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Ranch Finances Made Simple: John Haskell on How Ranch Right Helps Ranchers Profit
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Can financial literacy save America’s working lands—and your favorite hunting spots?
In this episode of The LandTrust Podcast, Nic De Castro sits down with John Haskell of Ranch Right, LLC to explore a topic often overlooked in conservation: profitability. John shares how his journey from ecological research to holistic ranch management revealed a simple truth—when landowners thrive, land and wildlife do too. From sage grouse to elk, Haskell explains how better financial practices not only sustain ranches but also protect the habitat millions of outdoorsmen rely on. This is a must-listen for anyone who values access, conservation, or just wants to understand what it takes to keep America’s rural lands wild and working.
What You Will Learn
- Why profitable ranching is essential to long-term conservation
- How better financial systems support better land management
- What most hunters misunderstand about ranchers and land access
- The unexpected social benefits of short-term recreational access
- How recreation (yes, even hunting) can be a “concession” enterprise
Key Topics Discussed
- Aldo Leopold’s conservation wisdom in today’s context
- The LDS Church’s ranching model and what we can learn from it
- The high stakes of multigenerational land loss in rural America
- Why federal land management and “locking it up” often fails
- The emotional toll of selling off family land—and how to prevent it
- Building bridges between producers and outdoorsmen
Show Resources
Book: A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Memorable Quotes
“A profitable business can run forever. One that requires constant help is a liability.” — John Haskell [00:16:00]
“Landowners are expected to host the public’s wildlife—at their own expense.” — John Haskell [00:21:30]
“You can’t have stewardship without sustainability—and you can’t have sustainability without profit.” — John Haskell [00:24:00]
Transcript Teasers
[00:06:30]“When I got to Deseret Land and Livestock, it blew my mind. There was grass everywhere, wildlife everywhere. And they were profitable. That was the ‘aha’ moment for me.” — John
[00:20:00]“My aunt and uncle sold their California ranch—not because they wanted to, but because they had no choice. And the emotional cost was brutal.” — John
[00:45:00]“Recreation, especially hunting, is a ‘concession’ enterprise that can actually fit into ranch operations better than people think—without disrupting the core business.” — John
Conclusion
This episode cuts through the noise of land-use debates and gets to the heart of what really sustains the outdoors: profitable, intentional landowners. If you care about habitat, wildlife, and rural communities, support the people stewarding the land. Check out Ranch Right and LandTrust for tools that make it possible—and share this episode to keep the conversation going.
Subscribe to the show, leave a review, or share it with someone who hunts, farms, or just loves the land.
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