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From Wall Street to the Texas Ranch: 2025 Women in Ag Winner Kimberly Ratcliff Transforms Beef Production

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:11:20 GMT

There are 1,500 miles between Brooklyn, N.Y., and Oakwood, Texas, but for Kimberly Ratcliff, where she grew up and where she’s building her business are connected by community, family and giving of oneself. Today, she works as ranch manager at Caney Creek Ranch and CEO of Ratcliff Premium Meats.

“I’m a businesswoman trying to keep agriculture alive,” she says.

As a shining example of an advocate and agricultural innovator, Ratcliff was named the 2025 Top Producer Women in Ag Award, sponsored by NewLeaf Symbiotics.

“Day to day, I work on the ranch, raising the cattle or expanding the profit lines on the ranch,” she says.

The 2,500 acre ranch was first started with a smaller acreage purchase by her father, Wesley, in 1973 that expanded in 2002.

Business Builder

Five years later, Ratcliff left her career in New York City to join the ranch and work with her father and build their business bigger. Her brainchild, Ratcliff Premium Meats was born.

“My biggest role today is to make Ratcliff Premium Meats flourish, and I want to be more than a meat company,” she says.

Her goal was a social impact company; Ratcliff had the vision for the meat business to bring economic stability and growth while connecting consumers to their meat supply. The bridge she is engineering builds concrete connections with customers, educates them on what it takes to produce nutritious beef while simultaneously creating economic value for the community.

“One of the ways I can help my community grow and sustain their businesses is by buying their animals and selling them through Ratcliff Premium Meats,” she explains. “It’s about telling the true meaning behind where meat comes from and telling the story of the people in the community. I’m not all natural; I’m not organic; I’m not grass fed. I have the economic value of the producers in my community. I want my meat company to be known for that.”

On the supply side, she’s built a network of about 30 cattle producers, of which about 80% are Black or minorities. She monitors incoming orders, surveys producers for animal condition and coordinates with the slaughterhouse schedule.

She’s gone to work to build out markets for the meat, quickly growing beyond farmers markets. Today, the business accepts online orders, has a growing distribution direct to restaurants, contracts with school districts and regularly supplies the local food banks. Ratcliff is now a vendor for Buckhead Meats as well, and in 2025, Ratcliff Premium Meats brought 20,000 lb. of its beef into Texas.

“Ground beef production makes efficient use of cattle selected specifically for grinding, ensuring consistency and quality,” Ratcliff explains. “It’s one of the most stable and dependable categories to source. If I process 20 head one week, I can take a certain volume of the ground beef into the schools, and then have the availability for the other cuts on the website.”

Admittedly, her biggest challenges have been on the distribution side of the business.

She’s successfully forged relationships with the school districts serving Austin and Houston, which includes not just hamburger patties but also giving students presentations on beef production and ranch management.

“That’s the kind of connection I want,” Ratcliff says.

Working with the Feeding Texas’ Local Food Purchasing Assistance program, she’s supplying 8,000 lb. of ground beef about every other week to the Houston Food Bank.

Ratcliff has also dedicated time to doing pop-ups and restaurant events in metro areas including Harlem, Baltimore and Atlanta.

“I’m not concerned about being in grocery stores, and I’m not concerned about being global,” she says. “But if I am in grocery stores and I am global, I want you to know I’m impacting this community. That’s more important to me than worrying about being on the grocery store shelf.”

At this time and juncture in the business, she says she’s not quite the scale that larger distributors seek out, but she’ll continue to be proactive with brand awareness, building relationships and in carving out a spot for her product in the market.

“Our story is about how a business can survive in a community that has a population of 700 people, how it’s thriving and how it’s feeding the world,” she says. “In 10 years, I do believe we will be this company people will look at of saying how rural America looks.”

Finding Her Way

Ratcliff’s journey took a bit of a U-turn in 2007. After seven years at Bloomberg in New York City working in the company’s public relations division, her heart and imagination called her to Texas.

“I saw a need to bridge the gap from the source of our food to the consumer,” she says. “I couldn’t build that bridge in New York, but I could from the ranch.”

