Hi.
We are Reyes & Kacie Carballo and our family is blessed to run Dry Lakes Ranch in beautiful Parowan, Utah. The ranch has been in existence since 1873, and we've been part of that history for the last few decades. We run a cow-calf operation that had traditionally sold calves at weaning time in the Fall.
When the pandemic highlighted the vertically integrated supply chain problem we have in America, we were forced to change our operation to stay afloat. We now sell our own beef, purchase beef from other producers, and bring in local lamb, mutton, chicken, turkey, and pork to sell in our meat shop.
Our decision to sell directly to the consumer has been a life-changing one for our family, and hopefully one that is positively impacting many more families than just our own.
We aren't much for talking about ourselves, but if you want to know more, reach out. We'll happily share our story along with a cold Diet Coke or Corona, depending on who you wanna talk to.
This couple here are angels to us, in a literal and figurative way. We know they are watching down on us from above now, but they were angels on Earth for many years too. Hal & Donna Mitchell are essentially Reyes' adopted parents. They took him in as their own, and he has worked day in and day out to carry on their legacy just as they asked him.
We live by, and honor this sentiment. We truly care for the land, our natural resources, the wildlife, our animals, and our community. We recognize that we play a hefty role in the vitality of all that is in our care and we take that responsibility very seriously.
Some of our best times are spent along side one another. Here, we are riding Dry Lakes, checking on our cattle and ensuring there is no predation problems or health issues.
On of Reyes' very closest friends is Coy Stowell. They work along side each other all year, in every aspect of farming and ranching. In fact, as our business has grown, we've begun buying steers from neighbors like Coy to finish feed. It's a blessing to be able to keep locally grown beef here at home and offer it for sale to those we are friends and family with.
One of the best ways for us to meet the nutritive requirements of our cattle is to add to their diet, and particularly to do so during the winter or times when they need additional calories. Our cattle are fed various rations depending on their needs and the time of year. Here we've loaded several big bales of a 3-Way Mix Hay, which is a blend of oats, wheat, and barley.
A portion of Dry Lakes Ranch was scorched in the Brian Head Fire of 2017. But, we are staunch believers in the fact that our lands have been mismanaged by bureaucracy and there isn't a single solution, or a single person to blame when a fire starts. We are to the point that catastrophe is going to happen, and we pray the land, waters, native plant life communities, animals, history, and humans can bounce back. After all, it's the only choice we've got now.
We have many springs on our property and we take care to ensure they are never damaged in any way. This spring is one of our favorite spots on Dry Lakes to get a sip of cool, clear water.
We farm about 300 acres in the Parowan Valley. We raise primarily hay; both high quality alfalfa, and also grass mix hays and oat hay with a three way mix.
We love to work our cattle horseback. Although most of our work is done a-foot, we love the chance to work with our equine partners and use the instincts of both the horses, and the cows.
