Watch this weeks newsletter
Howdy friends,
My name is Connor McCauley. I married into a 5th generation Texas cattle ranch, and these stories come from my perspective—someone who didn’t grow up around livestock, machinery, or land management. I’m figuring it out day by day. And the deeper I get, the more I realize how much America has drifted from the people who raise its food.
Let’s fix that.
Let’s dive in.
A Quick Update
I’m formatting this newsletter the same way I structured this week’s YouTube video. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend giving it a watch—it’s always better to see the land, the cattle, the process, and the problems firsthand.
We just passed 200 subscribers, which, to me, says folks are curious. Curious about the land, the animals, and the work that goes into keeping it all together. I don’t have hard numbers on who reads these emails, but I do get your comments and emails—and I want you to know they mean a lot.
Why I'm Doing This
In the video, I talk about how it used to be that everyone knew a rancher or a farmer. That’s just not the case anymore. And as people lose touch with where their food comes from, they also lose respect for the folks who grow it.
We’ve got media and climate activists telling everyone that ranchers are harming the land. Truth is, no one knows how to care for the land better than someone who lives on it. Ranchers have generations of observational knowledge. Compare that to someone who went to school, got a grant, and spends their days behind a desk collecting climate models. You tell me who’s got a better handle on what this dirt needs.
That’s why I started this channel and this newsletter. I’m not doing it to get rich. I’m doing it because someone’s got to show the reality of ranching—warts, beauty, breakdowns and all.
What We’ve Been Up To
It’s been a little chaotic on the ranch lately, which is why this email and video are a bit late. I lost focus for a bit—but like everything else on a ranch, you don’t quit just because it’s hard. You regroup, patch the tire, and keep moving.
This week’s focus is on planting sorghum (or as we call it, Milo)—a forage crop our cattle will graze later. Sam and I were getting the no-till drill ready. The machine plants seed without needing to plow, which is better for the soil when there’s enough leftover fertility.
But nothing’s ever easy.
First we had to repair the discs—these are the parts that cut the earth, drop in the seed, then cover and pack it. Next, we loaded seed. That sounds simple, but of course, the planter wasn’t feeding correctly. After troubleshooting, we found a broken drive shaft—the part that rotates seed plates to drop the Milo precisely where it needs to go.
A couple trips to John Deere later, we had parts in hand. Then it rained. A full week delay.
Once the soil dried, we got back to it. Monday came, and I was in the packing house working on TriTails orders. Sam was in the field. That’s when the tractor died. Another wrench. Turns out it needed a new fuel pump.
We fixed it, fired it up, and finally finished 210 acres of planting. The seed’s in the ground. And since I’m writing this a little after the fact, I can tell you—we’ve got a good stand coming up. Strong and green. That crop is going to feed our cattle this fall.
What’s Next
Next week’s video and newsletter will shift gears—literally. I’ll be gathering bulls on horseback and riding through the pastures, showing another side of the operation. I’ll take you along for the ride, dust and all.
Before I Go
Thanks for reading. And if you know someone who’s curious about ranching, farming, or where their food comes from, forward this email to them. You’d be surprised how many folks are hungry for this kind of connection—and it starts with a simple story.
Until next time,
Connor McCauley
TriTails Ranch
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