Succession Stories | 3 | From Sand to Soil

In the beaver flats outside Ekalaka, Montana, Ryan and Abbey Bruski are upending convention on their multi-generational ranch. After realizing that their traditional cow-calf model wasn't working for the land or the family, they sold the cows, shifted to custom grazing, and began rebuilding the ranch from the ground up.

As the Bruskis implemented regenerative grazing practices, including daily moves, diverse grass mixes, and a focus on soil health, they also confronted the strained succession history that had long cast uncertainty over the ranch. Determined not to repeat the past, Ryan and Abbey paired ecological regeneration with a new approach to family planning, creating clear roles, business structures, and a succession plan designed to give future generations clarity.