hey there!
i'm kenzie.
Glad to have ya here. This will be the most long winded about page you’ve ever read, but if you know me, you know I can’t seem to keep things short and sweet. However, this will give you all the deets about who I am, where I come from, my passions, about my blog, services I offer and more. I think it’s important to see where people come from and what makes them who they are.
I love Jesus. I’m a Fireman’s Wife. Girl Mom. Cowgal. Store Owner. Cattle Rancher. Hayfield Meal Delivery Wagon, just to name a few hats that I wear.
let's start
at the beginning...
I grew up on a farm/ranch in southeast Oklahoma. I’ve never known anything other than the western culture and gosh, what a way to live. I feel so blessed to have grown up that way. When I wasn’t on the back of my horses, I was riding around in my Dad’s feed truck singing along to the tunes of Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills and a plethora of other old timey country legends. My love for music runs deep. Fun fact, my dad and I danced to ‘Humpty Dumpty’ at my wedding because it was our song. Not traditional at all but again, that just isn’t me. This is also coming from a gal who watched more Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Roy Rogers, Mister Ed, Clint Eastwood, and John Wayne shows than anything else a kid “normally” watched on the tube. All of that cowboyin’ made this girl forever a Dale Evans at heart.
“Way down yonder in the Indian Nation Ridin' my pony on the reservation In those Oklahoma hills where I was born."
my oklahoma roots
My family comes from generations upon generations of farmers and ranchers.
From Northern to Southern Oklahoma, my Native American heritage runs deep and family roots spread far and wide. My mom’s grandparents ran a sale barn and raised/trained horses. My Dad’s Great Grandparents, Grandparents, and his parents have all farmed their entire lives and I love that the small seeds that are planted continue to harvest down the family tree. The old wheels from my Great Grandpa’s wagons have been used in my store windows as a nod to him and a sweet reminder of my lineage who've had a hand in Farm Girl before it ever came to be. My store was located right in the heart of Ada, OK, in a historic building on main street for 7 years, pictured here. As of 2021, we relocated on the outskirts of town and operate our store on a working cattle ranch.
My husband works as a full-time career firefighter for the Ada Fire Department. The building pictured below was the first station he worked at. Each year the FD organizes the Ada Fireman’s Rodeo which has been a long standing Ada tradition since 1935. At one point in the 1940s, the Ada Fireman's Rodeo had outgrown Cheyenne Frontier Days in number and popularity. I've always loved how both of our careers have such a rich heritage in our community.
Cowgirl is an attitude really.
A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear.
- dale evans
from
rodeo
to
romance
I grew up rodeoing most of my life as well as showing livestock. On the weekends we were off somewhere to compete. Many weekdays were spent surrounded by a bunch of old men in the roping pen, doing their best to teach me what they knew. Today, I still prefer it that way.When I was 17 my husband walked in the back door of my parents’ house and it was all over with. As my papa would say “With one look he melted like butter in August.” Ha! But in all seriousness, we both knew at that moment; we were supposed to be together. And here we are, over a decade later. Ok, there’s a little more to that story, you can read more about our love story on the blog. I’ll forever be starry eyed about that blue-eyed man. Even when I am 80.
the life we built
I went to college as an Ag Business major at Oklahoma State University and competed on their rodeo team during my time there. My sophomore year, Zack and I tied the knot, moved to our first home, had our first baby, and then moved back to my hometown. After a few job changes, more school, opening my Boutique, and Zack going through the fire academy-he became a firefighter, and here we are. It was quite the crazy road trip to where we are today, but I am so thankful to be where we are. I do nothing I went to school for but I’ve learned that plans don’t always go the way we think they will. For that I am thankful.
where we are now...
We have several years under our belt now with both our retail business and him as a career fireman. From May-October Zack and my Dad have a custom hay business that keeps them hooked up in the field for most of the season and I’ve started a fun little project called ‘Hayfield Meals™’ . You will see a lot of posts about that in this space and you can also visit the ‘Hayfield Meals™’ section of the blog for more info. We also raise Registered Texas Longhorns and sell directly off of our website - rafterpsranch.com I have expanded my retail business to offer custom interior design services and all the information is on the ‘Home Design’ page. I have always loved to decorate, and I am so excited to share my gifts to make your house, home.
who i am
Of all the titles I adorn, Daughter of the King, Wife, and Child Wrangler to our two daughters Paisley and Scout are my badges of honor.
daughter of the King, wife and mother
I love the Lord and am so thankful to have this space to share my faith. I started a summer online Bible Study group called Branded with the Word and it’s been such a sweet community and growing experience for my faith.
I want the whole world to know Jesus and what He’s done for all of us and would love to have you there! I want this space to have everything. Not just meals, home design, or pictures of cows. But thoughts, scripture, adventures, tips, our homeschool journey and everything in between. But trust me, there will be plenty of cow pics here. I consider photographing bovine cheap therapy.
"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."
john wayne
fun facts about kenzie
Indian Paintbrushes are my absolute favorite flower. That is why you see them in a lot of my designs and all over the blog. They remind me of my great-grandpa and have a special meaning to me of my heritage.
Most of my family, namely my parents and husband, call me Lou. It’s been my nickname since I could talk and it’s stuck.
I’d rather read a book than watch a movie. I love getting lost in the pages of a good story.
I love to can. My great grandma taught me around the age of 8 and I’m so thankful to have learned that skill. I won the state fair of Oklahoma with my peaches one time and we made it into Country Woman magazine that year. Peaches also happen to be my favorite food. I’m pretty sure the Lord has some bushel baskets full waiting for me in Heaven.
My favorite thing to receive is a handwritten letter.
From Kenzie:
After 11 years of blogging, I decided to give this space a facelift. Most of my ramblings over the last decade have been geared more towards family updates and a way for me to get my thoughts out as journal entries for my kids to read one day. Albeit I will still be doing that, but this space will now serve a few other purposes and as a creative outlet for me.
The rural lifestyle is in my bones and I am grateful we get to raise our kids this way. I’m thankful I get to live out the rest of my days, still on the back of a horse, in a paintbrush covered field of cattle. What a blessing. I cannot wait to document this trail ride of life on my small corner of the web.
You will find blog posts of the following: recipes, ranch life, homesteading, hay + cattle business, home design, faith, marriage, motherhood, style, favorites, travel, gardening, homeschooling and again, cows.
I’m excited to see where this goes and I’m glad to have you reading along.
let’s make like a cow patty and
and hit the trail!
