Made With Bacon - Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch: Building Community and Ranch Resilience

🔖 Titles

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1. Building Ranch Resilience and Community with Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch 2. Grassfed Beef, Community Partnerships, and Fire Recovery at Lazy R Ranch 3. Holistic Ranching, Indigenous Partnerships, and Climate Challenges with Beth Robinette 4. From Camas Fields to Cowgirl Camp: The Evolution of Lazy R Ranch 5. Direct Marketing and Land Stewardship: Beth Robinette’s Journey at Lazy R Ranch 6. Navigating Fire, Community, and Regenerative Grazing at Lazy R Ranch 7. The Power of Community and Resilience in Modern Ranching with Beth Robinette 8. Indigenous History, Fire, and Reimagining Ranch Management at Lazy R Ranch 9. Lessons in Land Stewardship and Community Building from Lazy R Ranch 10. Innovations in Ranching: Resilience, Partnerships, and Regenerative Practices at Lazy R Ranch

💬 Keywords

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grass fed beef, holistic management, regenerative agriculture, direct marketing, custom meat processing, local meat processors, climate change, fire safety, rotational grazing, silvopasture, ecosystem restoration, indigenous land management, camas harvesting, sustainable food systems, family ranching, land access, marginalized communities, ranch management, pasture health, animal welfare, business management, local meat marketing, WSDA Regional Markets Program, WA Meetup, agricultural grants, fencing recovery, fire recovery, livestock genetics, breeding management, community partnerships

💡 Speaker bios

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Nicole Witham, also known as Farmer Nicole, is the engaging host of the Farm Walks Podcast, a project brought to listeners by the Tilth Alliance and Washington State University Food Systems Program. Passionate about all things farming, Nicole connects listeners with diverse voices and practical stories from the Washington farming community. As a self-described fangirl of regenerative agriculture, Nicole uses her platform to highlight innovative farm practices, community engagement, and the relationships between food, land, and people. Whether through online podcast episodes or in-person farm walks held across Washington State, Nicole is committed to sharing knowledge and fostering connections within food systems—always with excitement and a farmer’s perspective.

ℹ️ Introduction

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Welcome to Made With Bacon! In today’s episode, we dive into the inspiring story of Beth Robinette, a fourth-generation rancher at Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, Washington. Beth shares her journey of carrying forward her family’s legacy while embracing holistic management practices that put the symbiotic relationship between grasslands and grazing animals at the forefront. We’ll explore how Beth has reinvented the ranch’s approach to direct marketing, built meaningful partnerships with Indigenous and marginalized communities, prioritized land stewardship, and navigated modern challenges like climate change and wildfire. Plus, we get an inside look at her work building community—whether that’s through hosting cowgirl camps or collaborating with groups like Hunters of Color and the Salish School of Spokane. Later in the show, we connect with Sarah Lemon from the WSDA Regional Markets Program to hear about resources available to local meat producers in Washington. Whether you’re passionate about regenerative agriculture, community resilience, or just love a good story about people shaking up the future of food, this episode is for you!

📚 Timestamped overview

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00:00 "Farm Walks Podcast: Beth Robinette Interview"

06:55 Transition to Direct Beef Marketing

10:16 Farming and Ranching: A Critical Link

11:56 Rooted in a Bucolic Paradise

16:16 Managing Diverse Ecotones and Resources

18:09 "Camas and Salmon Harvest Cycles"

23:34 "Fire Awareness on the Ranch"

27:34 Fire Management and Development Concerns

31:03 Building Partnerships for Inclusive Hunting

34:21 Regenerative Agriculture Boot Camp

36:56 Diverse Black Angus Cattle Lineage

40:23 Adapting Livestock Business Model

45:54 Local Meat Marketing Specialist Introduction

46:55 "From Suburbs to Cowgirl Life"

52:08 Customizable Business Workshops Offered

53:59 "Farm Walks Podcast Engagement"

