Meet Katie Ross- Iron Springs Ranch of Skull Valley AZ

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Ross- Iron Springs Ranch.

Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Katie Ross and I manage the Iron Springs Ranch, owned by Claire and Troy Eckard. My husband runs his own business on the ranch as well- Born and GrAZed, Pasture Raised Poultry. We are all passionate about running a regenerative ranch- one with no pesticides/herbicides/hormones/chemicals to provide the highest quality grass fed grass finished beef and pasture raised poultry, while restoring and improving the land as we go.

I personally have a BS in Agricultural Science, and spent my time in school and after exploring the industry and looking to further my education and experience in horsemanship, stockmanship, and land stewardship. In 2020 I moved down to AZ from Wyoming, and in 2023 I found my way to Iron Springs. After beginning to raise animals at Iron Springs Ranch with Regenerative Practices, I will never be able to go back to anything else.

Seeing both the land and my health improve in leaps and bounds, and developing our program has been immensely rewarding. The day to day life on the ranch is equal parts hard work, and incredible fun. We have implemented diversity in irrigated pasture, mob and rotational grazing, bale grazing where appropriate, a geofencing system, gut health improving protocols, invasive species control through our grazing/mowing/over seeding.

We have taken a ranch that has been conventionally farmed and grazed for generations, and started the tangible process of restoring and improving health- and this is just the beginning. I so look forward to the rest of the journey.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not always smooth- there are always the human element of finding your place in the world

The trial and error of finding what works in your specific context, whether it be specific plant species you try to add for diversity, methods of seeding, getting used to adaptive grazing, etc

In our geofencing system there was definitely a learning curve- and challenges in installing towers in incredibly rough terrain

And lastly, of course, When Mother Nature is your business partner there are always unknowns

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I personally am the Ranch Manager at Iron Springs Ranch. I am the “boots on the ground” for all of our day-to-day operations. I am in charge of the cattle, pastures, irrigation, moving livestock, maintaining infrastructure etc.

We specialize in Regenerative Practices. I am incredibly proud of our dedication to the land, the animals, and our customers health. And so proud that we get to steward our land with so much intention and integrity. Watching the process has been so so fun.

We are set apart by our dedication to continuing education, our passion, and our practices in general. We’d love to have you out and show you what we do and why!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Business and Personal- Troy and Claire Eckard- Ranch Owners and incredible mentors and driving forces that allow this ranch to happen, and instigators of all regenerative practices. I am incredibly blessed to work for them, and am inspired by their hard work and passion.

Business and Personal- John Ross- My husband and Owner/Operator of the poultry program- this allows us rotations of different species to improve soil health. He also is a jack of all trades and always lends a hand when needed

Personal- Trina Morris- my perpetual cheerleader- troubleshooter when I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with a few tools to macgyver my way out- friend- and horsemanship mentor. She has shaped me quite a lot.

And of course all of our family, friends, and clients that have supported our vision in any way. We couldn’t do what we do without our network of support and conscientious consumers who truly care about the land, animals, and their health.

Pricing:

• All pricing can be found on our website BornAndGrAZedAZ.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BornAndGrAZedAZ.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironspringsranchaz?igsh=MWM4YW4zYWRwbG5keg==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BTZD2GwMZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
Creative Edge Photography