Back to the Land: A Father-Son Ranching Legacy | Caldwell Ranch Story

Carrying on the Caldwell Ranch Legacy

After a year of playing college football, Jack Caldwell knew where he truly belonged—back home on the ranch. Returning to Caldwell Ranch to work alongside his father, James, wasn’t just a change in direction; it was a return to his roots and a commitment to something bigger than himself.

The Caldwell story began in 1954 when Jack’s grandfather acquired the first piece of land. James, a U.S. Army veteran, came back to the ranch full-time in 1975, growing it into a diversified cow-calf, hunting, and custom hay operation built on hard work, resilience, and deep family values. Today, Jack is continuing that legacy—raising his own family on the same land, learning from James, and investing in the future of the operation.

In this customer story, Jack and James share what it means to be part of a multi-generational ranching family. They discuss the challenges and rewards of working side-by-side, and how ag lending tools like patronage programs have provided the financial strength and flexibility to keep their business growing for generations to come.