollar horses, rising veterinary costs, and the future of the Western performance horse industry.

• How Dr. Buchanan grew his veterinary practice from two veterinarians to eleven
• Leadership lessons that helped build a successful business
• Why investing in people creates long-term growth
• The business behind the Western performance horse industry
• Million-dollar horses and today's equine market
• Rising veterinary costs and industry trends
• Lessons from failed partnerships and business investments
• The role relationships play in long-term success
• Why Stephenville became a hub for the equine industry

Whether you're a horse owner, rancher, veterinarian, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, business growth, and creating opportunities for others.

🌐 https://www.mockranches.com

Signature Equine Hospital, a full-service equine veterinary hospital in Stephenville, Texas, providing advanced care for performance horses and horse owners across the region.

🌐 https://sehtx.com/

What should you do if you receive notice that a transmission line could cross your property?

In this episode of The Landowner Insider, host Kasey Mock sits down with Texas eminent domain attorney Carly Barton to explain what every Texas landowner should know before a transmission line route is finalized.

After Kasey received notice that his own ranch was located along a proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line, he wanted to understand the process from an attorney who represents Texas landowners in eminent domain cases.

Together, they discuss how transmission line routes are selected, the role of the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC), why public meetings and landowner questionnaires matter, and what steps property owners should take before negotiations begin.

• What eminent domain means in Texas
• How transmission line routes are selected
• What to do after receiving a transmission line notice
• The difference between eminent domain and condemnation
• How the Texas Public Utility Commission influences routing decisions
• Why public open houses and questionnaires matter
• How neighboring landowners can work together
• Common mistakes landowners make early in the process
• When to hire an eminent domain attorney
• What landowners should know before discussing compensation

Whether you own a ranch, farm, recreational property, or rural land, this episode provides practical information to help you better understand the eminent domain process and prepare for proposed transmission line projects in Texas.

This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

🌐 https://www.mockranches.com

Follow Mock Ranches: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mockranches Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mockranches YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MockRanches

Follow Kasey Mock: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaseymock Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseymock

They used money meant for their wedding to buy a goat—and it became one of the first steps toward building a livestock business.

In this episode of The Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with his identical twin brother, Kevin Mock of Mock Livestock, for a candid conversation about risk, work ethic, and what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

They talk about growing up without many extras, learning to work early, and making decisions that didn't always feel safe—but mattered long-term.

The conversation also goes beyond business into parenting, pressure, and why stock shows can teach lessons that comfort never will.

You'll also hear:

• How Kevin built Mock Livestock from the ground up
• Why work ethic mattered more than resources
• The risks behind growing a livestock business
• What stock shows teach about winning, losing, and pressure
• Why raising capable kids matters more than keeping them comfortable

If you're building something, raising a family, or involved in agriculture, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Can the family ranch survive the next generation?

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with Accredited Land Consultant Morgan Willis to discuss ranch succession, generational land transfer, and the future of Texas ranching.

Raised in a multigenerational ranching family in Mason County, Morgan shares firsthand insight into how family decisions, land ownership, and long-term stewardship shape a ranch over time. She explains why family land often becomes divided, what concerns her about the next generation of agricultural producers, and why hands-on experience is critical if the next generation is going to return to the land.

Kasey and Morgan also discuss the realities of building a cattle operation, raising a family in agriculture, and working in the land brokerage industry. They cover common mistakes buyers and sellers make involving water, mineral rights, infrastructure, and working with professionals who lack local market knowledge.

Additional topics include the role of women in agriculture, the long-term impact of ranch improvements, and why the future of Texas land depends on preparing the next generation today.

If you own land, are planning for the future of your ranch, or are part of a multigenerational operation, this episode offers a practical and honest perspective on what lies ahead.

Follow Landowner Insider for more conversations about Texas land, ranching, wildlife, and real estate.

Can a 20-acre Texas ranch actually make money?

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with Accredited Land Consultant Brandon Stephens to break down the real economics of buying land, raising cattle, and operating a small-acreage ranch in Texas.

From land prices near Houston to cattle income, financing, fencing, water, depreciation, and resale value, this conversation covers what buyers need to understand before purchasing land.

Kasey and Brandon also discuss the realities of small-acreage production, including how much income 20 acres can realistically generate, the differences between cow-calf and stocker operations, and why financing both land and cattle can create risk for new buyers.

Additional topics include land improvements such as fencing, water, barns, and pasture management, how ranch staging can impact resale value, and how small producers can increase returns through direct-to-consumer beef sales.

Brandon also shares his journey from corporate America into land brokerage and explains why experience, education, and local market knowledge matter when selecting a Texas land professional.

Whether you are buying your first property, building a cattle operation, or preparing to sell, this episode provides a clear, practical look at small Texas ranch ownership.

Follow Landowner Insider for more conversations about Texas land, ranching, wildlife, and real estate.

Texas wildlife is facing more pressure than ever—from disease outbreaks to changing land ownership and management challenges across the state.

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with veteran wildlife biologist Macy Ledbetter to break down the biggest challenges impacting Texas landowners, hunters, and wildlife managers right now.

While New World Screwworm has recently been confirmed in Texas, this conversation goes much deeper—covering the broader landscape of wildlife health, disease, and land management across the state.

