MADDOCK, N.D. — Generations of ranching knowledge, a willingness to try something different and a commitment to improving the land are coming together at Maddock Ranch in North Dakota.
Fourth-generation rancher Shane Maddock and his wife, Lindsay, operate Maddock Ranch in partnership with Shane’s brother. Their operation includes cow-calf production, backgrounding, heifer development, yearlings and cropland.
In a recent feature from Drovers, agricultural journalist Shaye Koester-Wanner takes readers inside Maddock’s approach to holistic management and how lessons passed down from his father continue to influence the family’s operation today.
One statement from Maddock especially caught our attention at Tenn Texas:
“It seems to me that we’re working with a degraded resource.”
That recognition has helped shape how Maddock approaches the land.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION
Rather than following one rigid grazing formula, Maddock uses adaptive grazing and makes decisions based on what individual pastures are showing him.
“We’re not long-term grazing,” Maddock told Drovers. “It’s three to five days on each pasture and we’re gone.”
The complete Drovers story goes deeper into pasture recovery, strategically placed water infrastructure, compost teas, soil biology and the management decisions Maddock is experimenting with to improve the resources supporting the ranch.
But there was another part of this story we believe deserves attention: mentorship.
Maddock openly discusses labor as one of the challenges he has faced and encourages producers interested in holistic management to learn from people who are already doing it.
“It’s so rewarding,” Maddock shared. “Don’t be scared to chase it and find a good mentor to walk with you on it.”
WHY TENN TEXAS IS SHARING THIS STORY
This is what networking within agriculture should look like.
One rancher doesn’t have to have every answer.
What works in North Dakota may not work exactly the same way in Tennessee, Texas or Wyoming. But sharing experiences creates conversations, and those conversations can introduce producers to new ideas for their own operations.
Ranchers learning from ranchers.
Farmers learning from farmers.
Generations teaching generations.
That’s how we strengthen agriculture while protecting the knowledge and traditions that built it.
Tenn Texas Media appreciates Drovers and Shaye Koester-Wanner for continuing to spotlight the producers, ideas and conversations shaping American agriculture.
THERE’S MUCH MORE TO THIS STORY
We’ve shared only a glimpse of Maddock’s story.
There is much more to learn about how Maddock Ranch is approaching adaptive grazing, pasture recovery, water infrastructure, composting and holistic cattle management.
READ THE COMPLETE STORY ON DROVERS:
“Rebuilding Degraded Land: How Maddock Ranch Combines Generation Wisdom with Adaptive Grazing”
Visit Drovers.com to continue reading Shaye Koester-Wanner’s complete feature.
You can also listen to the full conversation with Shane Maddock through the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.
CONNECTING THE WESTERN AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
At Tenn Texas, we believe some of the most valuable agricultural knowledge comes from the people living it every day.
By sharing stories and connecting our readers with trusted agricultural publications, producers, organizations and resources, we can help strengthen the network that supports America’s farmers and ranchers.
SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE. SUPPORT THE RANCHER. STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURE.
TENN TEXAS MEDIA
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