This article explores how a long-time West Marin ranching family reimagined traditional agriculture. They transformed a historic Tomales operation into a nationally recognized model for regenerative, organic farming.
The story looks at the environmental, economic, and community-driven motivations behind this shift. The ranch’s work led to a prestigious conservation award and growing influence across Marin County and the North Bay.
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From Tomales Roots to Regenerative Leadership
On the rolling coastal hills outside Tomales, Loren and Lisa Poncia have quietly led one of Marin County’s most influential agricultural transformations. Their family’s 400-acre ranch, now called Stemple Creek Ranch, has been managed organically and regeneratively for nearly twenty years.
This was long before those words became buzzwords in San Rafael, Novato, and Mill Valley farmers markets. What started as a reaction to failing conventional methods became a full commitment to soil health, biodiversity, and long-term stewardship.
Today, the Poncias produce grass-fed, grass-finished beef and lamb, plus pastured pork. Their products reach customers from Point Reyes Station to Sausalito.
A Business Model Rooted in the Land
The ranch’s regenerative approach uses practices that work with nature, not against it. Loren Poncia says they aim to mimic the natural movement of historic bison herds—managing grazing so animals stimulate plant growth, fertilize the soil, and then move on.
This system strengthens perennial grasses and encourages microbial life in the soil. It also boosts carbon sequestration, which matters a lot for coastal communities like Bolinas and Stinson Beach.
National Recognition with Local Impact
In December, Stemple Creek Ranch received the Leopold Conservation Award, a national honor from the Sand County Foundation. The award recognizes exceptional stewardship of soil, water, and wildlife.
Named for conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award celebrates landowners who restore ecosystems while staying economically viable. The $10,000 stipend is nice, but the recognition means even more in places like Nicasio and Petaluma, where ranching families face tough financial and environmental challenges.
Practices That Restore and Protect
The Poncias’ conservation work covers a wide range of hands-on strategies to protect Marin’s sensitive landscapes:
These practices help safeguard local watersheds that feed into Tomales Bay and the greater coastal ecosystem.
From Financial Necessity to Ethical Imperative
Environmental values play a central role, but the shift to regenerative ranching also came from hard economic truths. Traditional methods just weren’t working.
Loren Poncia says they had to “flip the whole business around” to survive. That change worked. Now, Stemple Creek Ranch manages nearly 8,000 acres across Marin, Sonoma, and neighboring counties.
They support up to a couple thousand animals to meet growing demand from Bay Area consumers. It’s a big leap from where they started.
From Chez Panisse to Oliver’s Markets
The ranch’s products show up at farmers markets in Fairfax, San Anselmo, and Larkspur. You’ll also find them at Bay Area butcher shops and all four Oliver’s Markets.
For more than a decade, their meats have been featured at Chez Panisse. That’s a culinary milestone and says a lot about the quality and integrity of their operation.
A Vision for Future Generations
Beyond awards and sales, the Poncias focus on collaboration, humility, and shared learning. They work side by side with neighbors, employees, and other ranchers, spreading regenerative principles across the region.
Their big hope? Intergenerational stewardship. They want to leave the land, community, and agricultural economy of Marin County healthier than they found it.
From Tomales to Novato, Stemple Creek Ranch stands as a reminder that working landscapes can nourish both people and the planet—if you manage them with care.
Here is the source article for this story: Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales wins national award for ‘above and beyond’ stewardship of the land
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