sunshine beef
grass fed - grass finished
about our Beef
Sunshine makes grass. Grass makes beef.
We buy weaned calves from local ranchers then grow them out on our lush pastures. They drink snowmelt water fresh from the mountains, lick salt and mineral blocks and feast on a variety of perennial grasses, legumes and forbes. Once they are fully fleshed out and "grass-finished" we quickly and quietly take them to a local USDA inspected processor. Thats it! No supplements, no grain, no imported feeds. In the winter the cattle either graze on stockpiled forages at a lower elevation or we feed the same pasture grass cut, baled and preserved as hay. While we haven't pursued organic certifications, our pastures and the surrounding environment are as clean as agricultural land can get. We invite you to come see for yourself!
Holistic Management
We strive to sustainably produce healthy, delicious food, to contribute to our local community and economy, and to be good stewards of our land, water and livestock. By frequently rotating the cattle to fresh pastures we build soil fertility. We share the land with wildlife, preserve open space and sequester carbon in our deep-rooted perennial pastures.
The Home Place
The center of our operations is the XK Bar Ranch, a small family ranch in the foothills of the West Elk Mountains near Crawford, CO. We also collaborate with neighbors and lease nearby land to ensure that we have plenty of pasture for our growing herd.
About our people
Tony Prendergast - Cowboss
A fourth generation Coloradoan, Tony raised 4-H animals as a kid. Then he spent years in the mountains as an Outward Bound Instructor, Wilderness Ranger and Outfitter. He also built homes with adobe, logs, stone, and straw bales. In 2011 he bought a couple calves to try his hand at raising grassfed beef, and has been growing the herd ever since.
Darby Prendergast - Cowboy
A fifth generation Coloradan, Darby grew up on the ranch. He spent several years on the west coast working as a carpenter before moving back to the rocky mountain west to practice architecture and train horses. In 2020 he started buying cows and has been adding to the herd ever since.
Extra Hands
We rely on seasonal ranch hands to help keep the fields green, the cows happy and the fences tight. We would be delighted to talk to you if you're interested in learning more about this opportunity.
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