Fox & Friends Spotlights Riverbend Ranch and Idaho Ranching Lifestyle
Watch the full segment at FoxNews.com
Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy came to Riverbend Ranch in Idaho for a Fourth of July segment that aired on Fox News, but the visit became about much more than cattle, cowboys and a good steak at the end of the day.
The segment offered a look at the values behind Riverbend Ranch on a national scale: hard work, careful stewardship, respect for the land and a long-term commitment to doing things the right way.
It featured Melaleuca Executive Chairman Frank VanderSloot and Riverbend Ranch general manager Rhett Jacobs as Steve explored how farmers and ranchers help feed America. It also helped explain the connection between Melaleuca and Riverbend Ranch. In addition to founding Melaleuca, Frank owns and operates Riverbend Ranch, where he has worked to build a respected registered Angus cattle operation.
Riverbend Ranch premium beef is available to Melaleuca customers at the best price through melaleuca.com. Those who are not Melaleuca customers can order beef bundles for home delivery through riverbendranch.com.
Set against the wide-open Idaho landscape, the visit gave viewers a warm and often humorous look at ranch life. Steve put on a cowboy hat, climbed on a horse, tried his hand at roping, learned about pasture management, went fly fishing and sat down after a full day on the ranch to enjoy a steak with the real cowboys and cowgirls who run the ranch.
Traces of the Old West
Frank told Steve this particular ranch has been part of Idaho’s ranching history since the 1800s. Located near Yellowstone National Park, the ranch sits in a region long connected to Western travel, settlement and outdoor life. Standing in a barn where old bridles and horse tack still hang from the days of stagecoach travel, Frank explained that travelers once changed horses there.
“These things are all over the ranch, not just this ranch, but all the neighbor ranches,” Frank said, referring to the old tack and other remnants left behind by the people who helped build the West. “Hard-working people. People with grit.”
That respect for the past is part of Riverbend Ranch’s identity today. The ranch is known for raising registered Angus cattle and for its focus on careful breeding, animal care and responsible land management.
Premium Beef, Built on a Larger Philosophy
During the video, Frank explained that Riverbend Ranch sorts from the top 2% to 3% of the Angus breed to produce beef with exceptional flavor and tenderness. He also noted that the cattle are the result of 36 years of selective breeding.
“We’re really proud of them,” Frank said.
The story of Riverbend Ranch is ultimately not just about premium beef. The beef is the result of a larger philosophy: healthy land, healthy grass, healthy cattle and people who care enough to do the work well every day.
That philosophy came through as Rhett showed Steve how cattle are moved to higher elevations as the grass turns green. Pasture management, clean water, healthy streams and thoughtful land use are all part of the daily work of ranching.
“One of the benefits of ranching is that you get to be out here in nature all day, every day,” Rhett said during the segment.
The segment also connected ranching to a broader American story. As the country prepared to celebrate its 250th birthday, Steve asked Frank about his love for the nation.
“I love this country,” Frank said. “I love the stories of all the people who made this a great country. We benefit from them, and too often we collectively take them for granted.”
Frank pointed to America’s founding ideals and the freedoms that have shaped the nation’s success.
“This is a great experiment that no other country’s gone through,” he said. “Freedom, like no other country had before us 250 years ago. America led the way, and our nation has prospered because of the freedoms that we have.”
A Way of Life Worth Preserving
The Fox News segment helped bring national attention to Idaho ranching and to the essential role farmers and ranchers play in American life. From raising high-quality cattle to protecting natural resources, the work featured at Riverbend Ranch reflects the discipline, patience and long-term thinking required to help feed families across the country.
Steve closed the segment by thanking the Riverbend Ranch team, saying he had “the time of my life” after a day of fly fishing, roping and riding. He noted that some of the cowboys had been working since before sunrise and would continue until after sunset.
“Cowboys have been doing that for 250 years,” Steve said, “and, God willing, will for another 250 years.”
By the end of the visit, Steve had learned a little about being a cowboy, enjoyed a flavorful Riverbend Ranch steak and made one thing clear.
“Frank,” he said, “I’m keeping the hat.”
