The Ross & Builta Families, Granger, Texas

The Ross-Builta family partnership melds a bevy of skills and experience into a well-planned grass-fed beef operation in central Texas. On 527 acres split into 100 grazing paddocks, the partnership of siblings Joe, Betsy and Kathryn Ross Chastant grow cool- and warm-season forages to feed their herd of 120 beef cows, 120 dairy replacement heifers and 90 yearlings. To improve the ranch operation, they created alleys for animal movement throughout pastures, brew and apply compost tea and carefully monitor animal performance. They market their beef to farmers markets and health food stores.

They work hard to improve the soil, which improves the quality and quantity of forages that serve as the animals' sole source of feed. The family has seen average daily gain increase from 1.3 to 2.3 pounds per day after they switched to a strictly grass-fed program. They also have observed an increase in essential fatty acids in some of their calves by a whopping 76 percent. To multiply their success, they visit new producers to advise them on soil management and welcome visitors to take a four-hour walking tour of the ranch.