Our Story

Kay and David James raised their five children in this rural setting, enriched by a deep love of the land, animals, plants, and family. All five left the nest at 18 to pursue their own paths, and, seven years later, began returning to the ranch one by one, eager to give their own families a similar upbringing.

The family shares a quality-of-life vision that keeps the ranch in agriculture as both a chosen way of life and a source of open space for the community. A key ingredient in their harmony and synergy is a tradition of disciplined quarterly family meetings, where each enterprise and the overall direction of James Ranch are discussed. Grandchildren are welcomed into these conversations, and any subtle tensions are brought forward and resolved with care. Today, seven distinct enterprises are flourishing at James Ranch.

A significant contributor to family harmony and synergism is their disciplined quarterly family meetings. Here, aspects of the respective enterprises are discussed as well as the overall running of the James Ranch. Grand children are included in these discussions. Any subtle incongruity is immediately brought out and resolved harmoniously.

Please visit each enterprise to learn more about the individual families living and working on the ranch.