#133: Making Farming and Ranching Accessible for First-Time Landowners
“People really want the agricultural life. They want to learn how to do it right—they just need someone willing to show them.”
This episode of Farming on Purpose features a conversation with Frank Baggiolini, asset manager and content creator for Outlaw Ranch Care, a company dedicated to helping new rural landowners learn how to manage their property, livestock, and equipment.
Frank’s story begins in California, where he grew up surrounded by agriculture. His family raised registered Polled Herefords, farmed row crops in the Salinas Valley, and built a life around the rhythms of livestock and land. But like many people in agriculture, his path didn’t follow a straight line.
Over the decades, Frank worked across several corners of the industry—from dairy work to orchard removal to managing equipment for large-scale pistachio and almond operations. Each experience added a different layer of understanding about agriculture, land stewardship, and the realities of working in an industry shaped by economics, politics, and geography.
Today, those experiences have come full circle. Through Outlaw Ranch Care and the Country Living Academy, Frank and his partners help first-time rural landowners turn their dreams of country living into functioning, productive properties.
Growing Up in California Agriculture
Frank’s early agricultural experiences began in California’s Central Valley, where his father farmed crops like lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Like many young people involved in agriculture, Frank and his siblings started through youth livestock projects. Their entry into the cattle world came through the Junior Polled Hereford Association when their father purchased heifers for each child at a state fair auction.
What began as a simple youth project quickly turned into a full herd.
Over time the family expanded to more than 100 cows, with Frank and his sister handling much of the daily work themselves while still in school. But as college approached and responsibilities grew, managing the herd alongside education became unsustainable. Eventually the cattle were dispersed, and Frank began pursuing a different path within agriculture.
A Career Across Many Corners of Agriculture
Frank’s professional career reflects the diversity of agriculture itself.
He spent over two decades working in orchard removal, grinding and processing trees as farms transitioned between crops. Later, he moved into equipment and operations management for large farming companies growing pistachios and almonds.
Working in California agriculture also meant navigating one of the most politically complex farming environments in the country, particularly when it comes to water management and regulatory pressures.
Eventually, when the company he worked for closed its doors in 2024 due to financial challenges, Frank found himself at a turning point.
Instead of leaving agriculture, he moved closer to family and stepped into a new chapter—one focused on helping others enter the rural lifestyle he had known all his life.
The Birth of Outlaw Ranch Care
Outlaw Ranch Care began with a simple observation.
As rural land near Fort Worth, Texas, began selling to new buyers, many first-time landowners were purchasing small acreages with big dreams but very little practical knowledge about how to manage the land.
Some wanted cattle. Some wanted horses. Some simply wanted the country lifestyle.
But owning land brings responsibilities that many people don’t anticipate.
Fencing needs repair.
Water systems must be maintained.
Equipment requires maintenance and safe operation.
Livestock care demands planning and experience.
Frank’s brother-in-law Billy began helping neighbors with small projects—building shelters, installing fences, or setting up gates. What started as occasional help gradually turned into a growing demand for guidance.
From there, the idea for Outlaw Ranch Care and the Country Living Academy was born.
Teaching Practical Skills Through the Country Living Academy
The Country Living Academy was designed as a library of practical, real-world training for rural landowners.
Rather than focusing on theory, the platform emphasizes hands-on instruction for the kinds of tasks new landowners encounter every day.
Some lessons cover basic skills many experienced producers take for granted:
Hooking up and backing trailers
Operating tractors safely
Managing pasture and hay production
Installing and repairing fencing
Setting up water systems and freeze protection
Other lessons focus on decision-making—like choosing the right equipment, understanding livestock infrastructure, or avoiding costly mistakes when purchasing tractors and implements.
Frank explains that many beginners make expensive purchases before fully understanding their needs. By offering guidance early in the process, the academy helps landowners make smarter investments.
Members can also request consultations for personalized advice on projects specific to their property.
Documenting the Process of Building a Ranch
One of the most unique parts of the academy is Frank’s own property transformation.
After purchasing a 20-acre parcel in Oklahoma, Frank began documenting every step of restoring the land—from clearing overgrowth to installing fencing, building cattle facilities, and developing grazing systems.
These projects form a series within the academy that allows viewers to follow along as the property evolves.
The goal isn’t just to show the finished product.
It’s to walk through the real process, including the challenges, decisions, and problem-solving that happen along the way.
For many first-time landowners, seeing the step-by-step process makes the work feel more achievable.
The Controversy Around Small Acreage Landowners
One of the more complex topics Frank and Lexi discuss is the growing number of small rural landowners.
In many areas, large farms and ranches are being divided into smaller parcels—sometimes referred to as “ranchettes.” This trend can create tension within agricultural communities.
Some long-time producers see it as the loss of productive farmland.
But Frank views it differently.
Those new landowners are already there. The land has already been divided.
The question becomes whether those properties will remain productive or fall into neglect.
By helping new landowners learn how to manage their land responsibly, Frank believes they can become valuable participants in the agricultural ecosystem rather than disconnected hobbyists.
A Larger Role for Small Producers
Frank also points out that small-scale producers can still contribute meaningfully to agriculture.
For example, if a hundred small landowners each raise a few head of cattle, the combined impact can still support the broader industry.
These producers also become advocates for agriculture, land stewardship, and rural communities—something the industry increasingly needs as urban populations grow.
In many cases, their interest in agriculture begins with lifestyle dreams but evolves into genuine stewardship and engagement with the farming community.
Building Community Through Agriculture
Ultimately, the mission behind Outlaw Ranch Care is about more than teaching practical skills.
It’s about helping people reconnect with land, responsibility, and the traditions that agriculture has long represented.
For Frank, returning to cattle after decades away feels like coming full circle.
And by helping new landowners find their footing, he’s contributing to the future of agriculture in a way that blends experience, education, and community.
Where to Learn More
To explore Outlaw Ranch Care and the Country Living Academy, visit: outlawranchcare.com
There you can:
Browse free educational resources
Explore the full video library
Join the academy membership
Connect through social media channels
Listeners of the Farming on Purpose Podcast can also receive a 50% off for the annual membership using the special code FP50.
More from Farming on Purpose
The 8-Hour Marketing Plan is your step-by-step roadmap to a clear, effective strategy—built just for you, in just one day. No more second-guessing or wasted time. Get a plan that fits your business and drives results. Sign up here!
If you are interested in signing up for the Marketing Routine class, do so here!
If you would like to support the podcast or be a part of the conversation join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page.
Check out our favorite software tool for online sales!
Thrivecart is a software tool you can use to design online checkouts with every option you can dream up. You can sell physical and digital products, connect to loads of other softwares you use for your website, accepting payments, email marketing, and more. This is the most powerful tool I use and the lowest cost one. I recommend it for anyone who accepts online payments who wants to increase their revenue or average order value. Learn more about what Theivecart can do for your business here: https://backpocketsocial--checkout.thrivecart.com/thrivecart-standard-account/
I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.
I’m so glad you’re here and I hope you’ll take a moment to join the conversation with me and other listeners on social media.
Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts
