From pasture to plate, ranching to regenerate.
Our Story
“It all begins with soil. All life begins there, and returns to it to be born again. The greatest filter of all time, it cleans, restores, and renews. It is the last frontier, home to denizens of the dirt turning inert to organic, simple chemistry to abundant life. We care for the soil because it is all that we are.” - Dana Wilson
Chantilly Ranch is a soil ranch. We farm the soil and tend to the grasses, forbs, fungus, and micro flora and fauna that grow there. We raise animals on our pastures that eat the most nutrient dense forage possible. They turn sunlight into protein while living lives on the country side that resemble that of their wild ancestors.
Chantilly Ranch is a three generation working ranch. Parents, children and grandchildren all participate in the activities on the ranch. All activities are designed within the principles of Regenerative Agriculture and work toward soil regeneration.
Our mission is to manage the land in a way that regenerates the water, mineral, and energy cycle, allows the animals to live healthy, happy lives and creates positive relationships with the community.
Dana Wilson
Mother, Daughter, Ranch Manager, Business Owner, Adaptive Grazier, Soil Health Aficionado, Life Long Learner. Whatever the title, Dana finds a way to make it fit into the Holistic Context on Chantilly Ranch. From reading every book on regenerative ranching she can find, to adopting orphan goats, to rotating cattle, to conducting soil health tests to monitor conditions on the ranch, she does it all.
Adaptive Grazing — The art and science of moving grazing animals through an ecosystem to maximize the benefits for the animals and the environment.
A rose by any other name… Adaptive Grazing is called many things, holistic grazing, management intensive grazing, rotational grazing, multi paddock grazing, adaptive multi paddock, strip grazing, mob grazing, and many more. The very basic concept is that the animals are allowed to graze a pasture for as long as it takes to consume the appropriate amount of forage and then be moved so the pasture can rest an appropriate amount of time.
Sounds easy right?
It can be, but the observational skills necessary to determine what “appropriate” means can take a life time to hone. Managing a successful adaptive grazing program means that every component of the pasture is observed, measured, and factored into decision making when animal impact is considered.
Chantilly Ranch manages our cattle and goats with regenerative principles. For more information on what that means, read on!
What is Regenerative Ranching?
The Story of Ranching From Desertification to Regeneration
Traditional Ranching: A Desert in the Making
Imagine a pasture, once vibrant and teeming with life, gradually turning barren. In the world of traditional cattle or goat ranching, animals often remain in one place for extended periods. This causes overgrazing of some plants and under grazing of others, stripping the land of its protective cover. What was once a thriving ecosystem slowly transforms into hot, desert-like conditions. This methodology not only depletes the vitality of the land but reflects an era where connection to the earth and respect for the animals was lost in the pursuit of efficiency.
Regenerative Ranching: A Symphony of Healing
Enter regenerative ranching, a melodic counterpoint to the harsh realities of traditional practices. Inspired by the wisdom of Gabe Brown and Alan Savory, we at Chantilly Ranch adhere to the six principles of regenerative ranching:
Contextual Decision Making: Every action is in harmony with the land's unique characteristics.
Soil Health: Cultivating a living soil ecosystem that nourishes the earth and our animals.
Plant Diversity: Encouraging a rich tapestry of plant life that thrives season after season.
Grazing Management: Thoughtful rotation that mimics nature, allowing the land to rest and rejuvenate.
Animal Integration: A respectful symbiosis between the animals and the land they nourish and are nourished by.
Community Connection: A commitment to local sourcing and honoring the complete sacrifice of our animals.
Together, these principles create a symphony that heals the energy, water, and mineral cycles, transforming once barren landscapes into flourishing ecosystems.
As Alan Savory beautifully put it, "You will begin to heal only when you see, feel, and understand the land, and the land and life are one." And Gabe Brown's profound words resonate with our core belief: "We can heal the land using the same principles that nature has always used."
Your Part in This Symphony: Strengthening Community and Food Security
In an era of complex and often distant supply chains, the simple act of purchasing from your local rancher becomes a profound statement of community support and resilience. At Chantilly Ranch, we invite you to be a part of this vital connection.
By learning How It Works, you're not only enjoying quality pasture-raised protein but also enhancing food security within our community. Every purchase helps foster a more robust, self-sustaining local economy, where trust and transparency prevail.
Join us in nurturing this bond between land, animal, and neighbor. Together, we can forge a stronger, more resilient future, one meal at a time.
Once upon a time (and maybe again soon) the US Government made it Mandatory for meat to be labeled with the Country from which it originated. They called it MCOOL - Mandatory Country Of Origin Labeling. Over 10 years ago, the Mandatory part was removed and consumers were left wondering where their meat was actually being raise.
Even when it was Mandatory, the regulations were slippery and meat that was being CUT here in the US (even though it was being imported from elsewhere) was being labeled as Made in USA. Currently there is no mandatory labeling and consumers have no visibility on the true origin of their meat.
Our answer is to volunteer label with our very own made up MyCOOL designation. My Country Of Origin shows you that the meat you purchase from us comes from our ranch in our pasture, directly to your home and table.