Like father like son.
24 West Ranch is an 80-acre urban cattle ranch in Boise, Idaho.
We are the Watterson Family, third-generation ranchers producing 100% all-natural, grass fed beef, raised on our pastures and grazed in the open air of the Boise foothills. We are nestled in the foothills between Boise and Eagle, less than 15 minutes from either downtown. We have a small herd of about 30 calf/cow pairs and we only sell our beef locally. We never ship beef out of market.
All of our cattle live on a single ranch, which also happens to be our home, so we can keep a close eye on them. We believe that a working ranch is a perfect place to raise a family, which is exactly what we have done.
We use sustainable practices and treat our cattle humanely, so we’re able to provide the best in local, grass fed beef to local families. You can feel good about eating our beef knowing where and how it was raised.
We believe in openness and transparency in all aspects of our operation—your satisfaction and our livelihood depends on it. In addition, most of what our ranch needs to operate is produced right here, on the farm. We grow our own hay and transport our own cattle. We practice crop rotation to prevent soil erosion and we practice cover cropping and many other techniques that help conserve, regenerate and protect the soil. If, like us, you believe in sustainability, environmental stewardship, supporting the local economy and local producers, we hope you’ll choose our all-natural grass fed beef for your family.
History
The Watterson family has been raising cattle, sheep and vegetables in the Treasure Valley since 1924.
In 1924, Joe Watterson left Tennessee and jumped a railcar to begin a new life out west. He started by herding sheep and then soon settled down to farm. Raising eight kids during the Great Depression, the Watterson family sustained themselves almost entirely off what they produced on the original 40-acre farm in Homedale, Idaho. Grandpa Joe had a dozen milk cows on the farm and many times throughout those lean years, his bi-weekly milk check is what kept the family going. Grandma Irene had a large garden in which she grew vegetables to feed the family throughout the summer. She canned the excess for the winter months. Out of necessity for the survival of the farm and family, all the kids had to pitch in with the chores. This instilled a work ethic and respect for the land that sustained them that continues to this day.
Our team
Our team is our family. You can be assured that you will receive consistent quality and customer service, and that your beef and produce are treated with the utmost respect and care.
Joe and Jill Watterson
Joe and Jill are owners and operators of 24 West Ranch. Joe grew up ranching and then spent about 25 years in the tech industry before shifting careers and going back to his roots. Jill and Joe moved from the North End of Boise to begin their new adventure in 2010 and never looked back. As a rancher, Joe plays the role of a horticulturist, an irrigation expert, a mechanic, a large equipment operator and a vet. He works on the ranch every day alongside our ranch manager, Freddy.
Jill handles all sales and marketing for the ranch. She is also a partner at a local advertising agency, so her days are full.
Both Joe and Jill grew up in the valley. They have a son, Luke and a daughter named Evan and love raising their children on the ranch.
Freddy Murillo
Freddy is the go-to guy on the ranch and has been the ranch manager for over 10 years. He handles all of our hay production, including watering, planting, and cutting and bailing. He also checks on the cattle daily and delivers most of our home delivery orders. He is the fastest moving person you’ll meet and works tirelessly to assure that the ranch operates smoothly. And, he does it all with a smile on his face. Freddy lives in Star with his wife and two daughters.