❓ Questions

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Absolutely! Here are 10 discussion questions based on the "Made With Bacon" episode featuring Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch: 1. **Family Legacy & Change:** Beth is a fourth-generation rancher and credits holistic management as a pivotal part of her ranch’s evolution. How do you think generational change impacts agricultural practices on family farms and ranches? 2. **Direct Marketing Pivot:** Beth discussed transitioning the ranch to a direct-to-consumer grass-fed beef business. What are the challenges and benefits that come with moving away from more conventional sales channels in agriculture? 3. **Sustainable Practices:** What does holistic management mean in the context of ranching, and how does this approach impact both the land and the livestock? 4. **Community Partnerships:** Beth talks about collaborating with the Salish School of Spokane and Hunters of Color. How can ranchers and farmers build meaningful partnerships with local communities and underrepresented groups? 5. **Indigenous Land Stewardship:** The transcript highlights the importance of camas and traditional Indigenous agricultural systems. What lessons can modern agriculture learn from these long-standing land management and food production practices? 6. **Wildfire Resilience:** After experiencing significant wildfire damage, Beth observed both challenges and unexpected ecological benefits. In your view, how might fire be effectively and safely incorporated into land management strategies? 7. **Processing Bottlenecks:** Both Beth and Sarah Lemon mention the labor and infrastructure challenges facing small-scale meat processors. What solutions, policy changes, or community actions could improve local meat processing capacity? 8. **Women & Diversity in Ranching:** Cowgirl Camp is one of Beth’s initiatives to welcome women, femmes, and non-binary folks into regenerative ranching. Why is it important to create inclusive spaces in agriculture, and what positive impacts might result? 9. **Adapting to Climate Change:** The episode references the impact of climate change on the ranch’s grasslands and fire risk. How are small-scale producers adapting their management in the face of unpredictable weather and environmental changes? 10. **Restoration & Land Connection:** Beth says the ecosystem restoration aspect of her work is what excites her most. How does a personal connection to land influence stewardship, and how can this relationship be nurtured across communities? Feel free to use these questions to spark conversation with your group, classroom, or podcast audience!

❇️ Key topics and bullets

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Here’s a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in the episode “Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch: Building Community and Ranch Resilience,” with clear sub-topic bullets under each primary heading: --- **1. Introduction to the Podcast and Guests** - Overview of the Farm Walks Podcast and its sponsors (Tilth Alliance and WSU Food Systems Program) - Introduction of host, Nicole Witham (Farmer Nicole) - Introduction of Beth Robinette: fourth-generation rancher at Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, WA - Preview of upcoming guest: Sarah Lemon from WSDA Regional Markets Program **2. History and Overview of Lazy R Ranch** - Beth’s family history on the land since 1937 - Transition from dairy to conventional beef operation, then to holistic management - Size and location of ranch (800 acres west of Spokane) - Early adoption of direct marketing for grass-fed beef - Relationship with multitiered family butcher **3. Evolution of Ranch Management and Business Model** - Holistic and regenerative practices influenced by Alan Savory’s work - Beth’s accidental path into business/financial management - Development and challenges of building the direct-market beef program - Adoption of new tools (website, e-commerce) for marketing **4. Direct Marketing and Processing** - Process of transitioning to grass-finishing and direct sales - Importance and benefits of on-farm, custom meat processing - Relationship with the long-term butcher (Quadriquet) - Scale of operation (marketing 30-40 head per year) - Recent challenges with reduced processing capacity due to labor shortages **5. Beth’s Personal Journey into Ranching** - Not originally drawn to farming (artistic, dramatic inclinations in youth) - Influence of food systems and sustainability interests in college - Key books: “Fast Food Nation” and “Omnivore's Dilemma” shaping her values - Recognition of the family ranch as a rare and valuable opportunity **6. Environmental and Land Stewardship Practices** - Diversity of ranch’s ecotypes (wetlands, forest, sagebrush step, meadows) - Holistic grazing management and ecological monitoring - Focus on ecosystem restoration as a driving motivation **7. Partnership with Indigenous and Marginalized Communities** - Acknowledgement of ranch land as traditional Spokane tribal homeland - Camas and salmon as traditional staple foods; importance of camas fields - Partnership with Salish School of Spokane for camas and tule gathering - Recognition of indigenous stewardship and sustainable food systems **8. Wildfire Resilience and Fire Management** - Recent Gray Fire experience (loss, recovery, and resilience strategies) - Historical context of fire risk in Eastern Washington - Immediate and long-term recovery operations post-fire - Ecological effects of fire (potential for improved grass production, carbon cycling) - Fire as a traditional indigenous land management tool - Ongoing brush clearing and fuel reduction as strategies **9. Community Building and Educational Programs** - Involvement with Hunters of Color organization: land access and reparations work - Reciprocal relationship: hosting turkey hunts, receiving fence-building help post-fire - Hosting Cowgirl Camp: hands-on learning in regenerative ranching for women, femmes, non-binary participants - Educational collaborations with WSU Farm Walks and public events **10. Herd and Breeding Management** - Description of cattle breed (Black Angus, Aberdeen Angus cross; diverse genetics) - Shift to smaller-framed cattle for improved grass-finishing and safety - Selection for docility and resilience (inspired by Beefmaster/Lassiter techniques) - Yearly marketing approach (custom beef, local food hub/CSA, USDA sales) - Flexibility in business strategy, evaluating options in the face of processing challenges **11. Local and Statewide Meat Processing Issues** - Beth’s perspective on custom vs. USDA processing access - Industry-wide labor shortages and bottlenecks - Introduction of Sarah Lemon (WSDA): background and role - Overview of processing landscape in Washington (140 custom shops, diverse types) - WSDA grant programs and efforts to increase processing capacity **12. WSDA & WA Meetup: Programs and Resources** - Details on recent WSDA grants for meat processing infrastructure/projects - Overview of grant demand (30 million requested, 750K available) - WA MeatUp butcher truck events: regional educational workshops (meat processing demos, business skills, grilling) - How to participate and where to find more info (wameetup.com) **13. Rapid-Fire Questions and Personal Insights** - Beth shares quick answers about her favorite and least favorite parts of farming - Aspirational skills (wish to be better at building/framing) - Off-season activities (baths in winter, hammocks in summer) - Where to learn more (Lazy R Ranch website, Cowgirl Camp, LinkBox) **14. Closing and Additional Resources** - How to connect with Farm Walks and the episode guests - Mention of Beth’s feature in The New York Times - Final acknowledgements to podcast production team and links to further educational content --- This sequence reflects the narrative flow of the episode and highlights both the practical and community-focused approaches to ranching discussed by Beth Robinette, along with broader issues in regional meat processing as explored with the second guest.

