Regenerative Agriculture [Texas Cattle Ranch] land restoration family farm

A Texas family owned farm operated since 1846, Parker Creek Ranch is a homestead and working ranch located 50 miles west of San Antonio, Texas. These permaculture farmers are committed to regenerative agriculture and creating healthy habitats for livestock, wildlife, and people. As stewards of the land, their goal is to produce nutritious products for the community while designing and managing systems that will benefit the environment and future generations. Constant iteration and improvement is the key to their success. They have indeed built one of the most resilient and productive systems in all of Texas.

Mandy and Travis are proud to come from a long line of farmers. Mandy is a fifth generation farmer and grew up on her family's citrus farm in McAllen, TX. Travis is a seventh generation farmer and grew up on his family's ranch in D'Hanis, TX. The pair met at Texas A&M University and graduated in 2008 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Both worked as biologists and educators for several years, Travis abroad and Mandy in south Texas. While working in India, Travis' love for books led him to permaculture. His early ideas were derived from pioneers like Masanobu Fukuoka, Bill Mollison, Joel Salatin and Malcom Beck. Travis always knew he wanted to spend his life on the ranch his family has lived on for generations as traditional cattle ranchers. He believed pasture-raised poultry would be well suited for the land and was inspired enough by Joel Salatin’s book to embark on a new farming journey. By the end of 2010 Travis had moved moved back to the ranch and began to build a homestead. Mandy joined him in 2011 and the couple married in 2012. We have three sons - Jack, Max and Eli, who we love raising on the homestead. Mandy Received her permaculture design certificate from Austin Permaculture Guild in 2014.

Parker Creek Ranch's regenerative, holistic agriculture practices have a large-scale impact on the conservation of our natural resources on the Ranch and in the bioregion and ecoregion in Central Texas as well. The Ranches systems and efforts greatly improve the soil and forage quality, water catchment and infiltration, and wildlife habitat. Community relations are paramount to success as well as being a way to share good news and hopefully replicate as scale the regenerative systems. Parker Creek Ranch is energized by sustainable agriculture design and loves to teach others about what they do.

Holistic Goals

Produce nutritious and flavorful products for the community and allow people the opportunity to connect with the land.

Demonstrate the balance and relationship between agricultural production and natural resource conservation.

Generate a healthy profit from the land in order to support our family and invest in things we believe in.

Manage the land holistically - care for the soil, water, plants, animals and people.e


The Ranch focused on producing broilers and laying hens in the early years, but have now expanded to turkeys and grass-fed beef. They are a direct farm-to-market producer committed to the idea that local is better. All of our products are sold within a 150 miles radius to farmers markets, restaurants, and individuals/families. Travis, Mandy and the kids enjoy harvesting wild game, spending lots of time in the vibrant garden, planting incredible amounts of native and edible trees and constantly brainstorming and implementing regenerative practices.

Parker Creek Ranch's business and production models are always evolving. The family farm has overcome enormous obstacles by staying committed, focusing goals and bigger, longer term picture. Travis and Mandy genuinely love regenerative farming and constantly challenge themselves to iterate and improve their systems.

Holistic Goals of the Ranch include:

Produce nutritious and flavorful products for the community and allow people the opportunity to connect with the land.

Demonstrate the balance and relationship between agricultural production and natural resource conservation.

Generate a healthy profit from the land in order to support our family and invest in things we believe in.

Manage the land holistically - care for the soil, water, plants, animals and people.