Utah Couple Starts Highland Cattle Ranch After Leaving Europe

Chelsey Butterfield and her husband established Golden Hour Ranch in Utah after living in Europe for eight years. The couple moved to the state when her husband retired from professional basketball, seeking a life centered on self-sufficiency rather than urban living.

Butterfield stated that her interest in agriculture began while the family was overseas. She spent that time reading about homesteading and raising chickens, which led her to desire a ranching lifestyle. Neither partner had a background in farming, but they committed to learning the trade as they went.

The first year of operations presented a steep challenge for the new ranchers. Utah’s unpredictable spring weather, featuring freezing nights followed by warmer days, contributed to pneumonia among their herd. The family lost several calves and brought others inside their home to care for them near a fireplace.

“It was really hard on my heart at first,” Butterfield said. “But the only way to learn is to do. So we just kind of kept chugging along and learning as we went.” Her husband has since embraced the work, taking on the role of a team roper within the operation.

The ranch has expanded its focus beyond raising Highland cattle to include agritourism. Butterfield noted that opening the land to guests was initially intimidating because it represented another unfamiliar business sector. The farm now offers horseback riding experiences, allowing visitors to see the daily work of the ranch.

Butterfield said the transition has provided her with a sense of confidence and independence she lacked while living overseas. She observed that her children have also developed problem-solving skills and meaningful relationships with the animals. The family uses the agritourism program to share the lifestyle with people who might not otherwise encounter ranch life firsthand.

The couple aims to demonstrate the commitment required to run a farm. Butterfield emphasized the passion involved in the industry, stating, “Just how much hard work goes into it and how much ranchers and farmers truly care about the work that they’re doing. There’s so much passion and heart in this industry.” Golden Hour Ranch currently operates as a working cattle ranch with public access for riding.