Oklahoma Stories

Feeding the future

By Ainsley Treesh November 2024

Co-op members mentor youth and supply food banks through farming

One in five children in eastern Oklahoma struggle with hunger and uncertainty about their next meal. In McIntosh County alone, the child food insecurity rate is 29.1%, according to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

These staggering numbers shocked Brian and Shannon Dobbs, East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative members and owners of Dakota Star Ranch. Originally from Dallas, Texas, the couple moved to Checotah in 2021 with plans to start a farm and animal sanctuary. But after learning about the food insecurity in their new community, their focus shifted.

Owners Shannon and Brian Dobbs | Courtesy photo

“It just broke our hearts, and we knew we had to do something about it,” Brian says.

Today, the mission of Dakota Star Ranch is to help feed the local community. The ranch grows produce that is sold to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and donated to local food banks and churches. They also operate a farm store that accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, allowing low-income families to purchase fresh, nutritious food.

Dakota Star Ranch produces 45 crops and 77 different varieties. Since the ranch was once a cattle operation, the Dobbs have worked to improve the soil by planting various cover crops.

Helping to feed the community goes beyond providing produce, Shannon explains. The couple is also passionate about educating people on the importance of eating healthy, fresh food. Through field trips and a youth mentoring program, they work directly with local children to teach them about nutrition.

During a recent field trip, Brian guided students through the process of making spaghetti sauce, using ingredients grown at the ranch. From tomatoes to rosemary, everything came straight from their garden. As they walked through the recipe, Brian encouraged the kids to consider the health benefits of each ingredient.

“I didn’t just want them to say it was healthy,” Brian says. “I wanted them to understand what vitamins, nutrients and minerals were going into their bodies.”

The students were excited to research and handle the ingredients, learning how the food they eat fuels their bodies. Even the volunteers on the trip were eager to learn, Brian says.

The youth mentoring program, launched this year, gives students hands-on farming experience. The program offers three levels of involvement. The first is for students seeking community service hours by working on the farm. Those with a deeper interest in farming can advance to the second level, which explores the process of growing produce. The third level is designed for youth interested in owning a business, where the Dobbs teach them about advertising, public relations, inventory management and profit margins — providing an entrepreneurial foundation they can carry into their futures.

While farming is the focus, the Dobbs hope the students will apply the skills they learn to all areas of their lives.

“The thing about farming is that you’ll always face challenges,” Brian says. “We want to teach them that tough times or roadblocks aren’t the end. We want them to learn how to find creative solutions. This builds grit, perseverance and determination — qualities they can use in every part of life.”

Though their main goal is feeding the community, Dakota Star Ranch also offers unique experiences. One of these is “Dinner Under the Stars,” farm-to-table events held in the spring and fall at the ranch. The Dobbs partner with Oklahoma chefs to create a one-of-a-kind meal made with fresh produce from the ranch and other locally sourced ingredients. The handcrafted meals feature dishes that can’t be found in local restaurants.

“Our goal was to bring a five-star dining experience to a pasture,” Shannon says.

The dinners take place on the farm, allowing guests to enjoy a meal on the same land where the food was grown. The rustic hay barn, without water or electricity, adds to the uniqueness of the experience for both guests and chefs.

“It’s a really special experience, and it has helped us build community,” Shannon says.

For more information about Dinner Under the Stars or the youth mentoring program, visit dakotastarranch.org or on Facebook at @DakotaStarRanch.