Fire. "Baptism by fire," that is when Katie Blunk, DVM, took the reins on her family's ranch near Freedom, Okla., as operator of the Lazy KT Ranch and Jackass Ridge Beef.

Blunk's journey back to her roots unfolds with a blend of heritage, conservation and progressive ranching practices driven by a passion for both animal health and environmental stewardship.

Serving as a field veterinarian for USDA-APHIS-VS in Reno, Nev., Blunk felt the pull of her childhood roots.

In 2012, she and her husband Michael Horntvedt, packed up their asses, three wild burros to be exact, and headed to start the next chapter of their lives and the Lazy KT Ranch legacy.

Returning to the Blunk Ranch was not without its challenges as it lacked the basic infrastructure needed for cattle ranching - no habitable structures, water wells or functional cattle facilities.

But amid these inital hurdles lay an asset tha proved invaluable - a commitment to land stewardship.

Following the passing of Blunk's father, her mother, Rose Blunk, stepped up to manage the ranch's lands. Overwhelmed by the encroachment of Eastern Red Cedar trees and years of neglect, Rose sought aid from the National Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the local precribed burn association. Implementing conservation strategies such as cedar cutting and prescribed burns, she set the transformation in motion.

The Perfect Pair

Prescribed burning is central to the conservation effort at Lazy KT Ranch - a practice that Blunk refers to as their primary and most economical tool.

Through meticulous application, good fires have been harnessed to rejuvenate the Oklahoma ranch, especially when coupled with a well-managed cattle operation. The strategic use of cattle and their cloven hoofed action, proper stocking densities and rotational grazing patterns creat a synergy that catalyzes both ecological health and economic prosperity, Blunk explains.

The ranch's Angus cow-calf operation overseen by Katie and Michael ripples into diverse ventures including marketing of seedstock bulls and bred females, retained ownership opportunties, and the branding of the Jackass Ridge Beef label for their direct-to-consumer beef.

Blunk explains, "Rejecting the limitation of labels such as maternal versus terminal, we are inspired by the 'You can have it all' philosophy from Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch."

Their breeding program thrives on data-driven decisions, relying on expected progeny differences (EPDs) and Method Genetics genomic indexes. A focus on calving ease, docility, growth, moderate stature and elite carcass EPDs (marbling and ribeye) underpins their approach.

"All these things have allowed us to weather the storm and stay the course by creating multiple, flexible marketing outlets for all classes of our cattle," Blunk explains.

Elevating Value

Blunk contributes much of their herd's success to science-based decisions and intentional management practices. Artificial insemination, early ultrasound pregnancy diagnostics and real-time genomics from DNA testing are key to their genetic acceleration. Upholding the integrity of their operation is a comprehensive herd health protocol plus a foundation of sound nutrition and stockmanship.

"We create value-added cattle that have really paid off through market fluctuations and enabled us to have a very resilient operation, managing through drought with our cattle marketing successes, pasture health and preservation of natural resources," Blunk adds.

For Blunk, the ranch is not just a livelihood - it's a canvas upon which memories are woven, ecosystems restored, water flow is revitalized and wildfires mitigated. 

The holistic vision encompasses high-quality Angus genetics, home-raised premium beef and a commitment to preserving the land for generations to come. 

With a blend of tradition, conservation and innovation, Blunk remains a torchbearer for land stewardship and sustainable ranching - proving genetics run deep.