Ratcliff says she was welcomed home, but her approach to bringing change to her father wasn’t always received well.

“It took me six months to realize I was doing it wrong,” she says. “I was pushing so hard against the ways he’s done things, but I wouldn’t have the opportunity to build something without what he did and the way he does it. I was bringing change the wrong way.”

Instead, she took a new approach.

“I asked dad to give me a piece of something — let me show him myself. What I’ve learned is the next generation will have to do a lot of show and tell,” she says. “My dad said, ‘As long as you can show me it’ll work, I’ll be your biggest fan.’”

Now more than 15 years later, Ratcliff not only has her father’s full support, but she has also brought in both her brothers part time.

“I’m all about this being a family affair. If we didn’t have family involved in what I do every day, it wouldn’t feel purposeful. That’s something, dad always made me involved in his business every day — no matter what it was. Then your life is personal, and you know you have a purpose.”

Ratcliff acknowledges her mother’s influence and lasting impact on her since her passing in 2019.

“Really from mom I got my outgoingness, socialization, strength and frugalness,” Ratcliff says.

Ratcliff explains while she first saw the opportunity being a non-for-profit, she’s incredibly proud of what she’s built with the business and the social impact it has had.

“What began as a personal venture has grown through shared experience, beyond its original scope,” she says. “Over time, the business has become something built on experience and collaboration, supporting the people and families in this community.”

What It Means To Advocate

Representation and reputation are the foundation of Ratcliff Premium Meats. CEO Kimberly Ratcliff says it’s the story behind her product that has led to its success.

“Agriculture is often undervalued, especially the unique challenges of small family farms and minority farmers,” she says. “This is particularly true for underrepresented communities like Black farmers and ranchers.”

That is what has led her to serve in roles on USDA advisory councils, steering committees with Texas A&M AgriLife, Capital Farm Credit advisory committee, the Independent Cattlemen Association officer role as the treasurer, and more.

“Advocacy is essential because it directly impacts the livelihoods of families, the food system and sustainability of communities,” she says.

This fall, her perspective and voice were shared in a documentary film produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. She is featured in, “High Horse: The Black Cowboy,” which is currently available on Peacock.

“The producers found me and my story on social media,” she says. “It was important to me to share what I’m building, and the story is deep and rich. I understand the history, and I’m coming home — I want to be the uplifting part of the story.”

Marketing Maven

With her education and professional background in marketing, Ratcliff brought a distinct set of instincts and skills to her entrepreneurism. Her vision was to build an inter-related, community-built business as being stronger than stand alone or isolate entities.

“In the ag community, I need your cattle,” she says. “I need you to keep your land. I need you to have healthy cattle, I need you to have great grass, great soil, I need you to have all those things that will make me successful. So how can I help you with your success so as the end result we can produce great meat?”

Ratcliff sees her role as the storyteller, and she knows she has a unique story to tell. When she first arrived at the ranch, she says neighbors would stop by just to see that in fact she had ‘come home.’ She turned that curiosity into a way to engage the community.

“We threw a lot of parties on the ranch to bring people together, and then we’d do small projects like catch calves, fix fence, fix waterers,” she says.

Ratcliff says how to network was ingrained in her early on.

“My parents never hid what it takes to be a successful business owner,” she says. “And it was about being fair to your employees, investing in your community and giving back.”

To strengthen her knowledge of the industry, Ratcliff enrolled at Texas Christian University’s ranch management program and became its first Black graduate.

“I wasn’t raised here; I don’t know it all,” she says “I’m a bridge builder. I thought of a great idea in running a business, and I have an ability to bring people together.”

And she has found leaning on others’ strengths while letting go of some previous responsibilities has been a balancing act in her leadership.

Roles she’s released includes fulfillment, HR, and even her legacy strength: marketing.

“I hired a marketing firm, and every Tuesday morning do meetings,” she says. “Anyone from my team can be on the call, ranch hands, anyone. That’s my opportunity to connect everyone because they can ultimately help with marketing.”

Ratcliff has also built her social media presence to share the story of beef, its nutrition and preparation ideas. Once a quarter, marketing contractors visit the ranch to film social media content.

