American Pioneer
Ranch Camp
Homesteading Retreat & Workshop
Starting April 2025
For those of you who have never had experience with any kind of farming, ranching, or animal husbandry, this is the perfect opportunity to get out of the city, and into the heart of the cowboy capital of the world, and start igniting the spark of independence that lives inside each of us! Learn the basics of real hands-on homesteading.
Three incredible meals including dessert are served each day, made from farm-to-table recipes from Dianne Linderman's cookbooks. Our lodging and beautiful rooms are not bunk-house style, they are Hallmark movie style with queen-size beds—warm and cozy. Rooms will be shared. All instruction, use of equipment, housing and food is included. Your adventure awaits!
The American Pioneer Ranch Retreat & Workshop is a 5-day Camp and Adventure. Cost is $4,500 per person. Participants must be over the age of 18 although kids as young as 10 can participate as long as they are accompanied by a parent. Everything is included once you arrive at American Pioneer Ranch. Just bring your boots and a good attitude, and you will have the adventure of a lifetime!
Our lives revolve around Christian principles.
Basic Homesteading Retreat & Workshop will teach you many of the following concepts:
Homesteading
Join us on a real working ranch learning skills such as milking goats, hoof trimming, grooming, basic medical procedures, moving cows, roping, shearing sheep, spinning wool, basic beekeeping, running a farm store, managing animals and breeding programs, learning what regenerative farming is, and many other aspects of running a real homestead or farm.
Farm-to-Table Cooking
Taught by Dianne Linderman
professional chef and cooking class instructor, cooking show host, author of five cookbooks, and owner of four restaurants (including Dianne's Ranch Diner in Stephenville, TX)
Delicious farm-to-table recipes made quickly from scratch.
Learn to make real old-fashioned sourdough bread, unbelievable desserts, and farm-to-table family-style recipes using our amazing certified regenerative meat and locally sourced ingredients. Learn forgotten skills such as canning, drying herbs, making farmer's cheese and butter. Guests can cook some of their own meals if they choose.
Fishing
We have three large ponds full of fish! You can learn the art of fly fishing from a professional fly fishing guide and even learn how to tie your own flies!
Gardening
Learn how to grow a garden
(Spring camps only)
Art & Photography
Learn basic skills of drawing, painting, photography and more from our amazing in-house self-taught artist.
Daily Schedule (Example)
Homestead Retreat & Workshop
(Schedule can change based on the weather, ranch projects, and opportunities that can show up daily on a ranch.)
Arrival Day
Travel Day (we can pick you up from the airport)
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Dinner
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Move into housing
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Movie & Refreshments in Main House
Day 1
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Breakfast
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Entrepreneurship inspiration session with Dianne Linderman
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Why regenerative agriculture? Presentation by Alexandra Linderman
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Lunch
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Ranch work with goats and sheep: goat milking, hoof trimming, and grooming
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Learn basic medical procedures - understand our balance between holistic & conventional medicine
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Practice giving injections, disbudding, castrating, tube feeding, microchipping and more
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Dinner
Day 3
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Breakfast
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Learn to work cattle regenerative-style to keep your cattle operation simple and effective on your own homestead. Move cattle from pasture to pasture, move electric fencing, and learn the best options for fencing.
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Learn to build fences and make repairs with confidence.
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Practice Roping
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Lunch
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Learn to weld
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Make repairs and learn simple building practices on the ranch.
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Dinner & discussions
Day 5
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Breakfast
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Introduction to beekeeping
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Art Club
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Make apple cider
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Lunch
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Why homesteading? Meet our children and learn how the way they were raised impacted their future.
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Learn how to sell your products to the public and even run a farm store
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Basic Marketing
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Dinner
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How to build a fire & make smores
Day 2
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Breakfast
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Morning Chores
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Farm-to-table cooking class with Dianne Linderman - Learn her secrets of simple, healthy and decadent cooking
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Learn bread making and how to use old-fashioned sourdough starter
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Lunch
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Gardening - simple tips, tricks & inspiration (Spring classes only)
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Introduction to shearing sheep, processing and spinning wool
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Dinner
Day 4
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Breakfast
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Ranch chores
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Presentation by Dianne Linderman: "The attitude by which you look at failure determines how you will grow from it."
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Discuss your ideas for a ranch business or homesteading business and how to get started
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Lunch
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Learn basic canning and drying herbs
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Learn basic cheesemaking
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Dinner, followed by homemade junk food & movie night
Travel Day
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Self serve continental breakfast or to-go breakfast
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Hugs goodbye
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We can give you a ride to the airport
If you would like to attend American Pioneer Ranch Homesteading Retreat & Workshop, please click below to fill out an application.
2025 Dates
American Pioneer Ranch
Retreats & Workshops
Five-day retreats start every Wednesday and go through Sunday.
Beginning in April and continuing through July and again from November through January.
If you would like to attend American Pioneer Ranch Homesteading Retreat & Workshop, please click below to fill out an application.
Call 254-818-0147 or email
info@americanpioneerranch.com for more information
Alexandra Linderman talks about her journey discovering regenerative agriculture. This is the foundation of our American Pioneer Ranch cattle herd and regenerative agriculture program.
The following are things we suggest you bring with you to camp:
We never know what the weather is going to be here in Texas, but the average temperature is 75 degrees! Bring both warm and cool weather clothes. Don't forget a rain coat and a cowboy hat (or whatever hat you would prefer)! It's a good idea to bring a pair of work gloves. We highly recommend people wear boots and jeans on the ranch. You can bring tennis shoes if you would like. Bring a swimsuit & towel. Snacks are always available, in addition to three meals a day and desserts!
