EPISODE THREE
From Sand to Soil
On the beaver flats outside Ekalaka, Montana, Ryan and Abbey Bruski are upending convention on their multi-generational ranch. After realizing that their traditional cow-calf model wasn’t working for the land or the family, they sold the cows, shifted to custom grazing, and began rebuilding the ranch from the ground up.
As the Bruskis implemented regenerative grazing practices, including daily moves, diverse grass mixes, and a focus on soil health, they also confronted the strained succession history that had long cast uncertainty over the ranch. Determined not to repeat the past, Ryan and Abbey paired ecological regeneration with a new approach to family planning, creating clear roles, business structures, and a succession plan designed to give future generations clarity.
This episode was created with support from the World Wildlife Fund.
Photo by Conservation Media courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.
Guests
Abbey Bruski
Abbey grew up ranching along the Yellowstone River in Hysham, Montana, and now co-owns and manages the Bruski operation with her husband Ryan. A mother of three, she's an influential business leader who's widely respected in regenerative agriculture circles. She brings intention and strategy to everything she does, and if she'd have ended up in a city like she originally planned, she'd have rocked a power suit and been a Forbes 30 Under 30.
Ryan Bruski
Ryan is a regenerative rancher and co-owner of his family’s multi-generational operation in Ekalaka, Montana. A former student of Gabe and Paul Brown, he was early to embrace adaptive grazing and soil-health principles. Ryan introduced rotational grazing, low-input strategies and a transition from a mother cow herd to stocker and yearling model, dramatically improving ecological function and the ranch’s bottom line.
Gabe Brown
Gabe Brown is a pioneer of regenerative agriculture and owner of Brown’s Ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota. After suffering four consecutive crop failures in the 1990s, he shifted away from conventional farming and began implementing soil health–focused practices. Today his land functions without synthetic fertilizers or herbicides and supports multiple revenue streams generated through ecological resilience. Brown is the author of Dirt to Soil and has influenced thousands of ranchers and farmers across the world — including Ryan Bruski — through his mentorship, workshops and speaking appearances. His work is featured in the Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground, narrated by Woody Harrelson.
Joe Bruski
Joe is Ryan’s father and senior advisor to the ranch. His openness to experimentation and willingness to let Ryan try regenerative practices were pivotal to the ranch’s transformation. Initially cautious, Joe has since become a proud advocate of the change and encourages others to embrace succession early.
Sonja Bruski
Sonja is Joe's wife and Ryan's mother. She owns a salon in town and is recognized by her family as a quiet but influential presence in ranch and family dynamics. Sonja supported Ryan’s interests outside ranch work when he was growing up, and she remains engaged in family life and ranch operations today.