“I’d never been on TikTok, but my marketing partners convinced me to try it,” she says. “Our video about the Women in Ag award got more than 100,000 views, 1,000 comments and we got 30 orders for meat.”

(Brayden Crook Photography)

Authentic Self

Ratcliff describes herself as a woman trying to change the way farming looks.

“All I can do is be my authenticate self,” Ratcliff explains. “There’s an importance of putting a woman like me in front of the story of these producers.”

She adds: “Agriculture is going to look different, and we need to accept the changes. Just like life evolves, agriculture will evolve.”

Join a network of leading edge farmers and producers at Top Producer Summit, Feb. 9-11 in Nashville. To kickoff the conference, the 2026 award finalists and winners will be honored. Click here to view the agenda and register.

Standing Up for Whole Milk by Sharing the Whole Story

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:12:25 GMT

Every now and then, amidst the never-ending lists of tasks and chores, you hear something that reminds you why you do it. Often finding herself surrounded by kindergarteners, Magdalene Gerst frequently hears comments like, “Oh, this is the dark brown chocolate milk. This is the really good stuff!”

It’s a cute quote, and it was fun to hear. It may have even been one of those “why we do it” moments, but it’s also part of a story that proves something has to change.

Gerst is a seventh-generation farmer from Richmond Farms Dairy, a 200-cow dairy in North Collins, New York. As a past dairy princess and mom of three, she has a knack for connecting with young kids about what she does and where their milk comes from.

During her visits to schools, Gerst has noticed an unfortunate trend. “Kids won’t even touch the one percent,” she says. “They can only get non-fat for lunch, and if a five-year-old can notice, it really says something.” At home, many kids are drinking two percent or whole milk. And when the milk at school tastes different, the kids don’t drink it, and they miss out on the nutrients dairy provides.

(Magdalene Gerst)

Seeing this part of the story play out time and again has given Gerst the motivation and message she needs to speak with the legislators who can help make a change. “We had our congressman out to the farm when he first got elected,” she recalls. “We talked to him about things that are important to us and just let him see what’s going on.”

More recently, Gerst traveled with the National Young Cooperators to Washington, DC. “We talked to our representatives about the key things, one being ‘Whole Milk for Healthy Kids,’” Gerst says. “That was an easy thing to talk about from being in the schools.”

(Magdalene Gerst)

From those experiences, Gerst has learned what works – and what doesn’t. “In the past, we’ve written letters,” she says. “I’m sure they get them but there’s no follow-through. But when we physically made an appointment and we’re sitting in their office, follow that up with a thank-you card and they’re gonna remember that connection.”

Since hosting the congressman on the farm, communication has opened up both ways. “You’ve got to set up that first connection. I like to keep the door open so they’re welcome to visit anytime,” Gerst says. “I’ll show them around and answer any of their questions.”

Gerst wears many hats on the farm, and she pulls from all of her experiences to make sure she has a good story to share with anyone she meets. On any given day, she could be managing embryo transfers, payroll, or working with the vet – and all with a toddler in tow.

(Magdalene Gerst)

For both legislators and kindergarteners, she says those real-life stories are key: “Letting them know what the day-to-day looks like, and letting them feel included,” she says. “Especially for the kids, they want to see pictures, or they want something physical they can touch. So I take a calf into the school. I take feed and let them make a trail mix – as we call it – but then teach them what that is.”

Several months after her visits to her kids’ schools, Gerst is still hearing those reaffirming comments like, “Did you bring chocolate milk today?” or “Are you gonna bring a calf again?”

Gerst feels strongly about bridging those gaps right from the beginning, instead of trying to correct misinformation. She loves seeing their faces light up and knowing she’s showing them something they will remember and share at home. “I love kids, so that makes it even more fun. We have a great story to tell, and if we don’t tell it, someone else is going to make up their own story to tell on us.”

The Sweetest States: Where America Loves Ice Cream Most

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 20:53:24 GMT

July is National Ice Cream Month, and Americans are indulging like never before. But which states truly have the biggest sweet tooth? Recent research from SpinBlitz analyzed Google Maps listings nationwide to rank states by ice cream shop density, specifically the number of ice cream shops per 100,000 residents. Here are the top states who take their frozen dairy treats most seriously.

