Episode 138 // Shanda Mattix of Barnwood & Bling and M Arrow Ranch

Written By Danna Larson

Today we’re with Shanda Mattix of Barnwood & Bling and M Arrow Ranch in Colby, Kansas. Shanda and her husband Caleb are building - and living in - a legacy of agriculture. From her role as the Equine Program Director and Equestrian Team Head Coach at Colby Community College, to turning a creative outlet into a western home decor and fashion business, to selling their meat locally, we are covering it all. And you will find a common theme throughout this conversation: the heart behind everything Shanda and Caleb are involved in is to intentionally serve a need in their community, and that’s pretty special.

Shanda is one of the most involved people I know and I love how she and her family are immersed in ag and are maximizing their opportunities on their land. I got to witness this firsthand in the few days I had the opportunity to spend in Colby. Colby has a lot to offer, and if you’re looking for a fun girls shopping trip down a historic small town Main Street, or are looking for a great place to stop when you’re headed west to the mountains, you’ll want to make Colby part of your plans.

“If there’s an area that you see a need, and if you feel like that’s a need you can serve, step in and do that.”

- Shanda Mattix

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“How can we do more with what we have right now?”

- Shanda Mattix

“If there’s an area that you see a need, and if you feel like that’s a need you can serve, step in and do that.”

- Shanda Mattix

“Balance doesn’t exist. So I try to have the mindset of what we’re doing as a family can have a lot of blend. So that means that our children are involved in our operation.”

- Shanda Mattix

“I think it’s different because people know us personally and they know the care that we put into raising our animals and the steak they’re gonna eat is raised with compassion. They can drive down the dirt road and see the herd and see Caleb feeding those cows and they know how that animal was cared for.”

- Shanda Mattix

“So much of what we do, we’re doing to serve a need that is in our community. Because ultimately we want this place to be a place that all generations feel welcomed and involved and there’s things for them to do and participate in, a place that our kids and our friends’ kids and our family are able to thrive because of the things that are occurring in our community.”

- Shanda Mattix

 
 
Danna Larson
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Episode 139 // Marcy Bergman of Fueled By Faith Coffee
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Episode 137 // Josh Smith of Montana Knife Company