What Our 7-Year-Old Taught Us About Grit, Safety, and Feeding Your People Well

Yesterday was one of those full-tilt, boots-on-the-ground days here at Flourish & Roam.

Josh (aka Rancher Dad) was hauling chickens to the processor.
I was packing online orders for our customers across the country.
Papaw was baling hay.

And in the middle of it all, our 7-year-old son quietly taught himself how to drive the Bobcat.

He did ask Papaw if he could move the bales out of the field. But has he really ever operated the Bobcat? Nope!

He just got in—and got to work.

By the time we looked out, he was already moving hay bales like he’d done it a hundred times.

Now before your mama heart skips a beat (we get it!), let us paint the full picture:

He was alone in a 12-acre flat hayfield
Only Papaw and a friend were nearby on tractors
The Bobcat maxes out at a few miles per hour
And most importantly—when you let go of the controls, it immediately stops
This wasn’t new for him. It was just the next step in a life he lives every day

This wasn’t recklessness.
It was readiness.
It was a moment of stepping up, of showing us just how closely he’s been watching, learning, and growing.

The Irony? I Had Just Read This at 3 AM…

Earlier that same morning—rocking our toddler in the dark—I read this headline from The New Zealand Herald:

"Govt to clarify whether farm kids are safe collecting eggs and watering plants"
👉 Read the article

It made me pause. Not because I disagree with putting safety first—we absolutely do. In fact, it’s always our top priority on the farm.

But it raised a bigger question:
When did we stop believing kids are capable of doing real, meaningful work?

We don’t raise “farm kids.”
We raise capable humans.
Kids who grow up immersed in responsibility, not shielded from it.

Our children don’t just play farm.
They are the farm.

Safety, Always.

Freedom, Intentionally.

As parents and ranchers, especially with hundreds of people coming through our property each week, safety is non-negotiable. We teach boundaries. We use equipment wisely. We don’t believe in shortcuts when it comes to people or animals.

But we also believe in letting our kids rise to the occasion.

What our son did yesterday wasn’t a stunt.
It was stewardship in action.

The Same Is True for Our Customers

That moment in the field reminded me: so many families want to do the right thing when it comes to their food. They want to make the switch, stock their freezer with better meat, and know where their food comes from.

But they’ve been told it’s too hard.
Too complicated.
That they need someone else to do it for them.

We're here to tell you: you’re more than capable.

You don’t need the grocery store middlemen.
You don’t need sketchy labels or vague supply chains.
You just need a clear path—and a farm family you trust.

That’s why we created the Ranch Club Box.

What’s in the Ranch Club?

Our Ranch Club Box is more than meat.
It’s a way to feed your people with confidence, peace of mind, and purpose.

When you join, you get:

✅ High-quality, regeneratively raised meats
✅ Family-friendly cuts perfect for everyday meals
✅ Freezer staples that simplify your weeknights
✅ Direct access to your personal ranchers (that’s us)
✅ Shipping straight to your door, nationwide

You get the food your family deserves—and the connection you crave.

Raising Capable Kids. Feeding Capable Families.

Our son stepped into responsibility yesterday.
He showed us that when you’re raised around purpose and trusted with real tools, you rise.

That’s what we want for your family, too.

Let us help you feed your people well.
With integrity. With intention. With real food from real farmers.

👉 Learn more about the Ranch Club Box here.

With grit and gratitude,
Rancher Sarah