Top 10 Ice Cream-Loving States

1. Vermont (18.51 shops per 100K residents) Vermont tops the list with the highest number of ice cream shops per capita, and it’s not just thanks to Ben & Jerry’s. The state has a strong dairy foundation and a deep appreciation for small-batch, locally made ice cream. Whether in rural towns or tourist-friendly spots, ice cream shops are a visible part of Vermont’s food culture.

2. West Virginia (18.08) West Virginia ranks second in ice cream shop density thanks to a strong presence of locally owned parlors, custard stands and small-town scoop shops. It might not be a headline-grabbing food destination, but the state has a steady, long-standing appreciation for traditional favorites like banana splits, hand-dipped cones and floats.

3. Rhode Island (17.84) Rhode Island earns bronze in the nation for ice cream shop density. Known for regional favorites like frozen lemonade and coffee milkshakes, the state also supports a strong network of ice cream parlors across its coastal towns and neighborhoods. From tourist areas to local main streets, frozen treats are easy to find.

4. Pennsylvania (17.58) Pennsylvania ranks fourth with a diverse ice cream scene that reflects its mix of communities. From family-run creameries in rural areas to innovative shops in urban centers, the state offers a wide range of frozen dessert options.

5. Wisconsin (16.44) Known far and wide for its cheese, Wisconsin also delivers big on ice cream. Known as the Dairy State, it’s no surprise the state is brimming with mom-and-pop scoop shops, custard stands and local brands producing rich ice cream. Whether you’re at a farmstead creamery or a college-town cone counter, Wisconsin’s pride for ice cream shines.

6. Illinois (16.12) Chicago might be the driving force behind Illinois’ ranking, with its booming food scene filled with Instagram-worthy sundaes, small-batch gelato and quirky flavors. But don’t overlook the rural towns and suburbs, where old-school diners and small-town scoop shops keep the classics alive.

7. New Mexico (15.89) The only Southwestern state to crack the top 10, New Mexico might surprise you. But with sizzling summer temperatures and a thriving local food culture, it makes sense frozen treats are in demand. You’ll find shops serving everything from chile-spiked chocolate to cactus fruit sorbet.

8. Michigan (15.79) Snow doesn’t stop Michiganders from indulging. With thousands of inland lakes and summer tourists flooding towns like Traverse City and Petoskey, ice cream is a lakeside staple. From old-fashioned scoops to cherry-studded blends, Michigan’s ice cream culture is powered by nostalgia, local ingredients and a serious sweet tooth.

9. New Hampshire (15.54) New England knows its dairy, and New Hampshire is no exception. This state might not be flashy, but its abundance of seasonal roadside stands, maple-infused flavors and mom-and-pop ice cream stops make it a solid contender. Summer drives through the mountains or along the lakes are rarely complete without a cone in hand.

10. New York (15.35) New York ranks 10^th, where ice cream is as diverse as the state itself. From trendy, creative scoop shops and food trucks in the heart of New York City to time-tested creameries in upstate towns, there’s a flavor and style for everyone. With tourists and locals alike lining up for their favorite cones, New York’s ice cream doesn’t disappoint.

See How Your State Stacks Up in the Ice Cream Race
Whether you’re craving a classic cone or something a little more adventurous, it’s clear that some states really know how to satisfy that ice cream craving. Curious how all 50 states stack up in the great ice cream showdown? Check out the full ranking and see where your home ranks:

