Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Robb Ellis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Robb, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career
Our current public education system is geared toward test scores and college acceptance; this leaves many students out or causes frustration. In our local High School, 30% of the students go on to attend a four year college, so creating opportunities for the other 70% is a focus of the Storer Ranch.
Our focus is on the students themselves and creating environments to meet them where they are comfortable, getting them out of classrooms and into the outdoors. By focusing on hands-on education opportunities based on agriculture, we can teach the kids the skills they need to navigate life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been involved with youth for nearly 30 years as a coach, mentor, and instructor. In my early career in Law Enforcement, I saw how the world around them influences kids positively and negatively. In 2021, my family and I had the opportunity to move to a camp in Barnstead, NH, owned by the Spirit of Adventure Council, BSA; at the time, this property of nearly 1000 acres was headed to be sold. While it took some effort we convinced them not to sell the property and began volunteering our time to run program opportunities for kids. In 2023, we launched the Storer Ranch, a regenerative agriculture education organization.
We host farm weeks in association with local farms; while we are developing pasture lands here, during the farm weeks, kids learn about the importance of soil health in battling climate change. We teach about the effect of chemicals in the soil on kids’ health. In 2024, we will be expanding our livestock herd from goats and donkeys by adding cattle, which will be here to teach kids about rotational grazing.
One of the best moments so far was when we had our baby goats that needed to be bottle-fed here; one of our students was very quiet and withdrawn, and when he provided the goats, he came to life and had long conversations with his goat. We have also had students come and spend summers with us, and we see a considerable improvement in their behavior by getting them out of the classroom and into nature.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Growing our social media audience was a matter of consistent posting and staying relevant in people’s feeds. We have tried advertising on Facebook and Instagram and have found that it just staying active is more reliable and a better use of energy.
Any advice for managing a team?
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy in which the leader’s primary goal is to serve their followers. This type of leadership emphasizes the importance of putting the needs and interests of others first, rather than focusing solely on one’s own ambitions or goals. The servant leader strives to empower and uplift their team members, creating a positive and supportive work environment where everyone can thrive. In essence, servant leadership is about leading with empathy, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: storrerranch.org