Farmer Podcast Club: Bison Ranching with No Land, No Animals, and No Money

Enjoy listening to this Farmer Podcast Club episode.

In this month’s podcast club release, we’re tuning into a September 2025 episode of the Savory Institute podcast. Sarah Murphy, a first-generation bison rancher and founder of Murphy Legacy Bison in Colorado, shares how she became a rancher starting completely from scratch.

As described in the show notes: “Before ranching, she worked in marketing at Whole Foods and the Savory Institute, where her dream of managing bison emerged. With mentorship, creativity, and persistence, she built a regenerative, 900-acre bison operation in Colorado.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it takes to start a ranch with no land, no animals, and no capital
• Why bison are both ‘really easy when they’re easy, and really hard when they’re hard’
• The hidden challenges—and breakthroughs—of being a first-generation rancher
• How Tribal nations are weaving cultural heritage into bison reintroduction
• The surprising links between mountain biking, river running, and regenerative ranching
• Why the outdoor industry’s narrative on livestock may be missing the bigger picture”

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a ranch from scratch—don’t miss this episode!

Subscribe to the podcast on:

Don’t miss an episode of our Podcast Club!

Sign Up for the Young Agrarians Farmer Podcast Club