Rank	State	Ice Cream Shops per 100,000 residents
1	Vermont	18.51
2	West Virginia	18.08
3	Rhode Island	17.84
4	Pennsylvania	17.58
5	Wisconsin	16.44
6	Illinois	16.12
7	New Mexico	15.89
8	Michigan	15.79
9	New Hampshire	15.54
10	New York	15.35
11	Massachusetts	14.99
12	North Dakota	14.92
13	Ohio	14.90
14	Maine	14.89
15	Nebraska	14.83
16	Alaska	14.79
17	Indiana	14.78
18	Idaho	14.27
19	Delaware	14.05
20	Montana	14.00
21	South Dakota	13.96
22	Hawaii	13.78
23	Florida	13.67
24	New Jersey	13.61
25	Wyoming	13.56
26	Mississippi	13.25
27	Iowa	13.02
28	North Carolina	12.58
29	Texas	12.40
30	Arkansas	12.23
31	California	12.10
32	Arizona	12.09
33	Kansas	11.71
34	Connecticut	11.60
35	Virginia	11.25
36	Oklahoma	10.66
37	Nevada	10.54
38	Utah	10.38
39	Minnesota	10.37
40	Oregon	10.37
41	Tennessee	10.26
42	Louisiana	10.20
43	Georgia	10.00
44	Colorado	9.98
45	Kentucky	9.73
46	Washington	9.43
47	Alabama	9.23
48	South Carolina	8.80
49	Maryland	8.56
50	Missouri	8.44

Load ’Em Up: Used John Deere Tractors Set Auction Records in New York

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:51:49 GMT

An auction in Whitesville, New York, featured a pair of record-setting John Deere utility tractors, making the pair of farm workhorses Pete’s “Pick of the Week.”

The Scott Acomb & Family Dispersal Auction, where the two loader tractors were sold, was facilitated by auctioneer Adam Fraley with Fraley Auction Company.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

The first machine to smash a record was this John Deere 6430 utility tractor (shown above) with only 278 operating hours. It sold for $128,000, beating the previous record for that make/model by $5,000.

(MachineryPete.com)

Pete shared the screenshot above showing the Top 5 high prices at auction on John Deere 6430 tractors.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And another John Deere utility tractor with a loader, a 2003 7420 model, sold for $122,500, beating the previous record-high by $18,000.

“Even in a belt-tightening ag economy, the nicest used stuff with a little age on it is still red hot,” Pete says.

Here is a list from Pete showing the Top 5 auction results all-time on a John Deere 7420:

(MachineryPete.com)

You can listen to Pete’s full appearance from Monday’s AgriTalk episode via the media player below.

Upcoming Auctions To Watch

Pete is gearing up for a big week on the used equipment auction circuit.

On Saturday, there are two notable auctions he says will have some nice machinery scores for farmers. Machinery Pete will be making the trek out to the Harry and Lola Blackburn Farm Sale in Lime Springs, Iowa, to check out an “amazing list of low-hour machines.” You can check that auction out here.

Also on Saturday, the Al Bruhn Farm Auction in Mapleton, Iowa, features six John Deere Hillco Sidehill combines. You can check that auction out here, and Pete shared this video preview for the sale on Facebook:

Your Next Read: Machinery Pete’s Advice For ‘Young’ Farmers

Texas Rancher Kimberly Ratcliff Trades the Big Apple for Community Beef Business

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:18:04 GMT

This is right where Kimberly Ratcliff was born to be, surveying the Bermuda grass and cattle of Caney Creek Ranch in Oakwood, Texas.

“Just like life evolves, agriculture is evolving and I’m excited for this new evolution in agriculture,” Ratcliff said with a smile.

The 2025 Top Producer Women in Ag Award winner says her journey back to the Texas Plains began with big dreams in the Big Apple.

“I ended up going to college in New York City and I really thought New York City was what I wanted,” she says. “I really thought that was the lifestyle I wanted.”

Working at Bloomberg in marketing and public relations she found herself being pulled back to commodities and her days growing up on the ranch.

“That hit me hard because I realized I needed to go back home,” remembers Ratcliff. “I had enough knowledge of how these financial institutions work, but I don’t think the community understands how that affects them.”

Her father and the ranch’s owner, Wesley, remembers the phone call following a recent visit.

“When she got back [to New York], she said, I want to join you. I said, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no’,” he says. “I can’t pay you even close to what they’re paying up there. She said, ‘That’s not your problem.’”

He also asked her about ranching and whether she understood that aspect of the business. Kimberly had a solution. She entered the Texas Christian University ranch management program and became the first African American to graduate. Then, she moved home and went to work.

