There’s something grounding about growing up in a farm and ranching community.
Maybe it’s early mornings in the pasture, and the calluses across our hands.
Maybe it’s the knowledge of crops and the connection we share with our livestock.
Maybe it’s the joy of a bountiful harvest and the shared sorrow of a lackluster one.
Zachary Whitman experienced all of these in West Texas, where he was born and raised. He discovered the value of hard work, true grit and integrity in West Texas, virtues that would serve him well in life, no matter where his boots took him.
He showed an aptitude for politics that would eventually see him lend his political skills to presidential campaigns and White House assignments for 16 years. After his career in politics, Zachary began working for Amazon.
The money was good and the work he was doing was important. But Zachary began to feel a growing hole in his fulfillment. It would inspire him to look beyond everything he knew and take a leap of faith.
Zachary hung up his suit and tie and started to brainstorm his next project. He was looking for something that would get him closer to his roots.
In December 2019, Zachary discovered a 357-acre property for sale in Virginia and the wheels began turning. Of the 357 acres, 65 were ready for agriculture operations and 292 acres were forested. It was exactly what Zachary had been searching for.
From the start, Zachary decided this property would provide visitors an opportunity to step away from their screens and experience everything nature has to offer. A property that would help him find lasting fulfillment in this grand adventure we call life.
Zachary knew he wouldn’t be able to achieve his vision alone, so he got to work and purchased a Kubota B2301 and several Land Pride attachments – his new farmhand. His family grew up working with Kubota equipment, and Zachary knew a Kubota machine would be perfect for his new property.
He used his compact tractor to clear out shrubs, till a garden, clean up his hay field and build housing for animals. Zachary even used his B2301 to help him renovate his house on the property! Although he dreams of having a tractor over 50 horsepower someday, his B2301 has been the perfect size for his needs, especially the needs Zachary couldn’t have predicted when he started.
Currently, Zachary has one AirBnB built on the property, as well as a garden for his guests to pick fresh produce, chicken coops for fresh eggs and a handful of fishing spots. His end-goal is to add three tiny homes, a barn house, an A-frame structure and another cabin in the woods.
He’s planning on bringing goats and cattle to the farm, while working with a local butcher to provide quality meat to the community and his guests. As his garden begins to grow, Zachary wants to build an apiary to house bees and assist him in the conservation of natural, Virginia wildflowers. With so much forest on his property, Zachary wants to dedicate a portion of it to deer and bear habitats, as well as hiking trails (safely distanced from the bear habitats).
For more information and to follow Zachary in Rooted Land Company’s journey, visit his website or Instagram page.