🎞️ Clipfinder: Quotes, Hooks, & Timestamps

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Nicole Witham 00:00:44 00:01:08

Regenerative Ranching & Community Impact: "Beth is a fourth generation rancher carrying on holistic management practices that center the symbiotic relationship between grasslands and grazing ruminants. Beth is also adapting the family ranch's relationships to customers and markets, its history and indigenous communities, marginalized communities seeking education and land access, and of course climate change and fire safety."

Nicole Witham 00:10:27 00:10:32

The Hidden Backbone of Agriculture: "But like this is an industry that takes two. It takes these two linked things to really make it work."

Nicole Witham 00:15:29 00:15:42

Family Legacy in Farming: "it's so fantastic from a family lineage and a management standpoint that you were willing and able to like add some tools to your toolkit, so to speak, and like walk in as the next generation."

Nicole Witham 00:33:47 00:34:00

Viral Topic: Intergenerational Land Privilege and Community Sharing: "taking that like privilege of the land access you've kind of intergenerationally inherited and being able to, to share that back with so many different groups, whether it's the hunting group or the Salish school."

Nicole Witham 00:42:42 00:42:56

Viral Topic: The Challenge of Local Meat Access
"It's, it's. It has been a little bit dire and it's interesting to hear in your region that it's a little different for you that you're still being able to maintain some access to usda, at least the amount of access that's working for your business model."

Nicole Witham 00:47:35 00:47:43

From City Kid to Cowgirl: "I'm not out there doing it every day, but I know what it's like to fix a fence in, you know, 115 degree weather or rain or snow or whatever."

Nicole Witham 00:48:12 00:48:33

Labor Crisis in Small Processing: "Labor continues to be one of the top, if not the top issue amongst small to mid sized processors. Everybody's talking about how do I find trained employees, how do I keep employees between that and waste. The challenges facing the small processing industry are just really incredible. And they have been like that for 50 years."

Nicole Witham 00:49:11 00:49:26

Statewide Meat Processing Expansion: "The WSDA has put together a number of grant programs. We've been very generously funded the past couple of years by the state legislature. So we're hopeful that some of those plants will start coming online and we'll see that increase in capacity."

Nicole Witham 00:52:14 00:52:29

Choose Your Own Meat Workshop Adventure: "We've got a shorter one day offering that'll feature a demonstration. Dr. Paul Kuber from WSU is going to demo some exciting new ways to break down, I think a lamb leg or maybe a pork loin, depending on what the class you go to is."

Nicole Witham 00:54:41 00:54:46

Shout Out to the Team: "And I'm your Farm Walks podcast host, Farmer Nicole. Thanks everyone."

