The American Rancher Alliance (ARA) was created by ranchers that saw something going wrong in the way food moves from the farm to the table—and decided to do something about it. Across the U.S., most cattle are still raised by independent families, yet the path to market is controlled by a small number of large corporations, making it harder for ranchers to stay in business and for consumers to know where their food comes from. The ARA brings ranchers together so they can work as a group instead of standing alone.

By coordinating cattle supply, securing access to processing and sharing infrastructure, ranchers can reach markets without giving up ownership of their animals or their identity. Each producer remains independent, but together they gain stability, fairness and a voice in a system that has become increasingly out of reach. Transparency is a core value; consumers deserve to know where their beef comes from, how it was raised and who produced it.

The alliance is built around restoring that connection between families that raise food and families that eat it. As the national cattle herd is shrinking and supply chains are strained, the ARA is protecting the people that raise food—and ensuring a secure, honest food system for the next generation.

The organization exists because too many ranchers feel backed into a corner, and too many consumers feel disconnected from their food. Most people don’t realize that while beef prices keep rising, many ranch families are barely breaking even—or leaving the industry altogether. This isn’t because ranchers stopped caring or stopped working hard. It’s because access to processing and markets has become concentrated in too few hands, leaving independent producers with fewer choices and little control. The alliance is not about creating a new brand or replacing local ranchers. It’s about keeping ranchers independent while giving them a way to work together. Members keep ownership of their cattle, their ranch names and their way of life.

The alliance simply provides shared structure—processing access, coordination and transparency—so small and mid-sized producers can survive in a system that increasingly favors scale over stewardship. For consumers, this means more honesty and fewer mystery labels, and knowing that behind the beef on one’s plate is a real family, real land and real accountability.

At its core, the American Rancher Alliance is about fairness—fair markets for ranchers, clear information for consumers and a food system that works for people instead of against them.

Contributed by Casey Parker, a rancher and entrepreneur who was raised around agriculture and small business, and the founder of the American Rancher Alliance. For more information, visit goarabeef.com.