We recently connected with Markus Deas and have shared our conversation below.

Markus, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I grew up in a small rural town in Western New York called Fredonia. Here, farming and patriotism run deep. Growing up around lots of farmers, I was taught from a young age the importance of the farmer and their crucial role in providing food for our nation. I also have been surrounded by proud members of the military and Veterans within the community. My brother and sister served in the Navy and Marine Corps, my father was in the Air Force, Uncles in the Navy and Coast Guard, Grandfathers in the Army during WWII and Great Grandfathers in the Army during WWI. This taught me the importance of our military members, Veterans and their families. I developed a strong appreciation for those members of our society who sacrificed so much to protect our Country.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to become an airline pilot and I would do all I could to achieve that goal. After graduating from Fredonia High School, I attended Liberty University and went through their School of Aeronautics program and obtained a B.S. in Commercial/Corporate Aviation, while also playing hockey. After graduation I kick started my career and eventually got to where I am now, Breeze Airways where I manage the training department and fly the Airbus.

During my early career at Breeze, my brother, Ryan Deas, who was serving in the United States Marine Corps, called me and said that he had met another Marine, Rob Moore, who loved farming and wanted to give back to the Veteran Community. With all three of us having the desire to get into ranching, as well as helping Veterans in some way, we had our first meeting as a business in November of 2022.

Rob, Ryan and Myself had a strong passion and desire to combine the ideas of ranching and helping out our Nation’s Veterans. Ryan and Ryan being in the United States Marine Corps, have seen first hand how military service can take a toll on one’s body, mind and emotions. From enlisted all the way up to officers, all members of the military experience some sort of trauma and may need help during and after their service. Both Rob, Ryan and myself know members of the military and Veterans who have attempted suicide, and committed suicide. It broke our hearts to see, those who served this Country, and did the highest duty to this Country, be left behind and forgotten about. We saw a gap in the system for Veteran Health Care and we wanted to do what we could to help fill that gap.

Therefore we took the passion of farming and ranching combined it with helping Veterans and their families and created “Range Ranch.” As we explored different ways of helping Veterans in the form of agriculture, we were blessed to come in contact with a not-for-profit called NEIGH (National Equine Institute through Growth and Healing). This amazing group of girls led by Dawn Samuelson, had decades of Equine, and trauma experience and had been providing Equine Therapy for the community for quite some time and were looking to partner with people like us at Range Ranch. NEIGH had the same passion of wanting to give back to the Veteran community by providing Equine Therapy to those who struggle with PTSD and other anxiety related disorders. Range Ranch had the facilities and NEIGH had the expertise and horses and expertise to do what we aimed to do. It was the perfect match!

Now, myself not being a member of the military and just a civilian pilot, I wanted to give back to those who had served this country and our community, and needed some sort of help. It is our duty as civilians to help military members and Veterans when and where we can.

Range Ranch has accomplished so much during our first few years of operation. Investing heavily in land, infrastructure, equipment, technology, forming lasting relationships with Veteran Organizations, setting up a not-for-profit, and hosting many events, we are well on our way!

Mental health care should be on the forefront to help our Veterans, and I desired to help those with PTSD and other anxiety related disorders. I feel there are alternative methods for mental health care which include, equine therapy, natural farm based therapy and the peace of connecting with Mother Nature.

Range Ranch and NEIGH have since expanded our therapy services to many groups in the community which include First Responders, youth groups, church organizations, and other members of the community as a whole.

I belive this combination of ranching and veteran mental health is one that is unique and beneficial to the country.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Markus Deas and I am one of three founders of Range Ranch (for profit) and Ranchin for Veterans (not for profit).

I am an airline pilot for Breeze Airways and graduated from Liberty University School of Aeronautics.

There are two folds to our organization.

1. Ranchin for Veterans is a not for profit that provides therapy to Veterans, First Responders and other members of the community. I got into his industry in order to help Veterans, First Responders and other members of the community by providing an alternate form of mental health through equine therapy, farm based therapy and connecting with Mother Nature.

2. Range Ranch: I also want to be able to provide the community with clean food using reintegrative farming method. It’s important for members of the community to know they are eating clean and healthy food which is locally grown and produced.

We are able to, through partnership with NEIGH (National Equine Institute through Growth and Healing), provide Veterans, First Responders and other members of the community, equine therapy and other natural based therapy for those who struggle with PTSD and other anxiety related disorders.

We aim to provide agriculture education to members of the community and get youth involved in Agriculture based career paths. As the United States sees an alarming decline in farmers, we at Range Ranch want to reverse that trend. The importance of feeing this country cannot be ignored as we need to raise more Farmers.

I am most proud of being able to give back to those who sacrifice so much for our Country and out Community.

This company was founded by Veterans, for Veterans. Rob Moore and Ryan Deas are the other two founders who are United States Marines.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Range Ranch and Ranchin for Veterans was founded by three members.

Robert Moore – Active Duty Colonel in the United States Marine Corps
Ryan Deas – United States Naval Academy Grad and United States Marine
Markus Deas – Commercial Airline Pilot and Liberty University Graduate

During my early career at Breeze, my brother, Ryan Deas, who was serving in the United States Marine Corps, called me one day and said that he had met another Marine, Rob Moore, who loved farming and wanted to give back to the Veteran Community. With all three of us having the desire to get into ranching, as well as helping Veterans in some way, we had our first meeting as a business in November of 2022.

Rob, Ryan and Myself had a strong passion and desire to combine the ideas of ranching and helping out our Nation’s Veterans. Ryan and Ryan being in the United States Marine Corps, have seen first hand how military service can take a toll on one’s body, mind and emotions. From enlisted all the way up to officers, all members of the military experience some sort of trauma and may need help during and after their service. Both Rob, Ryan and myself know members of the military and Veterans who have attempted suicide, and committed suicide. It broke our hearts to see, those who served this Country, and did the highest duty to this Country, be left behind and forgotten about. We saw a gap in the system for Veteran Health Care and we wanted to do what we could to help fill that gap.

All it took was three strong willed, disciplined men, with an idea to give back to the Veteran Community, to kick start this grand business venture.

We could not have done this without partnering with Dawn Samuelson and NEIGH (National Equine Institute through Growth and Healing). They have had the same passion and desire to give back to the Veteran Community. We met them by fate. One day Rob had reached out to the local Veteran Affairs office in Buffalo NY, and they were able to connect us with Dawn from NEIGH. The importance of networking was able to help both parties.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Our original plan was to start this business venture in one location of the country in 5 years. But through fate, that location was changed and time frame accelerated. It is important for business owners to understand and accept that these two can change and to adapt as necessary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rangeranch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rangeranch/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552350085659