🎬 Reel script

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On this episode of Made With Bacon, I sat down with Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch in Spokane, Washington. Beth’s a fourth-generation rancher pioneering holistic management and regenerative practices—think rotational grazing, on-farm butchering, and deep community collaboration. We explored how she’s building land resilience, connecting with indigenous traditions, and opening new doors for education and land access. Plus, we dove into the challenges of local meat processing, climate change, and the value of community partnerships. Beth’s story is all about blending legacy with innovation to build a stronger, more sustainable future. This is entrepreneurship with impact—don’t miss it!

🗞️ Newsletter

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Subject: Building Community & Resilience at Lazy R Ranch – Meet Beth Robinette! 🐄🌾 Hello Farm Walks Friends, We’re excited to bring you the latest episode of the Made With Bacon podcast, featuring an inspiring conversation with Beth Robinette, fourth-generation rancher and owner/operator of Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, Washington. 🌱 Episode Spotlight: Building Community and Ranch Resilience with Beth Robinette Beth invites us into her world where holistic management, community connection, and land stewardship go hand in hand. From her family’s deep roots (dating back to 1937!) to paving new paths in direct marketing, Beth shares what it’s like to navigate changing times—balancing innovation with honoring the land’s Indigenous and agricultural history. Here’s what you’ll uncover in this episode: - **A New Generation at the Helm:** Beth talks about returning to the ranch, stepping into business management, and launching their direct-to-consumer, grass-fed beef program—all while carrying her father’s holistic practices into a new era. - **Resilience After Wildfire:** Hear firsthand about the impact of the Gray Fire, what it took to recover, and why fire management—drawing from Indigenous traditions—matters now more than ever. - **Community in Action:** Discover Lazy R’s partnerships, like opening the ranch for Indigenous food gathering with the Salish School of Spokane and running Cowgirl Camp for women, femmes, and non-binary folks learning regenerative ranching skills. - **Meat Processing Challenges:** Beth discusses the importance of relationships with local butchers and the ongoing labor challenges in small-scale meat processing—a theme echoed by special guest Sarah Lemon from WSDA’s Regional Markets Program. - **Building Bridges:** From connecting with organizations like Hunters of Color to supporting land access and reparations, Beth’s approach shows the power of inclusive, practical community-building. 🎧 Listen to the episode now: [farmwalks.org](https://www.farmwalks.org) 🚗 Meet Us On-Farm! Don’t forget, you can also stay in the loop about upcoming in-person Farm Walks throughout Washington State! Events, resources, and this episode’s shownotes are all on our website. **Quick Links from the Episode:** - [Lazy R Ranch & Direct Beef Sales](https://www.lazyrbeef.com) - [New Cowgirl Camp](https://www.newcowgirlcamp.com) - [Roots of Resilience](https://www.rootsofresilience.org) - Info about WSDA & WA MeatUp: [wameetup.com](https://www.wameetup.com) Thank you for being part of our Farm Walks community, where stories of resilience and connection inspire us all to grow, learn, and support one another. Happy listening & hope to see you on a Farm Walk soon! With gratitude, Nicole (Farmer Nicole) & the Farm Walks Podcast Team --- P.S. Enjoy the episode? Please rate, review, and subscribe! Your feedback and support help us bring more voices like Beth’s to the airwaves. --- Fans of this episode also checked out: - “Direct Marketing & the New Age of Local Meat” - “Holistic Grazing for a Resilient Future”

👩‍💻 LinkedIn post

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🌱 Exciting news! The latest episode of the *Made With Bacon* podcast features a conversation with Beth Robinette, owner/operator of Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, WA. Beth shares her journey as a fourth-generation rancher, how she’s reimagining ranching through holistic management, and the importance of building community and resilience in agriculture. Beth’s story touches on everything from navigating the direct-to-consumer beef market to building connections with Indigenous groups and implementing climate-smart management in the face of wildfires and changing weather. Here are three key takeaways from Beth’s inspiring interview: 🔹 **Resilience Built on Relationships:** Beth highlights the value of strong, long-term partnerships—not just with distributors and butchers, but also with Indigenous and marginalized communities seeking land access and connection. 🔹 **Regenerative Practices & Climate Adaptation:** Adopting holistic grazing and ecosystem restoration is vital for ranch resilience. Beth shares how integrating Indigenous knowledge (like managed burning and preserving camas meadows) helps steward the land while supporting biodiversity. 🔹 **Community Over Competition:** From opening her ranch to Cowgirl Camp, Indigenous school partnerships, and Hunters of Color events, Beth shows how sharing resources and expertise builds a stronger, more inclusive agricultural future. Learn more about Beth’s approach and the power of community-driven ranching by listening to the full episode or visiting Lazy R Ranch at lazyrbeef.com. #RegenerativeAgriculture #HolisticManagement #FarmToTable #CommunityBuilding #RuralResilience #LocalFood #MadeWithBaconPodcast

