Robert Nantz’s grandad was born in 1893 in the backwoods of eastern Kentucky. He made the journey to Texas on a wagon in the late 1800s and worked on various ranches throughout north central Texas, purchasing several ranches in Young, Jack, Palo Pinto, and Stephens counties. A picture of him in 1916, seen on the right, captures a moment from his life.

Robert’s father was born in 1942 in Graham, Texas, and was the second youngest of 15 children. Primarily a rancher, he also pursued various other ventures to expand his operations. Over the years, he acquired a few thousand acres and, at one point, was leasing 17 ranches and running 600 mother cows. Known for being practical, efficient, and frugal, Robert’s father seldom employed a crew for cattle work, relying instead on Robert, his brother, and sometimes one or two other hands. His methods included leaving bulls out year-round and maintaining a yellow and white salt block for the cows. The approach was simple yet effective—Robert recalls how his dad would buy two needles to work 100 cows, a testament to his Depression-era mindset. Despite the rugged nature of ranching, Robert’s parents encouraged him to pursue other avenues, advising against a life in agriculture. However, Robert developed a passion for ranching while working on large operations in far west Texas, particularly in the Marfa, Presidio, and Valentine areas. Over the course of a decade, Robert grew fond of the vast, open landscapes and large-scale ranching.

In 2007, Robert graduated college, becoming the first in his immediate family to do so. By then, his father had scaled back his ranching operation, keeping only about 60 cows. He offered Robert and his brother the opportunity to buy him out, which they did after a cattleman from the local sale barn appraised the herd. Robert and his brother flipped a coin to determine who would pick first, and that’s when Robert’s journey in the cattle business truly began.

In 2008, Robert married his college sweetheart, Stacy. The early years of their marriage were financially tight, with no TV or AC, as they tried to save money. They would wet towels and lay them across themselves, relying on a fan for cooling—a tip from an old rancher that worked surprisingly well until the towel dried out.

Robert worked at the Young County Appraisal District for a couple of years until 2010-2011 when the ranch had grown to 200 cows, at which point he transitioned to full-time ranching. As he built his herd, Robert continued to day work for ranches across Texas, picking up valuable insights from both large and small operations. His experiences led him to eventually be asked to bring a crew for major branding and weaning events. This dual perspective, as both a day worker and cattle owner, proved invaluable, as it highlighted the differences between the two roles.

Over the years, Robert’s success in ranching stemmed from his ability to experiment and make changes quickly. Unlike generational operations, which can be slow to adapt, Robert’s willingness to try new methods and change course when necessary has played a key role in his growth. His operation has expanded from the initial herd purchased from his father to a permanent herd of 2,800 mother cows. Robert has bought, sold, traded, and imported thousands of cattle across 70 ranches in 11 Texas counties. His efforts have included experimenting with a variety of cow and bull breeds, crossbreeding, and testing numerous inputs to increase productivity and profitability. However, Robert has found that nothing has had a more positive impact on his land, cattle, and bottom line than large-scale regenerative ranching.