Meet JOSHUA CIARDULLO | 1st Generation Rancher

We had the good fortune of connecting with JOSHUA CIARDULLO and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JOSHUA, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
We strive to steward the land and leave it better than we found it. Through responsible ranching we aim to strike a balance between the needs of a growing population and the environment.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Hi! We are Josh, Erica and Henry Ciardullo, passionate ranchers who care deeply about animals, the environment, our community and the food we eat.

Six years ago Josh, with his adventurous spirit, convinced his wife Erica to put on her cowgirl boots and move from Denver to the town of Wellington—Colorado’s beautiful northern gateway. It’s here, on this land, the three of us found our roots. Together, we built 33-acres of land into Ciardullo Ranch. Recently we expanded our stewardship into a 500-acre paradise named Sylvan Dale Ranch a few miles south of Ciardullo Ranch.

More than simply ranching, we strive to be stewards of the land God gave us. Our approach is to raise the livestock as if it were 10,000 years ago—instead of working against nature, we strive to mimic what would take place in our absence. We aren’t trying to keep up with the swings of the cattle market and stress over the buy-low-sell-high mentality. We want our animals to breed and calve in sync with their large herbivore neighbors, like the elk and deer that roam free in our backyard, the Rocky Mountains.

We recognize the land does not belong to us—it belongs to God and he has instructed us to take care of his land and animals. So with that mindset we strive to please him by tending to His land and animals with the utmost respect. We love His animals. We love His land. It’s evident in how we treat the animals. We always have green pastures, fresh, cold water, lots of room for the animals and lots of love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We love 5003 Distillery as they have the best cocktails in town. After a few bourbons we would head to The Still Whiskey Steaks for dinner and stop at The Churn or Nuance Chocolate for dessert. Obviously we’d tour the ranch and visit Roosevelt National Forest where our cattle spend their summer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Joel Salatin. Mr. Salatin has led the way in regenerative agriculture and raising livestock as God intended.

Website: Ciardulloranch.com

Instagram: @ciardulloranch

Facebook: Ciardulloranch

Youtube: Ciardulloranch