Farmer Story

Walking C Livestock

Sunol, California

Clayton and Natalie Koopmann operate Walking C Livestock, a cow and calf ranch based in Sunol, California, where working landscapes, public recreation, and wildlife habitat intersect every day.

Clayton comes from a multigenerational ranching family and launched Walking C Livestock in 2013. After marrying Natalie in 2017, they built the operation together, combining Clayton’s expertise in stock handling and resource management with Natalie’s background in cattle health and livestock husbandry. Together, they manage cattle, land, and family life in one of the state’s most complex ranching environments.

The Operation

  • Cow and calf operation
  • Approximately 400 mother cows
  • Based in Sunol, California
  • Grazing across Alameda, Santa Clara, and Sacramento Counties
  • Operating on a mix of owned, leased, and public lands

There is no typical day on the ranch. Seasonal work includes branding, processing, and weaning, while daily responsibilities range from monitoring herd health and water systems to responding to emergencies such as escaped cattle or wildfire threats, often at unpredictable hours.

Ranching Where California Lives & Plays

What sets Walking C Livestock apart is where the cattle graze. Clayton manages livestock on public lands owned and managed by local and regional agencies, where grazing occurs alongside hiking, biking, and other recreational uses. Some of these properties see more than 1,000 visitors each day.

Moving cattle through crowds, managing open gates, and navigating Bay Area traffic with stock trailers present real challenges. Clayton embraces these moments as opportunities to engage directly with the public, explain the role of grazing, and demonstrate how livestock can coexist with recreation while supporting healthy landscapes.

Stewardship in Action

Several of Walking C Livestock’s grazing leases operate under Rangeland Management Plans with specific ecological objectives. Clayton actively manages grazing to enhance habitat for special-status species, including California red-legged frogs, California tiger salamanders, burrowing owls, western pond turtles, and native plant communities.

This work requires careful pasture rotation, frequent monitoring, and close coordination with land managers. Clayton and Natalie also invest in infrastructure and technology, including solar-powered water systems, remote water monitoring, digital herd tracking, and electronic identification tags, to improve animal care and land stewardship.

Their cattle are certified No Hormones Treated, All Natural, Animal Care and Handling Certified, and the operation is Beef Quality Assurance certified. Natalie is also a certified BQA instructor.

For the Koopmann family, sustainability means leaving the land, soil, and resources in better condition for the next generation, a principle backed by more than 100 years of ranching in the region.

Community, Education, and the Next Generation

Operating in the Bay Area puts Clayton at the forefront of conversations about agriculture. Through ranch tours, school visits, and daily interactions with park visitors, he works to increase transparency and understanding about livestock grazing and land management.

Walking C Livestock also offers direct-to-consumer beef, connecting Bay Area families with locally raised food and extending the reach of their story beyond the ranch. Despite challenges ranging from drought and wildfire to rising costs and regulation, Clayton remains committed to growing the operation responsibly and raising two young sons who understand both the realities and the value of ranching in California.