Buckner Family Ranch

Hello! We are Clint and Mary Kay Buckner, owners of Buckner Family Ranch (aka Boulder Lamb). Since our ranching business’s inception in 2011, a great appreciation for fresh, locally raised meat has allowed us to build a thriving, family-run business in the heart of northern Boulder County. Like our two spirited farmhands/kids, Amelia and Levi, we were raised in the fresh, high altitude air and vibrant sunshine unique to Colorado. Here, in the foothills of the Front Range, our love of community-focused, farm-to-table farming and ranching took root. We began with sheep, mostly Columbia and Rambouillet, and then added a few Berkshire boars and sows, sprinkled in with Hamps and Yorks from 4-H kids in the community. Along the way we added shorthorn beef raised by our neighbor, Jerry De Bruyne, a 4th generation Colorado shorthorn breeder. We mentored many of our kids’ friends through opportunities to learn about animal husbandry, meat sales, and various other ranchhand duties. We met and became friends with chefs, restaurateurs, and other producers, including farmers, with whom we are still close after all these years. Our monthly meat sales at the ranch became a vital community hub. We have loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, in the spring of 2024 life changed, and in a BIG way. Leaving the ranch was one of the toughest things our family has ever had to do. Land stewardship and animal husbandry were part of our combined families’ DNA. However, the seemingly stable multi-generational family unit that lived together on the ranch became increasingly difficult to hold together under the weight of the fragility of aging family members. It quickly became apparent that we could no longer protect those we knew needed protecting. It took a massive toll on our spirits as we had to fire-sale all of our animals; sheep, pigs, livestock guardian dogs, horses, chickens, ducks and a turkey or two, and all of the equipment associated with raising them. We understood pretty quickly that we could no longer hold on to something that wasn’t meant to be ours anymore. We were forced to leave in 60 short days, and the day we drove away felt like a storm in our hearts, and yet we knew that we couldn’t allow ourselves to be consumed by grief. We had to find a way forward. It was that quiet determination that carried us into the next chapter of our lives—one we hadn’t fully envisioned, but one we embraced with open arms. We knew that in the face of such a massive upheaval and the absolute necessity to stay connected with our local community, the best we could do was to salvage the meat sales side of our small family business. Even though we no longer had the land as our anchor, we realized that we still play a vital role in the local community, acting as a bridge between our customers who seek thoughtfully raised meat and the local ranchers who work hard, thoughtfully raising their animals. And so our sourcing strategy has begun to take shape, and as it continues to evolve we are discovering new opportunities we’d never imagined while caught up in the rhythm of ranch life. This new venture is a different kind of fulfillment—one that still honors the values of hard work, perseverance, and community that the ranch had instilled in us. We found that the knowledge we’ve gained over the years, managing the ranch’s logistics, farming techniques, and relationships, has been invaluable in this new venture. We didn’t choose to leave the ranch, but in many ways, it didn’t leave us either. The lessons, the grit, and the deep connection to the land are all part of the foundation for our new life. In rediscovering our passion for the distribution side of the business and connecting with other small producers who prioritize raising 100% pastured animals the way nature intended we have found a way to honor the past while embracing the future. The benefits of sourcing locally are clear: shorter supply chains, a smaller carbon footprint, and stronger ties to the loc