Stemple Creek Ranch
Tomales, CA
Stemple Creek Ranch is a family-owned and operated cattle ranch in Marin County, California. They raise all-natural, organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef there just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, and graze on pastures in Sonoma and Humboldt Counties as well. They treat their animals with care and respect, and have worked with the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) to receive a Level 4 certification for animal welfare. They're also working with the Marin Carbon Project to fight climate change and enhance ecosystems through carbon farming.
Loren Poncia is the 4th generation of his family to be ranching on the same location at Stemple Creek. He and his wife Lisa run the entire ranching operation, including studying and planning the genetics of the herd, managing the pastures to increase efficiency and decrease stress to the environment, and making sure all their animals are well cared for. Stemple Creek's cows and pastures are certified organic by Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA), but can't be labeled as organic due to the regulations on processing and packaging. They produce grass-fed and grass-finished beef that is flavorful, tender, well-marbled, and humanely raised.
