Raising Beef - Randall Debler
Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. is a 100-year-old family ranch in Kansas run by Randall and Erin Debler and their neighbors Paul and Nancy Miller. It is proof that family farms and corporations are not mutually exclusive, and that the right partnership can turn a dream into a legacy.
Meet Randall
Randall Debler grew up during the farm crisis of the 1980s. Despite witnessing the hardships of agriculture firsthand, he always knew he wanted to be part of it. He just needed a chance. That chance came in an unexpected way, through a broken combine, a borrowed tractor, and a conversation that would change the trajectory of his family's life.
Today, Randall and his wife Erin, their three children, and their partners Paul and Nancy Miller make up Rock Hill Ranch, Inc., a 100-year-old family ranch that is proof that the future of agriculture is built on relationships, trust, and a willingness to do things differently.
What Drew Randall to Ranching?
Office work never appealed to Randall. The outdoors called to him from a young age, and when it came time for college, he studied Park Management and Conservation at Kansas State University with the dream of becoming a park ranger. A summer job with the National Parks Service in southern Oklahoma seemed like the perfect opportunity, but after returning to Kansas in the fall, he realized it was not the right fit. With encouragement from his wife Erin, Randall went back to his roots. He added a second major in Animal Science and Industry and set his sights on cattle. "I can honestly say I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my wife. And this is just one of many instances where that is true," he says.
How Did Rock Hill Ranch Come to Be?
After graduating, Randall and Erin rented a small house with property about half an hour from campus. The land belonged to Paul and Nancy Miller, owners of the 100-year-old Rock Hill Ranch. On that leased ground, the Deblers slowly began building their own cattle herd while working part time for Paul. The turning point came during harvest when Randall had an equipment failure and went to Paul for help. While driving out to the field together, Paul mentioned he needed extra help around the ranch. Randall joked, "You should just sell me a share of this outfit and I can help you all the time." Paul did not laugh. Instead, he replied: "It's like you're reading my mind." Paul and Nancy were already thinking about transition plans for their ranch. Rather than requiring Randall to take on crushing debt to purchase the property outright, the Millers proposed incorporating the ranch and slowly selling shares to the Deblers over time. That is how Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. was born. "From that point on we have slowly purchased shares from Paul and his family to transition their family farm over to my family. What Paul and Nancy have done for us is a dream come true. We are so grateful for what they have done for us. They are the nicest people to begin with, and for them to do something like this, words cannot express how grateful we are for this opportunity."
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What Does Family Mean on a Ranch?
While producing beef is his occupation, raising children is Randall's purpose. "The best crop that will ever come out of Rock Hill Ranch are my children," he says. During weekends and summer months, two of his three children are old enough to ride along while Randall does chores. For him, having his kids nearby transforms every task from a chore into a teachable moment.
Are Most Beef Ranches Family Owned?
Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. is technically a corporation, but it is run entirely by two families who live on and love the land. That is not unusual in American agriculture. Farming is both a way of life and a business passed down from generation to generation. Many farm families choose to incorporate to protect assets and make it easier to transfer ownership to the next generation without having to sell land or cattle. It keeps the operation in the family and in thoughtful production across many generations.
The numbers tell that story clearly. The United States has nearly one million cattle farmers and ranchers. Kansas is home to more than 27,000 of them. With an average herd size of 40 head, 91 percent of ranches are family owned. Technically, a family farm can be a corporation, and a corporation can be a family farm. Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. is both.
Meet Your Rancher:
Is Rock Hill Ranch a family farm or a corporation?
Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. is both. It is legally incorporated, but it is owned and operated entirely by two Kansas families: the Deblers and the Millers. Incorporating allowed the Millers to gradually transfer ownership to the Deblers without requiring a single large purchase, keeping the land and cattle in family hands across generations. This is a common and practical approach to ranch succession planning.
How do family farms get passed down to the next generation?
Many farming families choose to incorporate their operations so ownership can be transferred gradually through share sales rather than a single large transaction. This protects the family's assets, avoids the need for crippling debt, and keeps land and livestock in the family. The Debler and Miller families used this approach to transition Rock Hill Ranch over time.
What percentage of beef ranches are family owned?
91 percent of beef ranches in the United States are family owned. The United States has nearly one million cattle farmers and ranchers, and Kansas is home to more than 27,000 of them. Despite common misconceptions, the vast majority of beef production comes from family operations, not large corporations.
What is the average herd size on a beef ranch?
The average herd size on a beef ranch in the United States is approximately 40 head of cattle. This reflects the reality that most beef operations are small, family-run farms rather than large industrial operations.
Why do ranchers choose to raise beef cattle?
For most ranchers, raising cattle is about far more than producing food. It is a way of life tied to family, land, and purpose. For Randall Debler of Rock Hill Ranch, producing beef is his occupation, but raising his children on the land is his purpose. Ranching families across Kansas share that same deep connection to the work they do and the communities they feed.
Meet Your Rancher:
Question One?
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Question Two?
Vivamus eget eros posuere, efficitur turpis et, molestie magna. Vestibulum id nunc purus. Nulla facilisi. Donec libero ipsum, semper at finibus sit amet, consectetur a sapien. Sed placerat risus quis arcu volutpat faucibus. Nulla mattis neque sed dui pulvinar, sed feugiat eros varius. Aliquam tincidunt ultrices dignissim.
Question Three?
Vivamus eget eros posuere, efficitur turpis et, molestie magna. Vestibulum id nunc purus. Nulla facilisi. Donec libero ipsum, semper at finibus sit amet, consectetur a sapien. Sed placerat risus quis arcu volutpat faucibus. Nulla mattis neque sed dui pulvinar, sed feugiat eros varius. Aliquam tincidunt ultrices dignissim.
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