“I would get people driving up to the house and they wanted to put their eyes on me to see that I had really come home,” Ratcliff says. “People always say they want to come home, but they never do it.”

“My daughter coming back here honestly, was not something that I was thrilled about,” Wesley said with a half-smile and twinkle in his eye. “She is kind of bossy and I had one boss already: her mama. Now I have two bosses.”

Ratcliff started Ratcliff Premium Meats, a direct-to-consumer beef business, with a story to tell.

“Being a woman in this industry and being a black woman, I think the No. 1 thing I have honestly is the best support system here in my community,” Ratcliff says. “They’re the ones pushing me.”

“I’m happy to see her venture out and try to do something different,” Wesley says. “I would never get into the meat business, but she wanted to. I didn’t have a problem with her getting into it.”

Today, it’s a family affair as she’s also getting help from her brothers.

“In five years, my goal is to have my family - all of my family - working for us,” Ratcliff says.

As demand grows, this family operation is expanding and helping more in their community.

“In the ag community, I need cattle,” Ratcliff explains. “I need them to keep their land. I need them to have healthy cattle. I need them to have great grass and great soil. I need them to have all those things that will make me successful. So, how can I help them with their success?”

She’s sharing that success with local and state food banks.

“The first thing I support is my local food bank,” Ratcliff says. “Every week, every month, I make sure they are stocked with every protein I can provide. I don’t want them ever to have to worry about buying protein externally.”

It’s that kind of heart for others that’s helping her honor this opportunity and her mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2019.

“She was just fighting because she saw the success that I was having and she wanted to be here to say, ‘I’m proud of you’,” says an emotional Ratcliff. “I know she’s still proud of me.”

A mother who is proud of the work she’s done and difference she’s making in the lives around her.

“This job is really taking us back to the root of what our culture is about,” Ratcliff says. “It started with the small and the large all working together to feed the world.”

New York Senate to Hold Hearing on Farmworker Labor Rights

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:21:04 GMT

The Democrat-led New York state Senate is holding the first of three hearings dedicated to proposals to expand the labor rights of farmworkers.

Under current law, agricultural workers aren’t allowed to unionize to demand better wages or conditions. Legislation known as the Farmworker Fair Labor Practice Act would change that and extend disability and worker compensation benefits to farmworkers too.

Farm workers say it’s unfair that they’re not given the same rights as other workers. But many farm owners argue the legislation could prompt higher wages and strikes.

The first of three hearings on the bill is scheduled for Thursday in Morrisville in central New York. A second hearing on Friday will take place on Long Island, with a final hearing on May 2 in Sullivan County in the Catskills.

States Sue EPA Over Clean Water Rule Delay

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:19:48 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- Ten states and a coalition of environmental groups sued the Trump administration for suspending a 2015 rule that was billed as a long-overdue update to the definition of lakes, rivers and wetlands designed to improve protection under the Clean Water Act of 1972.

The attorneys general from 10 states and the District of Columbia accused the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of violating federal law by delaying the Obama administration’s “Clean Water Rule” for another two years. The move was part of President Donald Trump’s promise to slash regulations.

“The Trump Administration’s suspension of the Clean Water Rule is clearly illegal, threatening New York’s decades-long efforts to ensure our residents have access to safe, healthy water,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is leading the coalition, said after filing suit Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.

The agencies allegedly acted without considering scientific evidence developed in support of the rule. The EPA, led by longtime agency critic Scott Pruitt, has often questioned scientific consensus on environmental matters, including the human causes of climate change.

Attorneys general from states including Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana had sued the Obama administration to stop the rule, saying it wrongly applied to lands far from traditionally “navigable waters.” The Supreme Court in January overturned rulings in those cases that barred the rule from taking effect. By then, however, the EPA had already pushed back the rule’s “applicability date” by two years under directives from Trump.

“These lawsuits are over an embattled regulation that’s been put on hold by the courts to prevent it from taking effect,” EPA spokeswoman Molly Block said. “Our delay rule will keep in place that status quo.”

Schneiderman was joined by attorneys general, all Democrats, from California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.