Everyone wants to own the dirt they’re ranching on, but what if owning land isn’t always the best way to build a ranching business?

In this episode, Derek, Zach, and Dan dig into the tradeoffs between buying and leasing ground, drawing from their own experiences building ranch businesses with limited capital. They discuss how land ownership affects cash flow, why controlling productive land can matter more than owning it, and how the right approach can change as a business grows.

The conversation then moves beyond buy versus rent to the relationships that make land access possible. The guys talk about building a strong reputation as an operator, creating win-win arrangements with landowners, and why a rancher’s legacy doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to owning dirt. They also wrestle with when buying land does make sense and why the answer ultimately depends on your capital, stage of business, and goals.

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Resources & Links:

• Episode 10: What 10 Years Away Taught a Fifth-Generation Rancher with Logan Pribbeno of Wine Glass Ranch
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