Navigating the Transition: Humility and Adaptability | Adele Schott
How Succession and Change Are Shaping the Future of Family Ranching
Ranching is more than just a livelihood—it's a legacy. For many ranch families, the transition between generations isn’t just about passing on land or cattle. It’s about the values, the hard work, and the heart behind every decision that shapes the future of the operation. Adele Schott’s journey of taking over her family’s ranch is a testament to the challenges, rewards, and growth that come with navigating the complexities of family succession, personal development, and balancing the past with the future.
Adele grew up on a fifth-generation ranch, but it wasn’t always clear that she would return to take over. After exploring the world, gaining valuable experiences working in a variety of settings, and even spending time living abroad in Buenos Aires, Adele returned to the ranch when she felt ready. What she brought back with her wasn’t just knowledge of ranching—it was a broader, more worldly perspective that has influenced how she now manages the ranch.
Adele’s journey back to the ranch was shaped by a mix of personal exploration and practical experiences. From working on ranches in vastly different climates to running restaurants and studying culinary arts, Adele accumulated lessons that enriched her understanding of the agricultural business. These experiences weren’t just about learning different techniques or systems, they were about seeing the world and figuring out what she wanted to bring back home—focusing on things like food quality and the value of building strong customer relationships.
“The succession process needs to involve openness, mutual respect, and understanding—not just in terms of practicalities but also emotionally.”
But Adele’s transition back to the ranch wasn’t without its struggles. Like many family-run operations, the shift from one generation to the next is filled with emotions, ego, and a lot of difficult conversations. Her relationship with her mom, who has run the ranch for years, wasn’t always as smooth as she would have liked, and they had to work through many growing pains. One key moment was when Adele’s mom sold her beloved registered herd to make room for the next chapter, and Adele found herself stepping into the leadership role.
The transition wasn’t just about taking over the reins—it was about learning to let go of the past and finding a balance between keeping traditions alive and embracing new ideas. Adele talks openly about the difficulty of balancing her vision with the experience and wisdom of the generations before her. And she emphasizes that success isn’t just about financial growth or expanding the operation—it’s about adapting to the land, to market demands, and to family dynamics.
Adele’s experience is also a reminder that family succession in agriculture isn’t just about transferring land or assets. It's deeply emotional. For those who have spent decades building something with their hands, it can be hard to let go. There’s often a fear of losing control, of seeing all that hard work slip away, and that’s where communication becomes key. The succession process needs to involve openness, mutual respect, and understanding—not just in terms of practicalities but also emotionally.
One thing that Adele emphasizes is that it’s okay to go slow. In a world where everything seems to move fast, especially with all the new technology and ideas, it can feel like you should be moving faster. But Adele’s advice? Take your time, learn from each other, and respect the process. When she and her brother were figuring out their roles, they didn’t just jump in with preconceived notions. They talked, learned, and adapted—slowly finding a way to work together. It wasn’t a perfect start, but today, it works because they both approach the ranch with a common goal: to improve the land and leave it better than they found it.
Adele’s story also includes a fascinating example of adapting to new demands in the agricultural market. What started as a small, seemingly inconsequential focus on Corianni beef grew into a thriving niche market. By leaning into a unique offering—Corianni beef—Adele’s ranch is carving out a space in the market with high-quality, grass-fed, lean beef, and now lamb. The transition to offering these products to restaurants and creating an agritourism experience has added a new dimension to the ranch, helping her family diversify their income stream and make the ranch more sustainable.
Throughout the conversation, Adele's message is clear: it's about adaptability and perseverance. Agriculture is an unpredictable field, and it’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go according to plan. But as Adele shows, the key is to keep pushing forward, even when you feel like you’re stuck or not in control. The ability to pivot, adjust, and stay humble through the process of both family succession and running a business is what leads to success.
Adele’s story isn’t just about taking over a ranch—it’s about carrying forward a legacy while embracing change. It’s about being humble enough to learn from the past, adapt to the present, and look to the future with an open mind. If there’s one takeaway from Adele’s journey, it’s this: take it slow, work together, and trust that the right path will emerge.
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