A Mid-Year Update from Stemple Creek Ranch

Hello Friends,

As July comes to a close, I wanted to share a few highlights from the past few months, not simply to recap what we've been doing, but to reflect on why we've been doing it.

Looking back on this summer, what I'll remember most won't be the events or milestones, it'll be the moments. Gathering around the table at our Farm Dinners. Walking the ranch during our Tours & Tastings. Meeting new customers in the Stemple Creek Market. Those experiences reminded me that great food has always been about people. 

Here are a few moments that made this summer especially memorable. 

Gathering Around the Table

In May, we hosted another unforgettable Farm Dinner here at the ranch.

Watching friends, families, chefs, and first-time visitors gather around long tables in our historic barn reminds me why we do what we do. As the sun goes down and conversations linger long after dinner, it's a reminder that food has a unique way of bringing people together.

This year's meal was beautifully prepared by the talented team at Seared Restaurant (my go-to place to eat in Petaluma). From steak tartare and pork belly bites to a Gaucho-style ribeye and braised lamb shank, every course celebrated the incredible ingredients raised here at Stemple Creek.

We were also honored to welcome Barton Family Wines, founded by Loren and Lisa's longtime friends from Cal Poly. Their exceptional Paso Robles wines paired perfectly with the meal and made the evening even more memorable.

To everyone who joined us, thank you. We can't wait to do it again next year.

On the Ranch 

This summer we've welcomed more visitors than ever for our Ranch Tours & Tastings, and it's been one of the highlights of the year.

A huge thank you goes to our events team, who have helped turn these tours into something that's as educational as it is enjoyable.

Guests walk the pastures, climb to the Grove overlooking the ranch, learn how we graze our cattle, and finish with a tasting of the food they've just seen being raised.

No website, social media post, or label can replace standing on the land where your food is raised.

One of my favorite parts of these tours is introducing guests to the people we work with. On our most recent tour, Tyler Dawley from Big Bluff Ranch joined us to share the story behind his pasture-raised chicken operation, his family legacy, and why our partnership makes so much sense.

A personal highlight for me was having my two-year-old son, Elias, tag along for his very first Ranch Tour. He made the hike up to the Grove, "helped" at the BBQ, and thoroughly enjoyed taste-testing Tyler's chicken (and our Sweet Italian sausage). Watching him experience the ranch through fresh eyes reminded me that ranches like ours are about much more than raising great food. They’re about creating something worth passing on.

If you haven't joined us yet, we'd love to see you on our last tour of the summer. 

Sunday, August 16th | Get Tickets Here

On the Road and Inspired

In June, I had the opportunity to travel to the Old Salt Festival in Helmville, Montana. Ranchers, chefs, conservationists, entrepreneurs, and food leaders from around the country gathered to celebrate healthy landscapes, good food, and vibrant rural communities. 

One of the highlights was joining a panel to discuss what we're building here at Stemple Creek and why strengthening regional food systems matters.

What I brought home wasn't just new ideas—it was renewed optimism. Spending time with so many thoughtful people tackling similar challenges reminded me that we're part of something much bigger than our own ranch. There's a growing community of people working to build a better food system, and it was inspiring to be among them. 

Before catching my flight home, I managed to sneak away for a few hours of fly fishing on Rock Creek. It was the perfect way to wrap up an inspiring weekend.

I also had the chance to sit down with the Roots of Change podcast to talk about many of these same topics, from the economics of agriculture to the future of regional food systems.

Roots of Change Podcast Episode

A New Gathering Place 

One of the biggest milestones of the year has been opening the Stemple Creek Market at our Petaluma headquarters.

For years, people have asked for another way to shop directly from us. Now you can stop in to pick up online orders, stock your freezer, discover new products, and meet the team behind the ranch.

Ever since we started selling at farmers markets nearly 20 years ago, we've dreamed about having a place that captured that same feeling every day of the week. While we're not quite open seven days yet, it finally feels like that vision is coming to life. 

We're currently open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and we're planning to expand both our hours and days of operation in the coming months.

Our hope is that the Market becomes the kind of place where you stop in on your way home for dinner, discover another local producer, chat with our team, or simply say hello.

This is just the beginning. Over the coming months we'll be adding more local products, seasonal tastings, pop-up events, and grab-and-go meals.

And yes... breakfast burritos and roast beef sandwiches are coming soon.

Looking Ahead

As summer winds down, we're already looking ahead to an exciting fall.

We're preparing for another holiday season, expanding the Market, introducing new products, and getting ready for our annual Open House BBQ on Saturday, October 17th. I hope you'll join us.

Whether we've met at a Farm Dinner, during a Ranch Tour, in the Market, or only through a box of beef delivered to your doorstep, thank you for supporting our family ranch and for believing in what we're building here. It truly is a privilege to do this work. 

Conner Hackett