Meet Carmel

Meet Carmel:

Describe your operation:

Together with her husband Todd and their daughters, Addison and Jayden, Carmel runs a commercial cow-calf operation in southwest North Dakota. They raise Angus cows and cross with Charolais bulls. Replacement heifers are home-raised and bred to Angus bulls. Calves are marketed in the fall through video auctions and local sale barns. Their operation spans both Grant and Bowman Counties. In Grant County, the family handles hay production, winter feeding, and manages smaller grazing areas. In Bowman County, Carmel partners with her sisters on their father’s original ranch, and they also operate an additional property used primarily for summer grazing.

How do you keep animals safe and healthy?

She believes that the care and well-being of livestock is second nature to every rancher. “It’s more than economics—it’s about genuine care. Ensuring our animals are healthy is just part of who we are.”

How do you care for the environment?

As a passionate steward of North Dakota’s native rangelands, Carmel has implemented conservation practices to preserve and protect these vital natural resources. She notes that most ranchers feel a deep connection to their land, and their management reflects a long-term commitment to sustainability.

What message do you hope to pass on to your kids about farming and production agriculture?

“I remind my girls how lucky they are to grow up on a ranch—the freedom, the work, the beauty of it all,” she says. Her hope is that they not only cherish this lifestyle but grow into advocates for the beef industry themselves.