The Final Chapter of Von Holten Ranch

Just in case you haven't heard...

Two things:

1. On September 20th we celebrated being open for 10 years! What a journey. We are not the same as when we started and are so grateful for everything. We remember that first weekend like it was yesterday.

2. Just as a book has different chapters, David and I are ready to embark upon our next chapter. Von Holten Ranch is closing at the end of 2024 and is for sale. All the land and the business.

At  first, I (Brandy) was not on board to sell, but now I am. I choose my husband over the ranch. And if he doesn't want to do it anymore, then we won't. We have tried to scale back to find the balance we yearned for by removing the office from our house, stopping the weddings, and only doing the main events.

In the 10 years we have owned the ranch, we have put in enough hours for 25 years of work at a regular job.

What will we do next?

David will focus on his woodworking and creating custom furniture.

I will rule the world in whatever I decide to do. I love business coaching and marketing. I love writing. I love bringing people together. I love homesteading and horses.

Where will we go?

We don’t even know what state we will end up in yet. I want David to find exactly what he wants. It is extremely freeing to get to choose any state.

We have had our nose to the grindstone for 10 years and haven’t even come up for air. Wherever we move to I know it will be where we are supposed to be.

Will we be sad about stopping the family lineage? 

Of course, but the amount of pride that we have in bringing back a dead farm gives us a lot of peace. When we bought the farm, it was in complete ruins. And now the farm is a thriving business that has brought safety and happiness to tens of thousands of people. Ultimately, we do not have children, and we would have been the last generation. With selling now, the farm will provide a life that allows us to live how we want.

Now, let’s address the negative nellies. Just going straight to the point to help avoid the heifers.

1. The ranch is not going under or under any financial distress. Every year we have increased our income. Chix in the Sticks is our biggest money maker. We won Missouri’s Best Ranch for 2024.

2. David and I are not having any marital problems. In fact, we are excited about spending time together that has nothing to do with the business.

3. We sold 50 acres a few years ago and did have the ranch for sale. What I get said to me is that we keep going back and forth, like we are wishy-washy. Nope.

We have reservations through the end of 2024. We will fulfill ALL reservations.

What are we going to do if the ranch doesn’t sell before 2025? 

We will get jobs and pay the bills until it does sell.

What can you do to help us? 

Come camp this fall, fill up our Chix in the Sticks, buy a shirt, and help the entire world know we are selling and help us find someone in the horse industry who would love and appreciate Von Holten Ranch.

Thank you, 

David & Brandy Von Holten