A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came along in 1998 when Luce heard that Pitchfork Ranch was for sale. Partnering with a colleague on the investment, Luce used his legal background to negotiate a purchase. As first orders of business, he and his wife, Stephanie, got to work preserving the land and restoring the original homestead site.

“We put conservation easements over thousands of acres to protect the landscape from commercial development,” he said. “We also restored the historic bunkhouse, the long barn, and an abode house built by the original owner in the late 1800s.”

In 2016, Luce and his partner divided their ownership interests, with Luce maintaining a smaller portion of the land that includes a trout stream and several herds of cattle and horses. In 2018, he and Stephanie moved from northern Virginia to live at the ranch full time.

“We think of ourselves as stewards of a larger landscape — a community of life,” he said. “You’re not tourists here — you’ve got to really be part of it.”

In July, the couple hosted a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of their purchase. More than 120 friends, family, and community members gathered in the restored long barn for a barbecue dinner and barn dance.

“We had everyone from the people who helped us with the restoration to our local UPS driver,” Luce said. “Having a ranch is truly a community affair. We take a great deal of pride in our work, and it felt great to celebrate it.”