Jalama Miramar Mashup

“Do you think we could plant grapes here? I said, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll sure find out.’” For Kiah Jordan of Montecito’s Impact Family Office, the inaugural Bounty Benefit Dinner at Rosewood Miramar came with history. Years before White Buffalo Land Trust acquired the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch from Wayne Siemens and David Grotenhuis, Kiah was hired as a college kid ranch hand when he was a Westmont student. He helped plant its vineyard, find and buy 200 Boer goats to eat the weeds, and managed the property – making the “coastal ranch” evening something of
a homecoming.

“It’s better for the soil. It’s better for the people. It’s better for the animals,” said sponsor Katy Powers of Hope Ranch-based Soleado Stables, praising White Buffalo’s approach to regenerative ag. “It’s positive, scalable, and digestible, no pun intended,”
Katy quipped.

“He is a total visionary,” Ryan Muzzy said of White Buffalo founder Steve Finkel, recalling how hearing Finkel explain the mission drew him in. The evening’s ranch-meets-resort spirit followed suit: cowboy hats, boots, denim, and flowing florals beneath strings of lights on the Great Lawn.

“We wanted to do something that was much more community-driven and community-focused,” said Miramar Director of Wine Rob Smits, who worked with Executive Chef Edgar Beas on a family-style menu using products from the ranch and Central Coast, with local rock crab, goat sausage, ranch-raised beef, herbs, botanicals and dairy. Montecito’s Jessica and Kevin Brine supported the ranch’s vision from its founding concept, and enjoyed tasting the fruition of the vision, along with Sean Koffel, board president of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse.

“When we talk about watersheds, we’re talking… from ‘crest to coast,’” said Jesse Smith, White Buffalo’s Director of Land Stewardship, describing oak woodlands, creeks, and beaches as one big connected system. After celebrating five years at Jalama Canyon Ranch, White Buffalo is looking beyond the fenceline and teaching about broader watersheds – including Montecito creeks.

From Jalama Ranch to Miramar Beach, the mashup proved ranch roots and coastal polish make very good tablemates.