Thirty Thousand Oaks Ranch

This Easter, I spent the weekend at my girlfriend McKenna’s ranch Thirty Thousand Oaks with her family, and it turned out to be one of those experiences that reminds you what really matters — family, the outdoors, and living in harmony with the land.

One of the highlights of the trip was taking her 3-year-old niece, Wilder, fishing for the first time. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Wilder was incredibly hesitant — terrified of both the worms we used for bait and the bass we caught. Watching her take it all in, cautiously peering at the fish from behind someone’s leg, was both funny and a good reminder that everyone connects with nature in their own time and way. On the flip side, her 1-year-old brother, Woodsy, had no hesitation at all — the second we pulled the bass out of the water, he grabbed it with both hands and tried to bite its head off! It was pure, chaotic energy that kept everyone laughing and on their toes.

Beyond fishing, we spent the afternoon driving around the ranch on a golf cart, feeding the cows and hanging out with the donkeys. It was simple, honest fun — the kind of day that feels increasingly rare in a world that moves so fast. We ended the evening with a true farm-to-table dinner, picking fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden and preparing a meal together as a family. There’s something special about eating food you pulled from the ground just hours before. It makes you appreciate every bite so much more.

Spending time with McKenna’s family and watching the little ones experience ranch life reminded me how important it is to pass down a love for the outdoors and a respect for sustainable living to the next generation. It’s not just about teaching them how to fish, or where food comes from — it’s about showing them that these experiences are part of something bigger. Family traditions, a respect for the land, and an understanding of where our resources come from build a foundation that will serve them for a lifetime.

Looking back, Easter at the ranch wasn’t just a holiday gathering — it was a day of teaching, learning, laughing, and making memories. It reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful lessons are taught not in classrooms, but right in the middle of a fishing pond or a vegetable garden.