🧵 Tweet thread

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🐄🌱 THREAD: Lessons from a Fourth-Gen Rancher on Regenerative Ag, Indigenous Partnerships, and Fire Resilience 1/ Meet Beth Robinette of Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, WA. Fourth-gen rancher, regenerative ag advocate, and someone who’s transforming her family’s beef operation for the modern world. (Trust us, you’ll want to fangirl too!) #FarmWalksPodcast 2/ Regenerative ag isn't just a buzzword on this ranch. Since the mid-90s, Beth’s dad adopted holistic management (hello, Allan Savory fans!)—and Beth grew up learning to see grazing as ecosystem restoration, not just beef production. 🌾🐮 3/ But Beth’s story is all about EVOLUTION. She pivoted Lazy R from conventional beef to DIRECT marketing—driven by a passion for sustainability and inspired by “Omnivore’s Dilemma” + college foodie culture. Grass-fed beef in 2010? Cutting edge in Spokane. 4/ Intergenerational farm transitions aren’t always smooth. Beth jumped in to fill a business management gap after her grandpa passed, building the ranch’s web presence and modernizing their approach. Sometimes necessity sparks passion! 5/ Real talk: It’s NOT just about cows. Beth centers her ranch’s connection to the land’s true history—the Spokane people and the millennia-old camas food system. Her ranch collaborates with the Salish School to revive traditional harvesting of camas and tule. 👏🌸 6/ “Sometimes I feel like I’m looking at the land with baby eyes,” Beth says. Learning from Indigenous partners has opened up a whole new world—reminding us all that what’s “wild” was often cultivated for generations before us. 7/ Fire is both threat and teacher. In 2023, wildfires scorched half of the ranch. Beth had to evacuate, leaving the cows behind (shoutout to cows’ survival instincts + wet meadows!). The upside: Post-fire, the land’s productivity soars—proof of ecology’s resilience. 🔥🌱 8/ Beth’s not in the “lone cowboy” myth. She’s building community—welcoming Hunters of Color for turkey camps and fence rebuilding, plus running Cowgirl Camp to train women and non-binary folks in everything from pasture health to business basics. 9/ The struggle is real, though. From custom processors cutting their capacity in half (labor shortages, anyone?) to rethinking how to scale and stay flexible—in today’s meat system, “having to rebuild the entire food system” is a daily vibe. 10/ Here’s the win: Beth’s story shows that resilient farming is grounded in collaboration—across generations, cultures, and ecosystems. “What really lights me up is seeing this land become more and more vital and healthy.” 💚 11/ Want to buy Lazy R beef or join a Cowgirl Camp? Find Beth at lazyrbeef.com, newcowgirlcamp.com, and roots of resilience.org (plus, she’s had *a moment* in the NYT!) 12/ Big respect to Beth & all the ranchers fighting for land, community, and a better food system. Tune in to Farm Walks Podcast for more stories like this. 🐄🌿 #RegenerativeAg #IndigenousLand #WomenInAg #FarmWalksPodcast #RanchLife #ClimateResilience #WAag 🔗 More: farmwalks.org

🪡 Threads by Instagram

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1. Beth Robinette shows how family ranching can thrive by blending tradition with holistic, regenerative practices and deep care for both the land and community. Real sustainability starts with strong relationships and respect for history. 2. From drama kid to ranch leader, Beth found her calling in stewarding land, restoring ecosystems, and connecting with others. Purposeful work sometimes means returning home and turning privilege into opportunity for change. 3. Fire shaped Lazy R Ranch in unexpected ways. Beth shares how loss and challenge paved the way for resilience, new grass growth, and deeper collaboration with Indigenous and diverse communities. 4. Innovation at Lazy R Ranch isn’t just about livestock—it's building partnerships with local butchers, opening land for Hunters of Color, and hosting Cowgirl Camp to empower new voices in agriculture. 5. Beth’s journey calls us to value land access and community as core rights, inviting us all to restore, learn, and share resources while honoring the land’s past and future possibilities.

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