Flying B Bar Ranch- Abundance

This week, I visited Flying B Bar Ranch and was struck by a deep sense of generosity and abundance—not only from the land itself but from Margaret and Brad, the ranch’s dedicated stewards. They raise cattle here, but more than that, they nurture a relationship with the land that feels respectful and reciprocal.

Brad showed me a powerful example of this when we toured the edge of the property. On one side, his land was lush and diverse, alive with young hay shoots and the scent of healthy soil. On the other, his neighbor’s land looked more depleted and used up. Brad’s fields had already produced thick, green growth of new hay, and large rolls from the first hay cutting lined the property edge. The difference was striking.

As we wandered across the ranch searching for the herd—content and grazing near the river—I could feel it: the land was thriving, and so were its animals. That sense of joy was contagious. I was thriving, too.

Later, we visited the area where a tornado had touched down back in May. It was sobering. Hundreds of mature cottonwood trees were twisted and felled. The windmill was destroyed. The tornado turned just in time to spare the farmhouse. It was a reminder—raw and real—that nature must be respected. It gives, and it takes.
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Through Dust to Apples, I’m learning that this cycle—of care, respect, and humility in the face of nature—is the foundation of abundance. The land, and those who tend it well, continue to teach me this simple truth.