You'll hear: - What the recent screwworm case means in the bigger picture - Why fawning season adds additional pressure to wildlife populations - The latest on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Texas - What landowners need to know about EHD and anthrax - How wildlife diseases are impacting deer, livestock, and native species - The effects of habitat fragmentation and changing land ownership - The future of high-fence ranching and exotic game management

With more than 30 years of experience, Macy shares practical insights from working with hundreds of Texas ranches and landowners. This episode offers a clear, grounded perspective on the challenges shaping the future of Texas wildlife and land stewardship.

If you own land, manage wildlife, hunt, or ranch in Texas, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Follow Landowner Insider for more conversations about Texas land, wildlife, water, and the future of the state.

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with leading wildlife biologist Macy Ledbetter of Spring Creek Outdoors, LLC to break down what the return of New World screwworm means specifically for Texas wildlife.

Just days after the first confirmed case in a calf in Zavala County, Kasey and Macy dive into the realities of how screwworm impacts deer, exotics, and free-ranging wildlife populations—and why this may present a greater long-term risk than many landowners realize.

This is a timely, focused conversation pulled directly from a longer 2.5-hour interview to bring you the most relevant and urgent information without delay.

In this episode, you'll hear: - What the confirmed screwworm case in South Texas means right now - Why wildlife presents a unique challenge compared to livestock - How screwworm spreads and why early awareness matters - What landowners and wildlife managers should be watching for - The broader implications for Texas land, hunting, and management

If you own land, manage wildlife, or operate in agriculture, this is a conversation you need to be paying attention to.

For additional context on the livestock side of screwworm, go back and listen to our recent episode "The New World Screwworm Threat with Texas Animal Health Commission," from April 6th, 2026. with Dr. T.R. Lansford of the Texas Animal Health Commission.

The full 2.5-hour conversation with Macy Ledbetter, including discussions on CWD, EHD, anthrax, and more, will be released next week.

Follow Landowner Insider for more conversations covering the issues shaping Texas land, wildlife, and agriculture.

The cowboy who almost lost the family ranch is a true story that will inspire you and change the way you do ranching.

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with longtime friend Rusty Phillips for a conversation that is equal parts humorous, gritty, and deeply personal.

Rusty shares what it was really like cowboying across Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico, from sleeping in freezing boxcars and living out of a bedroll to working cattle on horseback across large western ranches. Beneath the stories is a deeper theme that runs throughout the conversation: legacy.

After losing two generations of family leadership in a short period of time, Rusty and his family faced significant estate tax pressure that forced them to sell part of their Texas family ranch in order to hold onto the rest.

In this episode, they also discuss how Kasey and Rusty first met, stories from remote ranches near the Mexican border, why cowboy culture still matters today, and the realities of family ranch succession. They cover how past market cycles, including 2008 and rising interest rates, have impacted land ownership, along with why ranch life is often misunderstood by those outside of it.

Kasey and Rusty also share lighter moments from calving camp and life on the wagon, while reflecting on how perspectives around wealth and ownership change over time.

If you are interested in Texas ranches, cowboy culture, western storytelling, land ownership, or meaningful conversations about legacy and stewardship, this episode offers a unique and honest perspective.

Follow Landowner Insider for more conversations about Texas land, ranching, wildlife, water, legacy, and the future of the American West.

Texas land is changing quickly. Ranches are getting smaller, development pressure is increasing, and landowners are being asked to balance conservation, production, recreation, and long-term stewardship in new ways.

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with Shane Kiefer, CEO of Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, to discuss what the future of Texas land management looks like and how landowners can adapt.

This conversation goes beyond traditional wildlife tax valuations and explores how land stewardship has evolved across the state. Kasey and Shane discuss the growing demand for comprehensive land management, the challenges of smaller properties, and the pressures created by development and population growth.

They also cover how landowners are approaching habitat management, grazing, invasive species control, and long-term planning, along with the role private land plays in supporting wildlife across Texas.

Kasey and Shane provide practical, experience-based insight into what it takes to manage land effectively in today's environment.

If you own land or are considering it, this episode offers a clearer understanding of how Texas land is changing and what it means for long-term ownership and stewardship.

https://plateauwildlife.com/

Most landowners don't fully realize what they've signed up for after buying a ranch.

It's not just ownership. It's ongoing oversight, management, and responsibility. When a property sits unattended, small issues can quickly turn into expensive problems.

In this episode of Landowner Insider, Kasey Mock sits down with Adam Greene of Rafter Land and Ranch Solutions to break down what actually happens when land is left without consistent management.

From water systems and livestock to fencing, roads, and general maintenance, they walk through the real challenges landowners face when no one is regularly on the property.

This conversation also explores why hiring a single ranch hand often falls short, what effective management looks like behind the scenes, and how many landowners end up trading time and energy for frustration instead of the freedom they expected.

In this episode, we cover common mistakes landowners make after purchasing a ranch, how lack of visibility leads to compounding issues, the role of infrastructure in maintaining property value, and what it takes to protect and manage a long-term land investment.

Kasey and Adam share practical, experience-driven insight into what it really takes to maintain and protect a ranch over time.

If you own land, or are considering buying it, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of the responsibilities that come with it and how to approach ownership more effectively.